Monterey County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Monterey County's three rental categories differ chiefly by host presence. A Homestay is a hosted rental: the owner must occupy the property and at least one bedroom during each guest stay, making the host physically present. Homestays are the least restricted category and are not capped. Limited Vacation Rentals (whole-house rentals up to three times per year) and Commercial Vacation Rentals (more than three times per year) are non-hosted - the owner does not need to be present - but the ordinance compensates with a mandatory 24-hour local contact or property manager requirement. That designated contact must be reachable at all times and respond to complaints; reporting on the ordinance describes a requirement to respond and arrive within 30 minutes, with the contact located within a defined radius of the rental. Commercial Vacation Rentals in particular are described as needing a property manager available around the clock. This contact-person system substitutes for on-site host presence at non-hosted rentals, ensuring neighbors and the County have a responsible party to address noise, parking, trash, or safety issues quickly. Operators must post the local contact's name and phone number inside the unit and provide it to neighbors and the County as part of the license. Because host presence (or a rapid-response contact) is a condition of every license type, failing to maintain it is a compliance issue.