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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. California
  6. ·
  7. Monterey County

Monterey County

Moderate
CaliforniaUpdated Apr 19, 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 in unincorporated Monterey County are strictly regulated and require both a TOT Certificate and an Administrative or Use Permit. Regulations differ slightly between the Coastal Zone and Inland areas, with many high-demand areas like Big Sur facing caps or strict land-use restrictions.

Restriction level

Severity 10
Classification
Moderate
10
Severity

Why this classification

  • Tenants cannot host
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

If you're planning to rent out your property in Monterey County for short periods, there are some new rules to be aware of. In unincorporated areas, you'll likely need a permit, and there might be limits on how often you can rent it out. Some areas, like Big Sur, have banned certain types of short-term rentals altogether. However, you can rent your entire unhosted home up to three times per year without needing a commercial STR permit.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$686
Processing time4-8 weeks

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility7 rules
  • Monterey County: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Monterey County: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Monterey County does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
Requirements3 rules
  • Monterey County requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $500,000. Evidence of insurance specifically covering short-term rentals must be provided.
  • Monterey County: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Application process1 rule
  • STR regulations overview for Monterey County: Short-term rentals in unincorporated Monterey County are strictly regulated and require both a TOT Certificate and an Administrative or Use Permit. Regulations differ slightly between the Coastal Zone and Inland areas, with many high-demand areas like Big Sur facing caps or strict land-use restrictions.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Monterey County charges a registration fee of $686 (one_time).
Taxes1 rule
  • Monterey County charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.105%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Monterey County requires: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection.
Penalties1 rule
  • Monterey County enforces penalties: First offense: $1,000 per day. Maximum fine: None specified.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Monterey County exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals 30+ days (county).
  • Monterey County: 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

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