Where short-term rentals are allowed in Monterey, CA
Monterey's Code Compliance office states that renting a house for under 30 days is illegal in the city. Advertising one is covered by an ordinance the city says it is actively enforcing. Suspected violations go by email to the Code Compliance Coordinator.[4]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Can you rent short term in Monterey?
Your zoning decides
- Seasonal homes
- 966
- Housing units
- 14,136
- Residents
- 29,613
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates
- City ruleAllowed by zone
- City feeNone published
- Tax on each stay12%
- Seasonal homes68 per 1,000
Monterey short-term rental ban
Monterey does not permit short-term rentals, meaning stays under 30 days, except in areas zoned for Visitor Accommodation Facilities. That wording comes from the city's tax FAQ, last updated July 1, 2025. Anyone operating one is still required to collect the transient occupancy tax, set at 12% of all rent. Payment reaches the city by the 15th of the following month. The FAQ counts vacation rentals marketed through Airbnb as visitor accommodation facilities, whether or not they are permitted to operate.[5]
What Monterey asks of you
The Code Compliance office puts it in one heading: rentals under 30 days are prohibited in the City of Monterey.[4]
The tax FAQ words it differently. Such rentals are not permitted in any areas except those zoned for Visitor Accommodation Facilities.[5]
Monterey City Code section 22-19.5 is the ordinance on advertisement of short-term rentals that the city enforces.[4]
The city pages give no fine amount for running or advertising a short-term rental.[4]
The city pages describe no permit, registration or license for renting a home short term.[4]
What California asks wherever you host
These rules apply at this address whatever the city decides.
No state license exists for short-term rentals in California. The state's 2025 act on booking platforms says it does not preempt a local short-term rental ordinance.[1]
Since July 1, 2024, every mandatory fee has to sit inside the rate you advertise. Only government taxes and fees may be added later.[2]
State law caps city fines when a short-term rental violation threatens health or safety. The first ceiling is $1,500. A second violation within the year reaches $3,000, each later one $5,000.[3]
What a guest pays on top of your nightly rate in Monterey
Each layer is set by a different authority, and not all of them are collected by the platform.
| Layer | Rate | Remitted to |
|---|---|---|
| Monterey transient occupancy tax[6] | 12% | The city |
| Total on a taxable stay | 12% |
The city's FAQ says its tax definition includes vacation rentals whether or not they are permitted to operate. It requires the person operating one to collect the tax, then remit it to the city.[5]
Airbnb taxes for hostsWhat the census counts
How much of Monterey is already a second home
The Census Bureau counts 966 of Monterey's 14,136 homes as vacant for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. That is 68 out of every 1,000. It ranks Monterey 18th of the 37 California cities on this site for the share of its housing stock kept for part-year use.
- Rank in the state
- 18th of 37
- Share of housing
- 68 per 1,000
- Median home value
- $1,076,300
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, tables B25004, B25001, B01003 and B25077.
Nearby and comparable
Where Monterey sits among its neighbors
Riverside County, CA
Permit required
Unincorporated land only. Idyllwild and Wine Country are capped. New certificates there go through a lottery.
Riverside County short-term rental rulesCarmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Allowed by zone
1,542 seasonal homes, 448 per 1,000 housing units.
Carmel-by-the-Sea short-term rental rulesCathedral City, CA
Allowed by zone
2,843 seasonal homes, 126 per 1,000 housing units.
Cathedral City short-term rental rulesTwentynine Palms, CA
License required
572 seasonal homes, 54 per 1,000 housing units.
Twentynine Palms short-term rental rulesFAQ
Monterey short-term rental questions
Is Airbnb legal in Monterey, California?
Are short-term rentals allowed anywhere in Monterey?
What happens if Monterey occupancy tax is paid late?
What is the fine for an illegal short-term rental in Monterey?
Sources
- Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025 (SB 346), Government Code sections 50990 to 50996, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Business and Professions Code section 17568.6, lodging price display, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Government Code section 36900, fines for city ordinance violations, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Code Compliance, City of Monterey, read on October 1, 2026
- Transient Occupancy Tax, CCFD, and TID Frequently Asked Questions, City of Monterey, read on October 1, 2026
- Visitor Accommodation Facilities, City of Monterey, read on October 1, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb host fee calculator
What Airbnb takes on a booking under the 15.5% host-only fee or the old split fee, what the guest pays on top, and the payout that reaches you.
Airbnb cleaning checklist generator
Build a printable turnover checklist by room, with restock, photos to take and a place for the cleaner to sign. Free PDF, no sign-up.
Check-in instructions
The message a guest reads before getting in: access, keys, WiFi, parking, contact. English or bilingual output.