Bolthole Index

Monterey County, California

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Del Rey Oaks, California

Del Rey Oaks, California adopts its own building codes inside city limits through Title 15 of its municipal code1. The city also sets its own zoning, with a 6,000-square-foot minimum building site in R-1 districts2. We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside the city, so ask Monterey County Environmental Health and City Hall before you buy.

At a glance

Building codes
Adopted by the city (Title 15); city rules, not county, apply inside city limits1
Zoning
City zoning with R-1 and R-2 districts23
Minimum lot (R-1)
6,000 sq ft building site2
Minimum home size (R-1)
900 sq ft, excluding garages and porches4
Front yard (R-1)
At least 20 ft deep5
RV or camper living
Limited: prohibited in residential zones except narrow exceptions6
Short-term rentals
Need a city license7
Septic
Not confirmed inside the city; ask Monterey County Environmental Health8

Who to call

Building permits

City of Del Rey Oaks, City Hall

The city's own building, planning and zoning matters inside Del Rey Oaks city limits

(831) 394-8511

650 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940

Building permits

Del Rey Oaks permit and planning forms

Downloadable city forms, including building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and solar permit applications and a planning and building guidelines packet

Septic permits

Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau (Land Use)

Septic (onsite wastewater) permits in unincorporated Monterey County; whether it serves addresses inside Del Rey Oaks is unconfirmed

(831) 755-4505

1270 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93906

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Del Rey Oaks means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Del Rey Oaks, California?

Del Rey Oaks adopts model building codes through its own municipal code, with Title 15 amendments layered on top1. The city, not Monterey County, runs building rules inside city limits, so the county's unincorporated-area permit counter is the wrong office for a Del Rey Oaks address. The city publishes building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and solar permit application forms9.

We could not confirm a complete rule for exactly which projects need a permit or what exemptions apply, and we could not confirm an owner-builder exemption inside the city. Ask City Hall before you assume any project is exempt10.

Who issues building permits in Del Rey Oaks, and how do you reach them?

City Hall at 650 Canyon Del Rey Blvd handles city matters, and the phone number is (831) 394-851110. The city's forms page carries the permit applications and a planning and building guidelines packet that explains the process9. Start there, then call City Hall to confirm which forms your project needs.

Monterey County Housing & Community Development issues construction permits for unincorporated land only, so it is not the office for a lot inside Del Rey Oaks. For land outside city limits, see the Monterey County page.

Does Del Rey Oaks have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Del Rey Oaks writes its own zoning in its municipal code, and the rules differ by district5. In R-1 districts, a building site must be in one ownership with at least 6,000 square feet2. A dwelling in R-1 must have at least 900 square feet of floor area, not counting garages and porches4. R-1 lots need a front yard at least 20 feet deep, and a master-plan street line can require more5.

In R-2 districts, buildings may cover no more than 60 percent of the lot in total, and more than one dwelling may sit on a lot3.

Accessory dwellings follow Chapter 17.70, and a junior accessory dwelling unit is capped at 500 square feet11. We could not find a numeric building height limit.

How do septic permits work in Del Rey Oaks?

We could not confirm who regulates septic systems inside Del Rey Oaks. Monterey County's septic rules apply to unincorporated land, and the county's chapter can reach a city only through a written agreement between the county and that city12. We also could not confirm whether new homes in the city must connect to public water or sewer.

Before you buy, ask the Monterey County Environmental Health Bureau at (831) 755-4505 whether it handles septic permits for your address8, and ask City Hall whether sewer service reaches the lot10. For wells, the same caution applies: we could not confirm a well-permit rule specific to the city.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Del Rey Oaks?

Mostly no. Mobile homes are prohibited on lots in residential zones, and travel trailers, camp cars and campers are prohibited there except for listed exceptions6. One such vehicle may be kept wholly inside a lawful structure, and a residential-lot placement must be at least 20 feet from the street line and at least 3 feet from a building used for habitation6. Loading and unloading is allowed for up to 48 hours, and a bona fide guest may store one for up to 7 days6.

Camping is prohibited except in expressly permitted circumstances, and no location may be used for camping under the driveway and yard provisions for more than 3 days in a calendar month13. We could not confirm a general tiny-home occupancy rule inside the city.

Building a home in Del Rey Oaks: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district of the lot with City Hall, then check the minimum site, floor area and yard rules for that district2.
  2. Download the planning and building guidelines packet and the permit applications from the city's forms page9.
  3. Check flood-hazard status: the city regulates development and manufactured homes in mapped flood zones14.
  4. Apply to the city for building permits under its adopted codes1.
  5. Ask Monterey County Environmental Health whether septic or sewer applies to your lot8.

