How to get a short-term rental permit in South Lake Tahoe, CA (2026)
South Lake Tahoe requires Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit — the fee is $548, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit |
| Permit fee | $548 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. VHRs are permitted citywide, but rules differ sharply by location. Inside the Tourist Core Area Plan and other non-residential areas: no permit cap, no pre-permit inspection, and higher occupancy limits (bedrooms x 2 + 4). Outside the Tourist Core (residential areas): permits are capped at 900 citywide with a waitlist once reached (Ordinance 2026-1203, effective April 23, 2026, which also removed the prior 150-foot buffer between VHRs); occupancy is limited to 2 guests per bedroom (studio: 2, 5BR: 10, up to 5 children 13-and-under exempt); a designated local property manager available 24/7, indoor noise monitors, outdoor video monitoring, and bear-resistant (animal-resistant) trash storage are required. No more than one VHR may operate per parcel. Multifamily units generally cannot be VHRs, but attached condominiums are eligible unless HOA rules prohibit short-term rentals. Guests must be at least 25 years old to rent a VHR. Permits are site-specific and nontransferable except to a family trust for estate planning.
- 2
Apply for the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit
Submit the Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit application to South Lake Tahoe and pay the $548 fee. $548 application fee, plus a tiered annual permit fee based on maximum occupancy: $200 (occupancy 4 or less) to $850 (13+) outside residential areas, and $670 (4 or less) to $3,485 (13+) inside residential areas. Initial inspection fee $285, re-inspection $165; inspections are not required for renewals or for VHRs inside the Tourist Core Area Plan. The city issues no more than 150 new VHR permits per month.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for South Lake Tahoe. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment South Lake Tahoe changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
Watch South Lake Tahoe for changes →Free monthly digest · same-day alerts from $5/mo · cancel anytime
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Verified July 10, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with South Lake Tahoe before applying.