Short-Term Vacation Rental Program

Let's make sure you have everything you need to apply for your Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit.

1 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

You must hold a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate to use your property as a short-term rental. To apply for a TOT certificate please use this link.

2 Proof of Bear Bin/Dumpster

You will need a Bear Box photo that includes the front of the house (or house number on the bear box), with the address showing if possible. If not, simply a pic of the bear box with the front of house in the background should suffice. If you have a condo, a picture of the closest dumpster will suffice.

3 Local Contact Person

A Local Contact Person is an individual who is personally available by telephone on a twenty-four (24)-hour basis and who maintains the ability to be onsite within sixty (60) minutes (25 driving miles, considering weather and traffic) and who has access and authority to assume management of the unit. An agent or professional property management company that meets the availability requirements can serve as the local contact person.

4 STR Fire Life Safety and Defensible Space Inspection 

We are allowing STR homeowners to apply for their STR permits until March 31, 2024 without proof that your STR property has passed either or both of the required inspections. After that date, all STR applicants will be required to have both passing fire inspections. Your STR permit will be revoked if you fail to provide proof of passing both your fire inspections by the end of day on March 31, 2024. If your STR permit is revoked because you failed to complete your fire inspection requirement, you may not apply for a new permit for two years.

5 Proof of Primary Homeowner Exemption (copy of the property tax bill with the correct homeowner exemption designation)

If you propose to use your primary residence as a short-term rental, a copy of your property taxes is required to document a homeowner's exemption. For information about how to apply for the homeowner exemption, please visit here.

6 Payment Fee

There is a Short-Term Rental Application fee of $306 that is applicable for both privately and professionally managed properties.

Ok, now you're ready to apply for your STR permit. Please follow this link to the online STR permit application: Apply for your STR permit hereproperty

You can only renew your STR permit 30 days prior to your permit expiration date. Please make sure to renew before your expiration date, or your permit will expire and you will have to reapply.

Let's make sure you have everything you need to renew your Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit.

1 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

You must hold a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate to use your property as a short-term rental. This certificate does not need to be renewed. 

2 Local Contact Person

A Local Contact Person is an individual who is personally available by telephone on a twenty-four (24)-hour basis and who maintains the ability to be onsite within sixty (60) minutes (25 driving miles, considering weather and traffic) and who has access and authority to assume management of the unit. An agent or professional property management company that meets the availability requirements can serve as the local contact person.

3 Proof of STR Fire Life Safety and Defensible Space Inspection

We are allowing STR permit holders to renew their STR permits until March 31, 2024 without proof that your STR property has passed either or both of the required inspections. After that date, all STR renewal applications will require passing inspections. Your STR permit will be revoked if you fail to provide proof of passing both your fire inspections by the end of day on March 31, 2024. If your STR permit is revoked because you failed to complete your fire inspection requirement, you may not apply for a new permit for two years.

4 Proof of Primary Homeowner Exemption (copy of the property tax bill with the correct homeowner exemption designation)

If you propose to use your primary residence as a short-term rental, a copy of your property taxes is required to document a homeowner's exemption. For information about how to apply for the homeowner exemption, please visit here.

5 Payment Fee

There is a Short-Term Rental Application fee of $306 that is applicable for both privately and professionally managed properties.

Ok, now you're ready to renew, please follow this link to the online renewal application: Renew your permit here

Fire Inspections

The deadline to provide proof of passing the fire life safety and defensible space inspections is 4/1/2024 for all new applicants and permit renewals. Please complete both of your fire inspections and upload them to your STR permit before that time.  To upload your passing inspections, please go here Version OptionsShort-Term Vacation Rental ProgramHeadline.

North Tahoe Fire Departments and Truckee Fire Departments (areas not including Northstar or Olympic Valley) will be collecting their own fees and conducting their own inspections as of 4/1/23. Please go to the links below to pay and schedule your inspections.

North Tahoe Fire District: www.ntfire.net

Truckee Fire Department www.truckeefire.org

Northstar and Olympic Valley will have Placer County collecting their fees and conducting the fire life safety inspections for Northstar and Olympic Valley STR operators for the 2023 permit cycle. The Northstar and OV Fire Departments will collect and conduct the Defensible Space inspections for this same area.

Northstar and Olympic Valley Fire Life Safety Inspections: Schedule Fire Life Safety Inspection for Northstar and OV 

Northstar Fire District Defensible Space inspection: Schedule Northstar Defensible Space

Olympic Valley Fire District Defensible Space Inspection: Please contact them at (530) 583-4692 to schedule an inspection.

 Please use this checklist to prepare for your Fire Life Safety Inspection:

• Fire Inspection Checklist

Fire Fees

Please reach out to your individual Fire District for their current inspection fees.

• STR Ordinance
• STR Ordinance Fact Sheet
• Frequently Asked Questions
• County - Approved Condo-Hotels Not Subject to STR Ordinance (Updated 4/5/23) 
• Eastern Placer Boundary for STR Ordinance (Map)
  
  

STR Owners/Managers

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure the short-term rental unit and all guests comply with the ordinance and that all mandatory postings are posted in each unit in accordance with the ordinance requirements. Fines may be cited towards the owner and guests for noncompliance. 

Mandatory Postings

Sticker or bear box magnet (available for pick up at Tahoe City office after your STR permit has been issued) 

Good Neighbor Flyer 

Supplemental Optional Postings

One Big Bin

Bear Safety

Bears & Trash (PDF)

Carbon Monoxide Safety

Portable Fireplace Safety

Smoke Alarm Safety

Portable Heater Safety

Grilling Safety Tips

Access your STR Portal

If you need to update any of your permit information, such as a change in your Property Manager or Local Contact, use the link below. You can also upload any documents such as passing Fire Inspections, Bear Bin Photo, or a Primary Homeowner documentation.  

Please use this link: Update Permit