Monterey County is a world-renowned destination, built on a foundation of hospitality. But right now, innocent families and visitors are paying the price for a sudden bureaucratic crackdown.

Recently, the County instituted strict new enforcement measures under Chapter 7.120 of the Monterey County Code regarding Short-Term Vacation Rentals. While most property owners are working diligently to comply with the new regulations, navigating an application process that is not only highly complex but takes a significant amount of time to complete, and waiting in months-long backlogs for permit approvals, County Code Enforcement is forcing hosts to immediately cancel all existing, upcoming reservations.

This sudden enforcement is already devastating innocent families and travelers who booked their vacations in good faith months in advance.

We, the undersigned—including concerned visitors, local business owners, and local residents—urge the Monterey County Board of Supervisors and Code Enforcement to adopt a compassionate "Wind-Down Grace Period" for existing vacation rental bookings.

Forcing the immediate cancellation of families who have already purchased flights, coordinated time off, and booked their stays is damaging to everyone involved. It subjects visitors to the extreme stress of making last-minute changes and scrambling to find new accommodations in an area where lodging options are already limited. Furthermore, it creates financial losses for local businesses and severely damages Monterey County’s reputation as a welcoming destination.

We respectfully request that the County:

• Honor Existing Bookings: Allow hosts who have pending permit applications to honor any reservations made prior to the Chapter 7.120 enforcement notices, up to a 60-day window.
• Stop Penalizing the Tourists: Focus enforcement on stopping new bookings for unpermitted properties, rather than punishing innocent families who are simply trying to visit our beautiful coast.
• Expedite the Backlog: Acknowledge the extreme delays in the County Permit Center and grant provisional operating status to responsible hosts actively trying to obtain their licenses.

Let’s enforce local zoning laws without ruining the vacations of innocent travelers and hurting our local tourism economy. Please grant a reasonable grace period to wind down existing reservations.