Monterey County, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- MCC § 18.01.050 (CBC § 105.2, as amended)
- Enforcing agency
- Building Services Unit, County RMA
- Exempt shed size
- Under 240 sq ft, no utilities
- Exempt deck size
- Under 200 sq ft, 30 in. max height
- Exempt ag building
- Under 500 sq ft on 2.5+ acre lot
- Application expiration
- 1 year unless issued/extended
- Last amended
- Ord. No. 5442, Dec. 9, 2025
Summary
In unincorporated Monterey County, a building permit is required for nearly all construction, alteration, repair or demolition work unless the project falls within a narrow list of exemptions set out in the County's amended California Building Code. The Building Services Unit of the County Resource Management Agency, not any incorporated city, administers these permits for unincorporated territory.
105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from building permit requirements of this Code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this Code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Although building permits will not be required as exempted in this section, other agencies or County departments may need to review for compliance with other provisions of the County Code and County regulations. Permits shall not be required for the following: ... 14. One-story detached structures used as arbors, pergolas, trellis structures, tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed two hundred forty (240) square feet and the structure does not contain any electrical, plumbing or mechanical work and is not used to store hazardous materials or vehicles. 15. Decks not exceeding two hundred (200) square feet in area, that are not more than thirty (30) inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a structure and do not serve as a component of any required exit or accessible route.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
2 and states that permits are required for construction work except for a defined set of exemptions. 5 acres or more, one story, under 500 square feet, with no electrical, plumbing or mechanical work; and low-voltage electrical work under 25 volts and 50 watts. Even exempt work must still comply with all other County Code provisions and may still require review by other agencies or departments, so an exemption from the building permit is not a blanket exemption from County regulation. 050(C), an application expires one year after filing unless a permit issues or the Building Official grants a written extension for up to one additional year upon a showing of justifiable cause, and the Board of Supervisors may charge a fee for that extension.
050(D) if work does not commence within one year, or if it is suspended or abandoned for one year, defined specifically as a period during which no required County inspection has been performed and documented in County records. The Building Official may grant one or more extensions of up to one year each on the same justifiable-cause and current-code-compliance standard. 01 was substantially rewritten by Ordinance No. 090.
Violations & Fines
Starting work that requires a permit before one is issued triggers additional fees under § 18.01.070(D), assessed by resolution of the Board of Supervisors on top of the standard permit fee. Under § 18.01.040(B)(1), the Building Official may withhold issuance of any permit, license or approval when there is reasonable cause to believe a County Code violation exists on the property, and must withhold it where an outstanding violation of Title 18 or the County Code is pending on that property, with narrow exceptions for work needed to abate the violation itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a backyard shed in unincorporated Monterey County?
Is a deck exempt from a building permit?
What happens if I start work without a permit?
How long is a Monterey County building permit application valid?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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