Business Licensing & Operations in Monterey County, CA (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Monterey County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Adult Entertainment
Monterey County bars adult entertainment facilities within 1,000 feet of any residential zoning district, school, church, park or recreation facility used by minors, or another adult entertainment facility, and allows them only in commercial districts after obtaining a discretionary Coastal Development Permit.
Monterey County Adult Entertainment Facility Spacing
Significant RestrictionsMonterey County Code § 20.64.200(D)
No persons, whether as principal, agent, employee or independent contractor, either for himself or for any other person, or as an officer of any corporation or member of any partnership, or otherwise, shall place, maintain, own, or operate any adult entertainment facility in the following locations:a.Within one thousand (1,000) feet of any "HDR," "MDR," "LDR" or "RDR" district;b.Within one thou...
Massage Establishments
Operating a massage establishment in unincorporated Monterey County requires a Sheriff-issued license under County Code Section 11.25.040. Individual massage technicians need a separate permit, both require background review, and establishments may only run between 7 a.m. and 2 a.m.
Monterey County Massage Establishment Licenses
Significant RestrictionsMonterey County Code §§ 11.25.040, 11.25.120(D)
It shall be unlawful for any person, association, partnership or corporation to engage in, conduct, carry on, or to permit to be engaged in, conducted, or carried on, in or upon any premises within the County of Monterey, the operation of a "massage establishment" as herein defined, without a license issued pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter for each and every such massage establishment...
Tattoo & Body Modification
Anyone practicing tattooing, permanent cosmetics or body piercing in Monterey County needs a Department of Health permit under County Code Section 10.91.040. Unlike most Title 10 chapters, this one binds both incorporated and unincorporated areas, and operating without a permit is unlawful.
Monterey County Tattoo and Body Art Permits
Some RestrictionsMonterey County Code §§ 10.91.020(B), 10.91.040(A)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, owning, controlling, leasing, acting as agent for, conducting, managing or operating any establishment to practice or engage in the practice of body art or ear piercing without first applying for and receiving a permit from the Department in the manner hereinafter provided. ... It shall be the duty of the Director of Health to enforce th...
Tobacco Retail License
Unincorporated Monterey County requires every tobacco retailer, including vape and e-cigarette sellers, to hold a Tobacco Retailer License from the Health Officer under Chapter 7.80. The chapter also bans selling flavored tobacco products and single-use electronic cigarettes outright, on top of the licensing mandate.
Monterey County Vape and Tobacco Retailer License
Significant RestrictionsMonterey County Code § 7.80.040(G)-(H)
G.It shall be a violation of this Chapter for any tobacco retailer or any of the tobacco retailer's agents or employees to sell or offer for sale, or to possess with intent to sell or offer for sale, any flavored tobacco product...H.It shall be a violation of this Chapter for any tobacco retailer or any of the tobacco retailer's agents or employees to sell or offer for sale, or to possess with ...
Secondhand Dealers
Anyone who wants to run a junk shop, junkyard, or itinerant junk-buying business in unincorporated Monterey County needs the Board of Supervisors' permission under Monterey County Code Section 7.24.010, on top of a separate annual license under Section 7.24.040. The Sheriff investigates the applicant's character before permission is granted.
Monterey County Junk Dealer Licensing
Significant RestrictionsMonterey County Code § 7.24.010
Before any person, firm or corporation engages in the business of buying or selling old rope, iron, brass, copper, tin, lead, rags, slush, empty bottles, paper, bagging or other junk, whether at a fixed place of business or as an itinerant peddler, within any portion of the County of Monterey, subject to the police power of the County, he or she or it shall make an application to the Board of S...
Business Licensing & Operations by City in Monterey County
1 cities in Monterey County have their own business licensing & operations rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Monterey County ordinances
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