Waves along the Carmel-by-the-Sea coastline

For more than a century, Carmel-by-the-Sea homes were known by charming names and cross-street descriptions rather than numbers. In 2026 that changed. After years of debate, the City Council approved an address map in June, and the city began rolling out street numbers to homes in September.

Here is what the change means if you own, sell or plan to buy a home in Carmel.

If you own a home in Carmel

  • Confirm your new number. The city has shared address notices through newsletters and mailed postcards. Keep yours with your important papers.
  • Update the important records. Your homeowner's insurance, property tax mailing information, utilities, lender and any trust or estate documents may all benefit from listing the new address alongside the legal description.
  • Help emergency responders find you. Safety was one of the main reasons for the change, so make sure your number is clearly visible.

If you are selling

During a transition like this, the same home can appear in different records under different descriptions. A careful listing agent will make sure the MLS, disclosures, the title report and escrow all describe the property consistently, using the parcel number as the anchor. That small step helps avoid delays at closing.

If you are buying

When you search for Carmel homes online, you may see a property described both ways for a while. Ask your agent to confirm the parcel number and the new address before you write an offer, and make sure your lender and insurance carrier have the same information.

Will Carmel still feel like Carmel?

The 1929 Las Tiendas building with its original tile stairway in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea
Las Tiendas, built in 1929, in downtown Carmel. Photo by Gregory Ford Henderson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Numbers on the cottages will not change the cypress-lined streets, the beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue or the walk-everywhere village life that draws people here. If anything, it is a reminder that Carmel's character comes from its people and places, not its paperwork.

Questions about your Carmel home?

Whether you are thinking about selling a longtime family home or buying your first Carmel cottage, I am happy to talk it through. Explore my Carmel-by-the-Sea neighborhood guide, send me a note, or call (831) 254-6559.

Barbara J. Weidman, REALTOR® | SRES®, Compass | DRE #01931922

Top photo: Carmel-by-the-Sea coastline by Chris Leipelt, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.