County jurisdiction · checked 2026-09-13
Can you BnB it in unincorporated Monterey County?
AllowedUnincorporated Monterey County allows vacation rentals with an annually renewable county operation license, in three categories: hosted homestay, limited (up to 3 rentals a year), and commercial (capped by planning area and banned in Big Sur coastal). The license is issued to the operator, does not run with the land, and does not transfer to a buyer, who must apply for a new license.
Proposed, not in effect: County page lists California Coastal Commission certification of coastal vacation rental Ordinance 5439 as pending; the ordinance took effect 2025-10-24 subject to certification
source. This page states adopted law only; a pending change is never written as current law.
The rules, with their sources
Permit or licenseA permit or license is required before operating.L17.120.040(A) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Hosted onlyThe code does not limit rentals to hosted stays.L1MCC Chapter 7.120 (Ord. No. 5424, sec. 4, 9-10-2024); MCC 21.64.290 inland zoning (effective 10-14-2024); Title 20 coastal, Ord. No. 5439 (adopted 9-23-2025, effective 10-24-2025) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Primary residenceThe code does not require the rental to be the operator's primary residence.L1MCC Chapter 7.120 (Ord. No. 5424, sec. 4, 9-10-2024); MCC 21.64.290 inland zoning (effective 10-14-2024); Title 20 coastal, Ord. No. 5439 (adopted 9-23-2025, effective 10-24-2025) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Caps and limitsThree categories: Homestay (hosted, owner primary residence, no cap), Limited Vacation Rental (unhosted, max 3 rentals per 12 month period, no cap), Commercial Vacation Rental (unhosted, unlimited rentals, subject to planning area caps ranging from 2 to 226 units per the county program page). Commercial vacation rentals are prohibited in the Big Sur Coast Land Use Plan area. Planning area cap numbers are from the official county page, not read from the zoning section text.L1MCC Chapter 7.120 (Ord. No. 5424, sec. 4, 9-10-2024); MCC 21.64.290 inland zoning (effective 10-14-2024); Title 20 coastal, Ord. No. 5439 (adopted 9-23-2025, effective 10-24-2025) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Transfer when the home sellsThe operation license is personal to the operator and does not transfer. MCC 7.120.100(C): the license covers only the operator identified on the license and only the identified premises, does not run with the land, and is not transferable. No family, heir, trust, or entity exceptions appear in Chapter 7.120 as read.L17.120.100(C) · code text · checked 2026-09-13
Read the code text →
In the county's own words
7.120.040(A)“The operator who intends to operate a vacation rental shall obtain a license that is renewable annually for the fixed location and dwelling in which the vacation rental is to occur.” source
7.120.100(C)“A license is issued to the operator and covers only the operator identified on the license solely with respect to the premises identified on the license. The license does not run with the land and is not transferable.” source
7.120.020(Y)“for a period of thirty (30) consecutive calendar days or fewer.” source
Citation: MCC Chapter 7.120 (Ord. No. 5424, sec. 4, 9-10-2024); MCC 21.64.290 inland zoning (effective 10-14-2024); Title 20 coastal, Ord. No. 5439 (adopted 9-23-2025, effective 10-24-2025)
Check a specific address
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How this page was verified
Verified from the municipal code (level 1), checked on 2026-09-13 by the CanIBnB research desk. Research is AI assisted and human reviewed; the method, the level system, and the re-check schedule are on the How we verify page. If anything here is wrong, report it and it goes in the public corrections log.