Monterey County approves four new positions to enforce vacation-rental rules; vote 4-1

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday to add four positions in the Housing and Community Development (HCD) fund to implement and enforce newly adopted vacation‑rental regulations.

County staff told the board the positions — two code‑compliance inspectors, one Permit Technician III and one associate planner — are needed immediately to process a significant volume of new vacation‑rental applications, monitor renewals and enforce conditions of approval. Supervisor Askew moved the staff recommendation; Supervisor Daniels seconded. The motion passed on a roll call vote: Supervisor Alejo, aye; Supervisor Church, aye; Supervisor Buasque, aye; Supervisor Daniels, aye; Chair Supervisor Lopez, no.

Board action and why it matters

County staff said inland vacation‑rental regulations already went into effect Oct. 14, 2024, and the coastal zoning regulations were submitted to the California Coastal Commission on Sept. 20, 2024; those coastal rules must be certified by the commission before they take effect. According to the presentation, the county has an existing workload from inland permit processing and expects coastal certification to bring additional applications and revenue. Staff told the board the program will be financed initially from salary savings from unfilled positions and is projected to be self‑sustaining once fully implemented.

Staff described enforcement duties as coordinating with planners, the permit technician and the Treasurer‑Tax Collector’s office to track compliance and monitoring online advertisements for unpermitted listings. "Enforcement includes coordinating with the planner, permit technician, and the Treasurer‑Tax Collector's office on tracking and monitoring compliance for permitted vacation rentals and monitoring and tracking advertisements for unpermitted vacation rentals on hosted platforms," a staff member said during the presentation.

Board discussion

Supervisors pressed staff on timing and workload. One supervisor asked whether all four positions were needed immediately; staff replied, "We're asking for immediate for all 4 there," and later confirmed, "You have the work now." Budget committee members had recommended bringing the item to the full board for a vote but did not act to approve the request themselves.

Funding and next steps

Staff said the positions will be entered into the county's human resources system (Advantage HRM) and that the auditor‑controller and county administrative office would incorporate the changes into the fiscal year 2024–25 HCD adopted budget after board approval. Until the program is fully implemented, positions will be financed by salary savings from unfilled positions; staff projected the program would not impact the general fund over the life of the program once the ordinances are running and license fees and application revenue are realized.

The board did not set a separate implementation timeline beyond authorizing the positions and directing staff to implement them in Advantage HRM. The coastal regulations remain subject to certification by the California Coastal Commission, a step staff said could bring additional workload when it occurs.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Amend Community Development Fund 001, Appropriation Unit HCD002 Unit 8543 to add four positions (two code compliance inspectors, one Permit Technician III, and one associate planner); authorize the auditor‑controller and CAO to incorporate changes into FY 2024–25 HCD budget and direct Human Resources to implement in Advantage HRM. Mover: Supervisor Askew. Second: Supervisor Daniels. Outcome: approved. Vote: Alejo–Aye; Church–Aye; Buasque–Aye; Daniels–Aye; Lopez–No (4–1).

What the board did not do

The board did not certify coastal regulations — that remains a separate administrative and regulatory step handled by the California Coastal Commission — nor did it adopt an ordinance text or fee schedule as part of this staffing vote. Those program details will determine the timing when the positions move from salary‑savings support to fee‑backed, self‑sustaining funding.

Looking ahead

Staff said they will return to incorporate the positions into the county budget and implement classification changes in Advantage HRM. The coastal regulations were described as likely to be heard by the Coastal Commission in July; staff said the inland regulations are already in effect and enforcement and permitting work is underway.

The board's approval directs staff to implement the staffing changes and incorporate them into the fiscal year budget, but additional administrative steps, fee schedules and Coastal Commission actions will determine the program's full scope and ultimate budgetary impact.