Monterey County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Parking Rules (2026)

Section 21.64.290 of the Monterey County Code (added by Ord. 24-027, effective October 14, 2024 inland) and the Title 20 Coastal Vacation Rental Ordinance (effective October 24, 2025) require an On-Site Parking Plan as part of every Vacation Rental Operation License application. The plan must show that all vehicles associated with the authorized maximum occupancy can be parked on-site - typically interpreted as one off-street space per bedroom up to the property's authorized cap, consistent with Title 21 Chapter 21.58 (Off-Street Parking) and the underlying single-family residential parking standards. Use of public street parking by guests is discouraged, and where roads are narrow or impacted (notably Big Sur, Carmel Valley, and rural mountain roads), the County may impose conditions prohibiting on-street guest parking entirely. Commercial Vacation Rentals (CVRs) must designate a property manager available 24/7 who can be physically present on-site within 30 minutes to address parking complaints, noise, and other operational issues. Coastal-zone parcels are additionally subject to the certified Local Coastal Program and California Coastal Commission jurisdiction under Pub. Res. Code §30000 et seq.; the Coastal Commission required tighter parking conditions in the September 2025 Coastal Vacation Rental Ordinance certification, particularly for Big Sur, where CVRs are now prohibited and remaining LVRs face heightened parking review.