Monterey, California Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated September 03, 2023

Monterey Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

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  • Short Term City Rating
    5.2
  • Competition

    6.3
  • Real Estate Cost

    2.1
  • STR Regulations

    N/A
  • Seasonality

    2.2
  • Rental Rates

    10.0

Monterey, California Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
30,218
STR License Required
No
Tourist Season
June to September
County
Monterey
Airports
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Review our Monterey California short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Monterey?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Monterey rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Monterey rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Monterey.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Monterey Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Monterey guests.

Interested in other California cities?

Check out the California Airbnb rules directory 

What makes Monterey a great place to invest?

Monterey, California, with its breathtaking coastal views, world-class attractions, and diverse marine life, presents a compelling opportunity for investing in short-term rentals.
  1. World-Class Tourist Attractions: Monterey is home to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, a must-visit destination for tourists from around the world. Additionally, the historic Cannery Row, once the center of the sardine-packing industry, is now a bustling waterfront street with shops, restaurants, and beautiful ocean views.
  2. Proximity to Natural Beauty: The city is adjacent to the stunning coastline of the Pacific Ocean, offering a plethora of outdoor activities such as whale watching, kayaking, and hiking. The nearby 17-Mile Drive, one of the most scenic drives in the world, attracts visitors year-round.
  3. Educational Institutions: Monterey is home to several educational institutions, including the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the Naval Postgraduate School. These institutions attract students, faculty, and visitors from around the world, creating a steady demand for short-term rentals.
  4. Professional Events and Conferences: The city hosts numerous professional events and conferences throughout the year, attracting business travelers and professionals from various industries. The Monterey Conference Center is a state-of-the-art facility that hosts events, conventions, and meetings.
  5. Diverse Marine Life: Monterey Bay is a marine sanctuary with a diverse range of marine life, making it a popular destination for marine enthusiasts and researchers. Tourists flock to the area to experience the unique marine ecosystem, contributing to the demand for short-term rentals.

Monterey Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Monterey?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Monterey has decreased -1% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $1,209, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$2,133,956

-1% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$1,209

2% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$3,085

4% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Monterey, California

Word Cloud for Monterey, California Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Monterey short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Monterey has a description approximately 1,848 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 608 listings in Monterey, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Carmel, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Beach, View, Monterey Bay, Sea, Beautiful, Family, and Patio.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Monterey?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Monterey involve Adventure Activities, Hiking, Surfing, Cycling, and Whale Watching. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Adventure Activities

Hiking

Surfing

Cycling

Whale Watching

Winery Tours

Museums

Health Spa

Horseback Riding

Swimming

Scuba Diving

Antiquing

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Monterey, including Carmel Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, 17-Mile Drive, Cannery Row, and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Well Known Attraction

17-Mile Drive

Included on 60% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Fisherman's Wharf

Included on 60% of listings

Well Known Attraction

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

Included on 60% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Monterey County Fairgrounds

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Presidio of Monterey

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Del Monte Beach

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Munras Avenue

Included on 60% of listings

Regional Landmark

Waterfront

Included on 59% of listings

Regional Landmark

The Links at Spanish Bay

Included on 58% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Carmel Beach

Included on 57% of listings

Well Known Attraction

Cannery Row

Included on 57% of listings

What’s the weather like in Monterey, California?

The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 63°, while the average low is about 50°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 18 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall is scarce, with an average year having no snowfall. The humidity levels in Monterey are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

46° Low 60° High

Precipitation
10.6"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
49%

Spring

March through May

49° Low 62° High

Precipitation
4.4"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
40%

Summer

June through August

54° Low 66° High

Precipitation
0.1"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
13%

Fall

September through November

52° Low 66° High

Precipitation
3.0"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
26%