If a subdivision is involved, the city requires a tentative map reviewed by its subdivision committee15.

What stays with Monterey County, and what to check before you buy?

Monterey County's unincorporated rules do not apply inside Del Rey Oaks. Septic is the main question to settle with the county's Environmental Health Bureau8. Property tax, land value and climate figures are county-level: Monterey County's effective property tax rate is 0.7 percent16.

If you plan to rent the home short-term, the city requires a license that lasts 1 year and does not transfer with the property7. For land outside city limits, use the Monterey County page.

Watch-outs

  • Search results for Monterey County permits point to the county counter in Salinas, which serves unincorporated land only; a Del Rey Oaks address goes through City Hall10.
  • We could not confirm a complete list of projects that need a building permit inside the city, so call City Hall before starting work10.
  • We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside the city; ask Monterey County Environmental Health8.
  • Short-term rentals need a city license before operating, and it expires after 1 year7.

Sources

  1. Municipal Code § 15.01.010, Building Code (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  2. Municipal Code § 17.08.040, Building site area requirements (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  3. Municipal Code § 17.12.040, R-2 building site area (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  4. Municipal Code § 17.08.080, Building area requirements (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  5. Municipal Code § 17.08.050, Front yard requirements (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  6. Municipal Code § 10.28.020, Residential-zone mobile homes and campers (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  7. Municipal Code § 5.24.060, Short-term-rental license required (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  8. Monterey County Health Department, Environmental Health Bureau (Land Use) (countyofmonterey.gov)
  9. Del Rey Oaks permit and planning forms (delreyoaks.org)
  10. City of Del Rey Oaks, City Hall (delreyoaks.org)
  11. Municipal Code § 17.70.010, Accessory dwelling units (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  12. Adopted Monterey County Code Chapter 15.20, Sewage Disposal (2026 county census)
  13. Municipal Code § 9.06.010, Camping prohibited (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  14. Municipal Code § 15.44.170, Standards for subdivisions and other proposed development (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  15. Municipal Code § 16.14.010, Standard tentative-map subdivision procedure (Del Rey Oaks), quoted and re-checked
  16. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Del Rey Oaks

Del Rey Oaks’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • Title 15 amendments apply to the adopted model codes.
    “Except as otherwise amended by Title 15 of this Municipal Code, the following model codes are hereby adopted and are incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof as if fully set forth herein:”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Dwelling houses in R-1 districts.

    • Garages and porches are excluded.

    minimum floor area: >= 900 sq ft (Excludes garages and porches.)

    “In the R-1 districts, each building erected as a dwelling house shall have not less than 900 square feet of floor area excluding garages and porches.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 building sites.

    • A preexisting small-parcel exception applies to qualifying parcels owned when the ordinance was adopted, shown as lots on a Monterey County subdivision map filed before adoption, where the owner owns no adjoining land and all other district regulations are satisfied.
    • No more than one dwelling is allowed per lot except as provided in § 17.04.060.

    minimum building-site area: >= 6000 sq ft (Qualifying preexisting small parcel.)

    “Shall be located on a building site in one ownership having an area of not less than 6,000 square feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 districts.

    • A master-plan street building line may require a greater front-yard depth.

    minimum front-yard depth: >= 20 ft (Depth specified by the city master plan if applicable.)

    “In the R-1 districts, each lot shall have a front yard not less than 20 feet in depth”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Buildings on lots in R-2 districts.

    • R-2 site-area requirements are the same as R-1 except that more than one dwelling may be on one lot.

    maximum aggregate lot coverage: <= 60 percent

    “In the R-2 districts, the buildings on any lot shall not cover in the aggregate more than 60 percent of its area.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Mobile homes, travel trailers, camp cars, and campers on land inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • Mobile homes are prohibited on lots in residential zones.
    • Travel trailers, camp cars, and campers are prohibited in residential zones except for the listed exceptions.
    • One facility may be kept wholly within a lawfully existing structure.
    • A residential-lot placement must be at least 20 feet from a street line and at least three feet from a building used for human habitation.
    • A planning-commission use permit must have been granted and the structure must be screened from public streets.
    • Loading and unloading may occur for up to 48 hours; bona fide guest temporary storage may occur for up to seven days.
    • In nonresidential zones, the listed vehicles are prohibited except where storage, sale, or business use is permitted.

    street-line setback: >= 20 ft (Residential-zone travel trailer, camp car, or camper placement.) · distance from habitation building: >= 3 ft (Residential-zone travel trailer, camp car, or camper placement.) · loading/unloading duration: <= 48 hours (Temporary residential-zone exception.) · guest storage duration: <= 7 days (Bona fide guest exception.)

