Short-Term Vacation Rental Program

Please Be Advised

The Governor’s March 19, 2020 Executive Order (N-33-20) remains in effect until further notice, which requires that individuals stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the critical infrastructure sectors. Essential critical infrastructure does not include commercial use of a short-term rental unless the unit is used to provide COVID-19 mitigation or containment measures, or is for housing COVID-19 essential workers. Short-term rental owners should immediately discontinue renting units and must comply with the Governor’s Executive Order to help our community stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. For the most current updates and information on COVID-19, go to: https://www.placer.ca.gov/coronavirus

The only allowable operations are:

To provide COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures (for example, isolation and quarantine or the housing of displaced persons or the homeless);

To provide housing for essential critical infrastructure workers; and
For use by the property owner and his/her immediate family members.

Travel to short-term rentals is not considered essential travel.

In circumstances where a short-term vacation rental unit (as defined in the Placer County Code) is rented or used for reasons other than the three identified exceptions above, Code Compliance will be issuing misdemeanor or administrative citations to non-compliant owners, property managers, and occupants, with fines of $500 per day for initial violations and $1,000 per day for subsequent violations. For more severe infractions, Code Compliance may also refer this matter to local law enforcement, or may revoke, suspend or deny the applicable short-term vacation rental permit.”

Please call 530-448-8003 to report any concerns about short-term rentals in relation to the Governor’s order.
Thank you.

Placer County’s Short-Term Rental Program establishes rules for vacation rentals in unincorporated areas of eastern Placer County.

Short-term rentals are residential units rented for 30 days or less, typically advertised as vacation rentals.
Placer’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance is intended to strike a balance of reducing neighborhood nuisances like noise and parking issues related to vacation rentals without undermining the market for this important guest accommodation.

Information for Short-Term Rental Property Owners

Permitting Information

All short-term rentals in eastern Placer County that are located above the 5,000-foot elevation must have a permit to operate along with a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate. March 31* of each year is the deadline for property owners to apply, and that authority may be delegated to an agent with written permission. This web page is here to conveniently guide you through the simple online process of registering as well as submitting taxes and fees.

*In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and in recognition of the Resort closures, the deadline to obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit has been extended to July 31, 2020. The online registration platform is available for electronic submittals. County staff may be working from home during the outbreak and not be immediately available to answer any questions you may have. However, if you leave a message at the STR phone number 530-581-6234 or via email at str@placer.ca.gov, staff will respond.

Online permit applications are available here.

A downloadable PDF version of the permit application is also available here.

Applications for a Short-term Rental permit require the following information:

Property owner and/or agent contact info
Name and telephone number of local contact person with 24-hour access to the property
Property’s address and parcel number
Rental unit type (condo, home, etc.)
Number of bedrooms
Total number of on-site parking spaces
Proof of garbage service and total number of trash receptacles (a bear bin must be installed
by March 31, 2021 for renewal eligibility)
A current TOT certificate or application for a TOT certificate (apply for or update a TOT certificate here.)
Number and location of fire extinguishers
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Safety Self-Certification Form is available here
Formal acknowledgment of standards
Permit fee

Permit Costs

Maximum Occupancy

Maximum occupancy is defined as two people per bedroom, plus two additional people, excluding children under 16 years of age. A “bedroom” means a room containing a minimum of 70 square feet that meets all requirements of the California Residential Code and contains a window or opening for emergency egress structures.

Renewal

Renewal of the 12-month permit must occur prior to the expiration date unless revoked or suspended earlier. The permit and renewal fees are non-refundable. To be eligible for renewal the unit must have a bear bin installed by March 31, 2021.

Permit Exemptions

Short-term rentals within existing resorts and residential associations may be exempt from permit requirements at the discretion of the Community Development Resource Agency Director. To determine if the resort or association is exempt from permit requirements, please call 530-581-6234 or email str@placer.ca.gov to schedule an appointment with County staff. Interested parties (i.e. resort or HOA representative) should bring a written exemption request and the supplemental information described in the list of required information for staff to review, discuss and render a decision if satisfactory information is provided to support the requested exemption.

HOA’s may collectively represent the parcels within the association if so desired. In these instances, a representative of the association is to remit a schedule of parcels/addresses represented along with the items identified above for exemption consideration.

Property Management

A participating property management company must be a licensed firm to request inspections, pay the permit/renewal fees and the Transient Occupancy Tax.

Short-Term Rental Ordinance Standards

Property owners are responsible for reviewing the entire short-term rental ordinance, but the following standards provide an abbreviated version:

Property Owner’s Responsibility – It is the responsibility of the property owner to prevent nuisance behavior and maintain neighborhood peace and quiet.
Local Contact – A local contact person must be personally available by telephone on a 24-hour basis with the ability to be physically present at the rental within one hour of being contacted by code compliance, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office or the guest(s).
Parking – On-site parking must be provided, or an off-site parking plan needs to be submitted for county approval if no on-site parking is available.
Noise – Nighttime noise limits are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and must be posted within the rental.
Trash and Refuse – Weekly trash collection must be provided, and guests are prohibited from accumulating trash outside unless it is deposited in a proper “animal proof” enclosure such as a bear bin.
Interior Posting Requirements – The Placer County Good Neighbor Flyer shall be posted within the interior of the rental in a visual location. The posting must contain the local contact person’s phone number, emergency evacuation information and a notice of financial penalties for violations.
Visible Address – The property’s address must be visible from the street.
Emergency Communications - A telephone landline, Voice Over Internet Protocol or a monitored alarm system must be available in homes with poor cellular service.
Fire Inspections – Life safety fire inspections are required once every three years by the local fire department to ensure the rental complies with requirements related to fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, emergency communications, fireplaces, grills and barbeques.
Fire – Guests are prohibited from having open fire pits, bonfires or campfires.
Grills and Barbeques – Charcoal grills of any type are prohibited but gas grills and barbeques are permitted outside if they are located at least 10 feet from a structure or flammable source.
Camping – Overnight camping and recreational vehicles are not allowed on the property.
Special Events – A county permit must be obtained to host an event that has the potential to cause noise, traffic and parking problems. Examples of special events requiring a permit include but is not limited to weddings, corporate events, and commercial functions.
Subletting – Guests are prohibited from subletting a short-term rental.
Deed Restrictions – A property with a deed restriction or agreement restricting its use cannot be used as a short-term rental.

Violations

The fine for a code violation is up to $500 per day for each violation in the first citation and up to $1,000 per day for each violation in the second citation. A second citation is one that occurs within the same 12-month period as the first citation. Placer County Code Compliance may deny, revoke or suspend a short-term rental permit. Please refer to the ordinance for details regarding non-compliance.

Appeal

An appeal of a penalty or decision on a permit application may be filed in writing within 10 calendar days of the notification. Written appeals can be sent to 775 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA 96145 or emailed to str@placer.ca.gov.

Contact

For questions about Placer County’s Short-Term Rental Program, please contact:

530-581-6234
str@placer.ca.gov
Code Compliance Services

Information for Short-Term Rental Guests

Placer County is well loved for its rural character and serene natural beauty. For everyone's enjoyment of it and to be a good neighbor during your visit, please take a moment to become familiar with the requirements of Placer County's Short-Term Rental Ordinance. Placer's Code Compliance Division makes every effort to work with guests and property managers to resolve issues of non-compliance with the Short-Term Rental Ordinance before issuing citations or fines. Repeat or excessive non-compliance, however, may result in fines of up to $500 per day or more for the guest, property owner or both.