VHR ENFORCEMENT

Vacation Home Rentals (VHRs) are enforced by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department's Vacation Home Rental Code Enforcement Team.

To make a complaint or report a disturbance, please contact 530 542-6100 at the time of the disturbance and an officer will be dispatched in response. Enforcement is available 24/7. In a non-emergency situation, such as a noise or trash complaint, we ask that you call this number instead of calling 911. We invite your calls, and ask that you provide the address of the property in question. Caller details will NEVER be disclosed to others. Please do not call anonymously as staff may need to follow up with you and could delay the enforcement response.

For all other VHR complaints, please email cso@cityofslt.us and copy mstuhlman@cityofslt.us for follow-up.

To see all complaints, CSO or PD response, use the following link:

(open the link and click on the address to see the report card for that item)

***VIEW LIST OF VHR/PD RESPONSES TO COMPLAINTS AT* *VHR’S***

Last updated 2/28/2022 (updated Monday-Friday)*

*This list does NOT include COVID complaints. They are being handled with all COVID violations but when a COVID citation is at a VHR, it will count against the VHR permit.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Don't be the Victim of a Scam

City of South Lake Tahoe BBQ regulations apply to VHRs (flyer)

No wood fires allowed (ever), includes all wood burning fire pits. No fires that create any embers. Gas barbecues allowed EXCEPT on Red Flag Days.

Check these links for IF Red Flag Days.

https://www.facebook.com/SouthLakeTahoeFireRescue/
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.939926&lon=-119.97718680000003#.YMeSDvlKiUk

Up to $1,000 citations SHALL be issued to occupants &/or owners for code violations at VHRs.

Responding officers have no discretion and will issue citations without a warning.

The primary violations are:

Noise – no excessive noise at any time but especially after 10 pm
Parking - is only allowed on paved surfaces, and not to exceed permitted number of vehicles
Trash – keep the trash in a bear box or indoors
Maximum Occupancy/vehicles – cannot exceed the posted occupancy or vehicle limitations at ANY TIME. Parties and weddings are prohibited. The occupancy and vehicle limits are for any time/duration and include all occupants AND any of their guests
Hot Tubs – absolutely no hot tub use between 10 pm and 8 am
Unpermitted VHRs - rental (or advertising for rental) of the entire home for fewer than 30 consecutive days*

VHR Citation Fees (the officers have no discretion if a violation is found. Your only recourse is to file an appeal.)

If you have received a citation for a VHR violation and you wish to contest it, you may appeal the citation. The instructions are on the back of the citation. You may use the Citation Appeal Form (PDF) which must be received by the Citation Processing Center (a third party located in Newport Beach, CA) within 30 days of the citation issuance or you may file the appeal online with the Citation payment. No payment or appeals will be accepted at any City of South Lake Tahoe offices.

To review the City Ordinance, view the South Lake Tahoe City Code.

VHRS IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA WERE NOT RENEWED IN 2021 AND THERE SHALL BE NO RENTALS OR ADVERTISING FOR SHORT TERM RENTALS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES UNLESS A QUALIFIED VHR (QVHR) OR HOSTED RENTAL PERMIT EXISTS. UNPERMITTED VHR CITATIONS WILL BE ISSUED AT $1,000.

We continue to monitor all ads for short term rentals (fewer than 30 days.) If there is not a valid permit, and the ad is visible for fewer than 30 days (indicated in text and in calendar), a $1,000 citation can be issued for each day the active ad remains. There are only 2 options:
1/ Change the ad to reflect a minimum of 30 day booking
2/ Remove the ad completely (some platforms allow you to inactivate so it is no longer visible).
Just blocking the calendar is NOT one of those options to avoid a citation.

Once the citation has been issued, appealing the citation is the only recourse.