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Monterey County · Renting & eviction

Short-term rentals in Monterey County

Monterey County's own rules on short-term rentals, with the code text for every value.

Ask about short-term rentals in Monterey County See coverage

Each rule below links to the section of the Monterey County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (extracted October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Monterey County's code says

Monterey County code What Monterey County's code adds
Allowed
  • Limited to certain rental types and zones.
    Applies: Unincorporated inland areas: homestays and limited vacation rentals in designated zones; commercial vacation rentals with a use permit in designated zones.
    § 21.64.290 · code text
    Homestays are allowed in the following zoning districts, subject to the requirements of this Section:
  • Limited to certain rental types and zones.
    Applies: Unincorporated coastal zone: homestays and limited vacation rentals in designated zones; commercial vacation rentals with a Coastal Development Permit in designated zones.
    § 20.64.290 · code text
    Limited Vacation Rentals are allowed and exempt from a Coastal Development Permit pursuant to 20.70.120(T), in the following zoning districts, subject to the requirements of this Section:
Nights per year
  • Rented no more than 3 times per 12-month period.
    Applies: Limited vacation rentals, which are non-hosted.
    § 21.64.290 · code text
    "Limited vacation rental" means a vacation rental that is non-hosted and rented for not more than three times per 12-month period.
  • 1 rental contract at a time, and 1 per 7-day period.
    Applies: Limited vacation rentals.
    § 7.120.060 · code text
    The maximum occupancy limits for limited vacation rentals are as follows:
Permit or registration
  • A vacation rental license renewed yearly, land use approvals, county registration and Transient Occupancy Tax Certificate, and a business license.
    § 7.120.040 · code text
    The operator who intends to operate a vacation rental shall obtain a license that is renewable annually for the fixed location and dwelling in which the vacation rental is to occur.
  • A use permit is required.
    Applies: Commercial vacation rentals in designated inland zoning districts.
    § 21.64.290 · code text
    Commercial vacation rentals are allowed with a use permit in the following zoning districts, subject to the requirements of this Section:
  • A Coastal Development Permit is required.
    Applies: Commercial vacation rentals in designated coastal zoning districts.
    § 20.64.290 · code text
    Commercial Vacation Rentals are allowed with a Coastal Development Permit in the following zoning districts, subject to the requirements of this Section:
Primary residence
  • Yes. The rental must be the owner's primary residence.
    Applies: Homestays, where the owner stays in at least 1 bedroom during the rental.
    § 21.64.290 · code text
    Homestay" means a vacation rental in which the owner occupies at least one bedroom within the vacation rental while it is being rented as a vacation rental. The vacation rental must be the owner's primary residence.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Can I rent out my home short-term in Monterey County?

Monterey County's code: Limited to certain rental types and zones. (Unincorporated inland areas: homestays and limited vacation rentals in designated zones; commercial vacation rentals with a use permit in designated zones.) (§ 21.64.290); Limited to certain rental types and zones. (Unincorporated coastal zone: homestays and limited vacation rentals in designated zones; commercial vacation rentals with a Coastal Development Permit in designated zones.) (§ 20.64.290).

General information, not legal advice.

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Monterey County Municipal Code — full text