Monterey County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Extended Home Share (2026)
Key Facts
- Contracts allowed
- One at a time, one per 7 days
- Annual cap
- None, unlike limited rentals' 3/year
- Max overnight guests
- 2 per bedroom +1, cap 10
- Max daytime occupants
- 1.5x overnight, cap 15
- Governing section
- § 7.120.050
Summary
Monterey County lets an owner-occupied 'homestay' operate on an ongoing basis, unlike a limited vacation rental capped at three bookings a year. County Code § 7.120.050 limits a homestay to one rental contract at a time and one contract per seven-day period, with no annual cap on total weeks rented.
A.Homestays are an allowable use in designated zoning districts, pursuant to Titles 20 and 21 of the Monterey County Code, and shall meet all the requirements for Homestays in Section 20.64.290 or Section 21.64.290.B.Homestays are limited to only one rental contract at any given time and only one rental contract per seven-day period.C.The maximum occupancy limits for homestays are as follows:1.The maximum number of overnight occupants shall be calculated and limited to a not-to-exceed count of two persons per bedroom plus one and not counting infants (zero to twelve (12) months) and shall not exceed a total count of ten (10) persons per unit, no matter how many Bedrooms.
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
290. 020(J). 5 times the overnight limit and never more than fifteen people. 030(A), which confines the whole chapter to the unincorporated area.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the one-contract-per-week limit, or renting past the maximum occupancy figures in § 7.120.050(C), is a Chapter 7.120 violation subject to the civil citation schedule in § 7.120.160(D): up to $1,000 or 175% of the daily rate for a first offense, $2,500 or 275% for a second, and $5,000 or 375% for a third within a year, plus possible non-renewal under § 7.120.110(B)(5) after two substantiated violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Monterey County homestay be rented every week of the year?
How many guests can stay overnight at a Monterey County homestay?
What zoning approval does a homestay need beyond the Chapter 7.120 license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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