Monterey County
short-term rental taxes.

Tax and permit requirements for Monterey County. Use your full address to find its governing authorities.

Outside city limits: what you need to do in unincorporated Monterey County

From the linked source

To do
Meet the local rental conditions
residential ban moving 2026.
To confirm
Check whether you need a license or permit
The record does not say whether Monterey County requires a short-term rental license. Ask the county licensing office.
To do
Collect and remit the 10.5% Monterey County occupancy tax yourself
The record says booking platforms do not collect it, so you add it to every booking, platform and direct, and pay it to the authority.
To do
File quarterly returns
The record does not state the due day; the tax office's calendar has it.

Verify each step with the authority before you file or apply. Source

Get a reminder before each quarterly Monterey County return is due

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Before you use these figures

Rental eligibility

Rental conditions are recorded for unincorporated Monterey County. residential ban moving 2026.

Check the recorded local source

What to know.

The record for Monterey County lists a 10.5% occupancy tax. City and district taxes are shown separately. Browse the local guides below and check your address.

At a glance.

County tax: 10.5%
State tax: Local only
Highest recorded city rate: 14%
Cities tracked: 12

The highest recorded city rate describes the available dataset. It is not a legal maximum or the full tax due for an address.

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Tax details

Exemptions, penalties, filing information, and effective dates from the linked sources.

Monterey County: Recorded exemptions

TOT 10.5% of rent for transient guests in hotels/motels, commercial/limited vacation rentals, homestays in unincorporated Monterey County (County Code 5.40). Filed 10.5% confirmed; no rate change. Watch: Measure E on Nov 2026 ballot would raise to 12.5% (not yet voted as of 2026-10-13).

Monterey County: Recorded remittance instructions

County TTC (mail/online)

Monterey County: Recorded filing schedule

Filing frequency: Quarterly.

Source for these notes: countyofmonterey.gov: transient occupancy tax

How county vs. city works here

The recorded county rate is 10.5%
The occupancy-tax rate for Monterey County is 10.5%. Use your address to find the applicable jurisdiction. You collect and remit this tax.
Check the rules for your local area
Open a city guide below for city and special district requirements.
Outside city limits, the county rules apply
The list under "Outside city limits" above is what Monterey County requires there. Special district rules may also apply.

Sources & confidence

How we collect and check this information · Report a problem with this page

FigureValueSourceStatus

Monterey County occupancy tax10.5%

Source

Source linked

California local lodging tax guidanceLocally administered

Source

Source linked

Sources for the county taxes and local requirements shown above.

Cities in Monterey County

Browse local tax and permit requirements or look up your full address.

Outside city limits (unincorporated Monterey County)? See what the county requires or Look up your exact address

Communities outside city limits

Unincorporated communities in Monterey County include Aromas, Boronda, Bradley, Carmel Valley Village, Castroville, Chualar, Del Monte Forest, Elkhorn, Fort Hunter Liggett, Las Lomas, Lockwood, Moss Landing, and 6 more. An address in one of them is outside city limits, so Monterey County rules apply. These are Census-designated places, not separate tax authorities.