Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	$ 2,902,401	$ 2,929,009
Buildings and improvements	12,075,518	12,132,736
Total rental properties	14,977,919	15,061,745
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,259,148)	(4,133,959)
Net real estate	10,718,771	10,927,786
Real estate under development	404,496	386,047
Co-investments	962,625	1,018,010
Real estate held for sale	0	57,938
Total real estate	12,085,892	12,389,781
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	103,442	73,629
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	9,918	10,412
Marketable securities, net of allowance for credit losses of zero as of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020	165,265	147,768
Notes and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $0.9 million and $0.8 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively (includes related party receivables of $57.6 million and $4.7 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	266,896	195,104
Operating lease right-of-use assets	71,347	72,143
Prepaid expenses and other assets	87,444	47,340
Total assets	12,790,204	12,936,177
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	5,454,290	5,607,985
Mortgage notes payable, net	642,419	643,550
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	158,673	152,855
Construction payable	34,852	31,417
Dividends payable	142,822	141,917
Operating lease liabilities	73,201	74,037
Liabilities associated with real estate held for sale	0	29,845
Other liabilities	36,694	39,140
Total liabilities	6,542,951	6,720,746
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	36,322	32,239
Equity/Capital:
Common stock; $0.0001 par value, 670,000,000 shares authorized; 64,998,910 and 64,999,015 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	6	6
Additional paid-in capital	6,864,185	6,876,326
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	(828,625)	(861,193)
Limited Partners:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(10,390)	(14,729)
Total stockholders' equity	6,025,176	6,000,410
Noncontrolling interest	185,755	182,782
Total equity	6,210,931	6,183,192
Total liabilities and equity	12,790,204	12,936,177
Essex Portfolio, L.P.
Rental properties:
Land and land improvements	2,902,401	2,929,009
Buildings and improvements	12,075,518	12,132,736
Total rental properties	14,977,919	15,061,745
Less: accumulated depreciation	(4,259,148)	(4,133,959)
Net real estate	10,718,771	10,927,786
Real estate under development	404,496	386,047
Co-investments	962,625	1,018,010
Real estate held for sale	0	57,938
Total real estate	12,085,892	12,389,781
Cash and cash equivalents-unrestricted	103,442	73,629
Cash and cash equivalents-restricted	9,918	10,412
Marketable securities, net of allowance for credit losses of zero as of both March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020	165,265	147,768
Notes and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $0.9 million and $0.8 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively (includes related party receivables of $57.6 million and $4.7 million as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively)	266,896	195,104
Operating lease right-of-use assets	71,347	72,143
Prepaid expenses and other assets	87,444	47,340
Total assets	12,790,204	12,936,177
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured debt, net	5,454,290	5,607,985
Mortgage notes payable, net	642,419	643,550
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	158,673	152,855
Construction payable	34,852	31,417
Dividends payable	142,822	141,917
Operating lease liabilities	73,201	74,037
Liabilities associated with real estate held for sale	0	29,845
Other liabilities	36,694	39,140
Total liabilities	6,542,951	6,720,746
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	36,322	32,239
General Partner:
Common equity (64,998,910 and 64,999,015 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	6,035,566	6,015,139
Limited Partners:
Common equity (2,293,760 and 2,294,760 units issued and outstanding, respectively)	59,328	58,184
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(6,811)	(11,303)
Total partners' capital	6,088,083	6,062,020
Noncontrolling interest	122,848	121,172
Total capital	6,210,931	6,183,192
Total liabilities and equity	$ 12,790,204	$ 12,936,177