Monterey County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Monterey County's Vacation Rental Ordinances tie maximum guest occupancy to the number of legal bedrooms in the dwelling. Reporting on the County rules describes an occupancy standard of roughly two adults per bedroom with an overall cap for larger homes (commonly cited as a maximum of nine adults for homes with four or more bedrooms), a framework also mirrored in several incorporated cities in the county. The precise occupancy figure for any given property is established as a condition of the Vacation Rental Operation License and is reviewed against the site and floor plans submitted with the application, along with septic capacity, parking, and the type of license (Homestay, Limited, or Commercial). Because homestays are owner-occupied, the owner's household and at least one owner-occupied bedroom factor into how the dwelling can be rented. Operators must post the approved occupancy limit and the local contact information inside the unit, and exceeding the approved occupancy is a license violation. Septic and water constraints in rural and coastal areas such as Carmel Valley and Big Sur can result in lower approved occupancy than the general two-per-bedroom guideline. Operators should confirm the exact approved occupancy on their license rather than assuming a fixed countywide number, as limits are applied case by case.