Monterey County, California Short-Term Rental Rules 2026
LawfulStay tracks short-term rental rules for 5 places in Monterey County, California. Each city and town sets its own rules, so select a place below for its permit, tax and other rules, or see all of California.
Monterey County at a glance
- Places tracked
- 5 places: 3 restricted, 2 banned
- License or registration
- Required in 2 of 4 local places
- Tax on stays
- Applies in all 4 local places
- County law
- Unincorporated Monterey County licenses three kinds of vacation rental: homestays (a resident on site), limited rentals (three stays per 12 months) and commercial rentals, which need a discretionary permit, are capped…. County rules ›
Monterey County short-term rental questions
Are short-term rentals legal in Monterey County?
In 3 of the 5 places we track in Monterey County, short-term rentals are allowed, all with permit conditions or limits. They are banned in Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey.
Do I need a license for a short-term rental in Monterey County?
2 of 4 local places we track in Monterey County require a license, permit or registration. Check your city's page for its rules.
Is there a countywide short-term rental law in Monterey County?
Unincorporated Monterey County licenses three kinds of vacation rental: homestays (a resident on site), limited rentals (three stays per 12 months) and commercial rentals, which need a discretionary permit, are capped….
Which places in Monterey County have the strictest rules?
On our records: Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, Marina, Pacific Grove.
Monterey County Airbnb & Vacation Rental Regulation Overview
The short-term rental regulatory landscape in Monterey County encompasses 5 tracked jurisdictions: 3 with restrictions, 2 where STRs are banned. Hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com should verify local requirements before listing, as rules vary significantly between cities and regions.
3 of 5 tracked jurisdictions in Monterey County require some form of permit, license, or registration for short-term rental operations. Requirements range from simple online registration to comprehensive permit applications with inspections.
Tax obligations apply in 5 of 5 jurisdictions. Common taxes include occupancy taxes, tourist levies, and sales taxes. Many jurisdictions require hosts to register for tax collection, and some platforms like Airbnb collect and remit taxes automatically in select locations.
Notable jurisdictions where short-term rentals are currently banned or heavily restricted include Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey. Hosts should check these listings for details on specific prohibitions and any exceptions that may apply.
LawfulStay monitors Monterey County STR regulations daily and updates this page as rules change. Each city page includes detailed permit requirements, fee schedules, tax rates, zoning rules, and penalty information sourced from official government websites.