Are short-term rentals allowed in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

**No**, short-term rentals are strictly prohibited in all residential zones of Carmel-by-the-Sea. According to Municipal Code Section 17.08.060, rentals of less than 30 consecutive days are not permitted. Only traditional lodging like hotels and authorized B&Bs in commercial districts can legally operate transient stays.

What is the TOT tax rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

**10% TOT** (Transient Occupancy Tax) is applied to all stays at hotels and authorized bed and breakfasts in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Since short-term rentals are prohibited in residential zones, this tax mainly applies to traditional lodging businesses operating legally within the city's commercial districts.

Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

**No**, because short-term rentals are prohibited in Carmel-by-the-Sea's residential zones, there is no local STR-specific permit. However, if you operate a legal lodging business in a commercial zone, standard business permits and inspections may be required. Always verify with the city's planning department.

What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

**Operating an illegal** short-term rental in Carmel-by-the-Sea can result in significant fines and legal action. Because STRs are banned in residential areas, the city actively enforces these regulations. Penalties can include daily fines and potential lawsuits to cease operations, per local ordinances.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

**No**, renters cannot legally host on Airbnb or other short-term rental platforms in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Because short-term rentals are prohibited in residential zones, tenants are not allowed to sublease their apartments or homes for transient stays. Only authorized lodging businesses can operate legally.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Mar 31, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals of less than 30 consecutive days are strictly PROHIBITED in all residential zones of Carmel-by-the-Sea per Municipal Code Section 17.08.060. Only traditional lodging like hotels and authorized B&Bs in commercial districts may legally operate transient stays.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Residential STRs prohibited
All residential property types prohibited
Severe night cap: 0 nights/year
Long minimum stay: 30 nights
Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

In Carmel-by-the-Sea, renting out your home for less than 30 days is typically not allowed in residential areas. However, there are a couple of exceptions. If you had a permit for short-term rentals before 2019, you might be grandfathered in. Also, if you create new affordable housing units in certain commercial and R-4 districts, you can get a special permit to allow short-term rentals. Otherwise, short-term rentals are essentially banned to preserve the town's residential character.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitYes

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Carmel-by-the-Sea does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Carmel-by-the-Sea prohibits STRs in the following property types: All residential dwellings, Apartments, Condominiums, Single-family homes.

Requirements15 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea: The 30-day minimum stay is enforced regardless of whether the host is present.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Only commercial zones permit transient lodging, and these are restricted to hotels/motels.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: The city does not issue any type of 'Home Sharing' permit for residential homes.

Application process4 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea STR permit - Step 1: Prohibition Verification. Understand that short-term rentals (less than 30 consecutive days) are strictly prohibited in all residential districts of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Time: Immediate.

Taxes1 rule

Carmel-by-the-Sea charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Since STRs are prohibited, there are no voluntary collection agreements for residential platforms.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea: City limits are very specific; being near 'Carmel' does not always mean you are in the City jurisdiction (verify via zip 93921).
Carmel-by-the-Sea requires a minimum stay of 30 nights.
Carmel-by-the-Sea enforces quiet hours: 22:00 - 08:00.

Penalties4 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Citation and fines up to $1,000 per violation. Second offense: Increased administrative penalties. Third offense: Possible criminal prosecution (misdemeanor). Daily fine: Each day of violation is a separate offense. Maximum fine: Varies by enforcement action. Criminal penalties may apply.

Exemptions3 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Traditional hotels, motels, and Bed & Breakfasts in commercial zones.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Mar 31, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Residential STRs prohibited
All residential property types prohibited
Severe night cap: 0 nights/year
Long minimum stay: 30 nights
Tenants cannot host
No STR-specific permit required
No primary residence requirement
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredNo

Night limitYes

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility5 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Carmel-by-the-Sea does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Carmel-by-the-Sea prohibits STRs in the following property types: All residential dwellings, Apartments, Condominiums, Single-family homes.

Requirements15 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea: The 30-day minimum stay is enforced regardless of whether the host is present.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Only commercial zones permit transient lodging, and these are restricted to hotels/motels.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: The city does not issue any type of 'Home Sharing' permit for residential homes.

Application process4 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea STR permit - Step 1: Prohibition Verification. Understand that short-term rentals (less than 30 consecutive days) are strictly prohibited in all residential districts of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Time: Immediate.

Taxes1 rule

Carmel-by-the-Sea charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 10%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Since STRs are prohibited, there are no voluntary collection agreements for residential platforms.

Limits & restrictions3 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea: City limits are very specific; being near 'Carmel' does not always mean you are in the City jurisdiction (verify via zip 93921).
Carmel-by-the-Sea requires a minimum stay of 30 nights.
Carmel-by-the-Sea enforces quiet hours: 22:00 - 08:00.

Penalties4 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Citation and fines up to $1,000 per violation. Second offense: Increased administrative penalties. Third offense: Possible criminal prosecution (misdemeanor). Daily fine: Each day of violation is a separate offense. Maximum fine: Varies by enforcement action. Criminal penalties may apply.

Exemptions3 rules

Carmel-by-the-Sea exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Traditional hotels, motels, and Bed & Breakfasts in commercial zones.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

3Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Are short-term rentals allowed in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

3Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

4What happens if I operate an illegal STR in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Disclaimer