    “It is unlawful for any person to place, keep or maintain or permit to be placed, kept or maintained any mobile home, travel trailer, camp car, or camper upon any lot, piece or parcel of land within the nonresidential zones of the city except where storage, sale or business use, are permitted in such zone.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping on public or private property inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • Camping is prohibited except in expressly permitted circumstances.
    • Permitted circumstances include designated public camping areas, city-authorized events, Monument RV Resort Park, and specified residential-yard, religious-institution, business-institution, and residential-driveway vehicle locations with required consent.
    • Residential-yard camping must be in the rear yard or screened from the street.
    • The vehicle provisions require a licensed and registered vehicle and a valid driver's license for the driver/occupant.
    • No location may be used for camping under subsection D for more than three days during one calendar month.
    • Camping is prohibited where it creates noise or inadequate sanitation, conflicts with Title 17, involves payment, or violates applicable HOA restrictions.

    maximum camping at one location under subsection D: <= 3 days per calendar month

    “Camping may be permitted in the City of Del Rey Oaks only under the following circumstances:”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in mapped flood-hazard zones inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • Applies to placement or substantial improvement in Zones A1-30, AH, and AE.
    • Covered sites include locations outside a manufactured-home park or subdivision, new parks or subdivisions, expansions, and existing parks or subdivisions where the home has incurred substantial flood damage.
    • Covered homes must be elevated and anchored as specified.
    • For certain existing-park sites, reinforced piers or equivalent foundation elements must be at least 36 inches above grade.
    • Elevation must be certified by a registered civil engineer or licensed land surveyor and verified by the community building inspector.

    alternative chassis-support height: >= 36 in (Existing manufactured-home park or subdivision sites not subject to subsection A.)

    “Within Zones A1-30, AH, and AE on the community's Flood Insurance Rate Map, be elevated on a permanent foundation such that the lowest floor of the manufactured home is elevated to or above the base flood elevation”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • Chapter 17.70 establishes standards in conformance with California Government Code sections 65852.2 and 65852.22, as amended.
    • An ADU is an attached or detached dwelling with independent living facilities on a lot with a proposed or existing primary residence; the definition includes efficiency units and manufactured homes.
    • A JADU is no more than 500 square feet, entirely within a single-family residence, and contains an efficiency kitchen.
    • The supplied official sections do not include the complete Chapter 17.70 approval and development standards.

    JADU maximum size: <= 500 sq ft (Must be entirely within a single-family residence and contain an efficiency kitchen.)

    “Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit or JADU as defined in California Government Code Section 65852.22, means a unit that is no more than 500 square feet in size”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Tentative-map subdivision proposals inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • A preliminary map is submitted to and reviewed by the subdivision committee.
    • Required data include a title report, slope staking where average cross slope exceeds ten percent, map dimensions, lot data, proposed sewer and water lines, and other listed information.

    slope-staking threshold: > 10 percent average cross slope (Critical points on proposed sidehill roads.) · minimum map scale: 1 inch equals 100 feet · minimum map size: 18 inches by 26 inches

    “critical points on proposed sidehill roads as determined by the city engineer shall be slope staked by flagging to indicate the general limits of cut and fill slopes if average cross slope exceeds ten percent.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Subdivisions and other proposed development in flood-hazard contexts inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • For proposed development greater than 50 lots or five acres, whichever is lesser, SFHAs and BFEs must be identified and lowest-floor and pad elevations shown.
    • Fill above BFE requires certified as-built information and a LOMR-F application.
    • All covered subdivision and development proposals must minimize flood damage, locate utilities to minimize flood damage, and provide adequate drainage.

    threshold: > 50 lots or 5 acres, whichever is lesser (Applies to section 15.44.170(A) identification and elevation requirements.)

    “All new subdivisions proposals and other proposed development, including proposals for manufactured home parks and subdivisions, greater than 50 lots or five acres, whichever is the lesser, shall:”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.

    • A license must be in effect for the dwelling unit.
    • The license expires one year after issuance, is nontransferable, does not run with the land, and is valid only at the original site.
    • Applications require property, owner/contact, local-response, floor-plan, site-plan, and safety information specified in § 5.24.060.
    • The application and renewal application require the fee established by City Council resolution.
    • The City Manager may deny applications for the reasons listed in subsection G.

    license term: 1 year (Expires one year from issuance.) · local-contact response time: <= 30 minutes (Contact must be able to physically respond.)

    “No person shall operate a Short-Term Rental unless a Short-Term Rental license is in effect for the dwelling unit pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Del Rey Oaks or Monterey County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.
  • Building height — Building-height controls inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Del Rey Oaks city limits.
8 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Del Rey Oaks publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Monterey County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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