Monterey County, CA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Encampment Sanitation (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Monterey County Code Ch. 14.18
- Highway 1 ban
- Carmel River to SLO County line, all hours
- General ban hours
- 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Highway 1 penalty
- Up to $1,000 civil penalty
- Vehicle-sleeping discretion
- No citation if health/safety, absent posted no-parking
Summary
Monterey County outright bars overnight camping on public property and roads: Monterey County Code § 14.18.020 makes it unlawful to camp on any public road or public property between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless the site is expressly posted for overnight camping, and bans camping on the State Highway One right-of-way between the Carmel River and the San Luis Obispo County line at any time. Violators face up to a $1,000 civil penalty.
A.No person shall camp in the right-of-way of State Highway One between the Carmel River and the Monterey-San Luis Obispo County Line at any time.B.No person shall camp between the hours of six p.m. and six a.m. on any:1.Public road, or2.Public property, except when the public property is expressly designated and posted for overnight camping.
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
010 as erecting a tent or shelter for sleeping, arranging bedding for sleeping, or using a parked or standing vehicle for sleeping. 12. window to private property, including beaches, vacant lots, parking areas and commercial properties, unless the camper is the property's owner, lessee or house guest, or has the owner's or lawful possessor's permission and access to Health Officer-approved sanitary facilities on site. A gives the citing peace officer discretion not to cite a person sleeping or resting in a parked vehicle for health or safety reasons, unless the parking spot is specifically posted as a no-parking area, a built-in safeguard for people sheltering in vehicles. B caps it at not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). 18 heading itself last amended by Ordinance No. 5381 in 2022.
Violations & Fines
Camping on the State Highway One right-of-way between the Carmel River and the San Luis Obispo County line is punishable by a civil penalty of up to $1,000 under Monterey County Code § 14.18.040.B. Camping on other public property, public roads or private property outside the narrow exceptions in §§ 14.18.020 and 14.18.030 is a violation of those sections, though officers have discretion not to cite people sleeping in a parked vehicle for health or safety reasons unless the spot is posted no-parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sleeping in a parked car illegal in Monterey County?
Can I camp on a Monterey County beach or vacant lot?
Why is camping banned on Highway One near Big Sur at all hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California homelessness & encampment rules overview
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