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

On-site parking is a required element of every Vacation Rental Operation License application in unincorporated Monterey County. The application package includes a parking plan, and the County reviews whether the property can accommodate guest vehicles on-site rather than relying on shoulder or street parking - an important issue on the narrow rural and coastal roads of areas like Carmel Valley, Big Sur, and the Carmel Highlands. The number of required spaces is generally keyed to the unit's bedroom count and the approved guest occupancy, and the County sets the specific parking condition on each license based on the submitted site plan. Because many properties in the unincorporated county sit on private roads or in fire-evacuation-sensitive canyon areas, maintaining clear access and adequate on-site parking is also tied to emergency-egress requirements. Guests are expected to park within the approved on-site spaces, and operators must include parking instructions in the information posted inside the rental and provided to guests. The County's published site and floor plan examples illustrate how applicants should depict driveways and parking areas. Operators should confirm the exact number of required on-site spaces with Housing and Community Development, since the ordinance applies the requirement through individual license conditions rather than a single fixed countywide number.