Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The General Partner

Essex Portfolio, L.P.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-141726, 333-131276, 333-44467, and 333-108336) of Essex Portfolio, L.P. of our reports dated February 27, 2008, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Essex Portfolio, L.P. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, partners’ capital, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, the related financial statement schedule III, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, which reports appear in the December 31, 2007 annual report on Form 10-K of Essex Portfolio, L.P.

         /S/KPMG LLP

   KPMG LLP

San Francisco, California

February 27, 2008