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

Monterey County's STR ordinance (added by Ord. 24-027, effective October 14, 2024 inland) sets daytime and overnight occupancy caps tied to bedroom count. Per County guidance and code summaries, the standard is two adults per bedroom with a maximum of nine adults at any property with four or more bedrooms. Children under a defined age generally do not count toward the cap, but the operator should consult their VROL and the current Master Operational Standards. Homestays - in which the principal resident occupies the property concurrently - are uncapped in count but limited by the same per-bedroom occupancy. Limited Vacation Rentals (LVRs), which are whole-home rentals while the owner is away, are capped at three rentals of similar character within any 12-month period and otherwise require principal-resident occupancy. Commercial Vacation Rentals (CVRs) are whole-home unlimited bookings; CVRs are prohibited in Big Sur, in low-density residential zones of the Carmel Area, and in all residential zones (RDR, LDR, MDR, HDR) of the Carmel Valley Area. Coastal-zone parcels (Big Sur, Carmel Bay, Pacific Grove fringe, Pajaro Dunes) are additionally subject to the Title 20 Coastal Vacation Rental Ordinance certified by the California Coastal Commission September 2025 (effective October 24, 2025), which mirrors most occupancy limits but layers on Coastal Act protections under Pub. Res. Code §30000 et seq.