South Lake Tahoe vacation home rental rules

• Renting a whole home for less than 30 days without a permit is unlawful, and so is advertising or listing it (sec. 3.50.380).
• Measure T: the city says a court struck it down "in its entirety" and the council chose not to appeal (April 1 2025). The old permanent-resident permits are gone; new rules took effect July 17 2025 and April 23 2026.
• Residential areas vs. the rest: one permit type, with tighter rules in residential areas than in the Tourist Core and commercial areas. Residential permits are capped at 900; since Aug 21 2026 new residential applications wait on a list, with no date given.
• Owner only, one per parcel. No transfers except to a co-owner or family trust; a sale means a new application. Condos are allowed unless the HOA bans rentals; other multifamily units aren't.
• Fees (city page): $548 to apply; inspection $285 (residential areas, before the permit); yearly fee by guest count. Apply and pay only through the city's online portal.
• Renewal: permits last a year; a late renewal voids the permit.

"a clearly visible and legible notice posted on or directly adjacent to the inside of the front door"Sec. 3.50.440(I)

1. The property manager's name and a number that takes texts, answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. The most occupants.
3. The most vehicles allowed on the property.
4. Parking rules for seasonal snow removal.
5. Trash pickup day, and that trash and recycling stay in a bear box or approved animal-resistant cart.
6. That occupants may be cited and fined for a disturbance or for breaking these rules.
7. That going over the parking and occupancy limits is a violation.

Also inside: a copy of the permit and of the conditions in sec. 3.50.440 (sec. 3.50.440(E)).

Outside (sec. 3.50.440(J)): a sign visible from the street with the property manager and owner, the 24/7 number, the most occupants and vehicles, the police department's vacation home rental hotline and email, and the code section.

• Guests: the lower of 4 per paved parking space (20 at 5 spaces) or a bedroom count: 2 per bedroom plus 4 outside residential areas, 2 per bedroom inside them. Up to 5 kids 13 and under don't count.
• Renter 25 or older; in residential areas the manager checks guests in with the Good Neighbor Contract.
• Parking only in marked spaces at least 9 by 19 feet.
• Trash: bear box or approved animal-resistant cart only.
• Quiet: no hot tub, outdoor amplified sound or noisy equipment from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.
• No weddings or parties, camping or RVs.
• Residential areas: indoor noise monitors, outdoor video monitors, and a local contact who will "respond in person within 60 minutes."
• Ads carry the permit number (sec. 3.50.440(F)). Three upheld citations in 24 months revokes the permit.

• Transient occupancy tax, 12% (14% for some redevelopment-area properties), cleaning and booking fees included (secs. 3.50.040-.050).
• Register with the city within 30 days of starting; returns are due by the 15th, and postmarks don't count.
• Tourism district fee: $5.50 a night "for timeshares and agent-managed vacation home rentals," paid by the guest.
• The city's pages don't say whether booking platforms collect this tax, so plan on filing it yourself unless the city tells you otherwise.