Short-Term Rentals in Monterey, CA (2026)

4 verified short-term rentals rules for Monterey, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Taxes & Fees

Monterey's Uniform Transient Occupancy Tax expressly reaches Airbnb and VRBO listings: any structure rented for 30 days or less is a "visitor accommodation facility," so a short-term rental host owes the same 12% tax on rent as a hotel, collected from the guest and remitted monthly to the Finance Director.

Monterey Short-Term Rental Occupancy Tax

Some Restrictions

Monterey City Code § 35-10; § 35-11

Visitor Accommodation Facility. Any structure, or any portion of a structure, which is occupied or intended or designed for occupancy by transients for dwelling, lodging or sleeping purposes for periods of 30 days or less, including any inn, residential dwelling unit, motel, or lodging house, bed and breakfast inn, single room occupancy hotel, hostel, rental unit, public or private residential ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Monterey bans short-term residential rentals in every residential district unless established before August 6, 1991, and only if registered, so newly created vacation rentals are illegal citywide. The one lawful year-round exception lets an owner-occupant rent out their own residence while temporarily away, but no more than once every 12 months, under Monterey City Code § 38-11.

Monterey Short-Term Rentals: Owner-Occupant Exemption Only

Heavy Restrictions

Monterey City Code §§ 38-11, 38-26(O)

Short-term Residential Rental: Rental of any residential building, portion of such building, or group of such buildings in which there are guest rooms or suites, including housekeeping units, for transient guests, where lodging with or without meals is provided for a period of less than a calendar month or less than 30 consecutive days. ... Rental of a residential unit by an owner-occupant who ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Monterey has banned new short-term residential rentals in every residential district since August 6, 1991; only rentals already operating before that date may continue, and even they can lose that right. Under Monterey City Code § 38-26(O)(2)(d), an existing short-term rental that violates the chapter or is found to be a nuisance forfeits its right to keep operating, with revocation handled through the § 38-221 permit-revocation hearing process.

Monterey Short-Term Rental Forfeiture Rule

Significant Restrictions

Monterey City Code § 38-26(O)(1), (O)(2)(d)

1. Future Rentals Prohibited.Short-term residential rentals are prohibited in all residential districts if established after August 6, 1991, or if not qualified for limited grandfathering pursuant to subparagraph 2 below. ... d.Any short-term residential rental operated in violation of this chapter or that is determined to constitute a nuisance shall forfeit its right to continue operation as a...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Monterey City Code § 22-19.5 makes it unlawful for a 'responsible party' to advertise a short-term residential rental that is otherwise prohibited by city code, but the section expressly defines 'responsible party' to exclude online hosting platforms and companies, placing liability on the property owner or tenant instead.

Monterey Exempts Platforms From Rental Ad Liability

Light Restrictions

Monterey City Code § 22-19.5(b)(2)

Sec. 22-19.5. Advertisement of short-term rentals. a.No responsible party shall post, publish, circulate, broadcast or maintain any advertisement of a short-term residential rental prohibited by the Monterey City Code. ... 2.“Responsible party” means any property owner or tenant, or any agent or representative thereof, who causes or permits any violation of this Code. To cause or permit include...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Monterey County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Monterey city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Monterey County →