Tuolumne County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- County Parking Quota
- No STR-specific off-street parking ratio in Chapter 8.70
- General Standards
- County zoning, road-access, and emergency-access rules apply
- Fire Access
- Guest parking must not block driveways or fire apparatus access
- HOA Overlay
- Pine Mountain Lake CC&Rs address illegal parking and congestion
- Best Practice
- Keep all guest parking on-site and off the roadway
Summary
Tuolumne County's short-term rental ordinance (Chapter 8.70) does not impose a specific off-street parking quota on short-term rentals. Parking is instead governed by the County's general zoning and road standards and, in private communities such as Pine Mountain Lake, by homeowners association rules that address illegal parking, congestion, and overflow.
711] ( Article 1 enacted by Stats. 1959, Ch. 3. ) 22651. A peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, or a regularly employed and salaried employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws and regulations of a city, county, or jurisdiction of a state agency in which a vehicle is located may remove a vehicle located within the territorial limits in which the officer or employee may act, under the following circumstances: (a) If a vehicle is left unattended upon a bridge, viaduct, or causeway or in a tube or tunnel where the vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic.
Full Breakdown
70 is focused on fire and life safety and does not set a dedicated short-term-rental parking ratio (for example, one off-street space per bedroom). General parking and access standards therefore come from the Tuolumne County zoning and development standards and from road-access and emergency-access requirements, which matter in the County's rural, fire-prone terrain because fire apparatus and evacuation routes must remain clear. The Fire and Life Safety Inspection emphasizes a posted evacuation plan and clear access, which indirectly discourages parking that blocks driveways or narrow roads.
In the County's most active STR communities, parking is most directly regulated by private homeowners association rules: the Pine Mountain Lake Association's short-term rental permit policy and CC&R enforcement specifically address complaints involving illegal parking, traffic, and congestion, and the association can act on overflow parking that the County ordinance does not separately quantify. Operators should confirm that guest parking fits on the property and any permitted shoulder area without blocking roads, driveways, or fire access, and should follow any numeric parking limits set by their HOA.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate short-term-rental parking penalty in Chapter 8.70. Parking that blocks a public road, a private community road, a driveway, or emergency-vehicle access can be enforced under general County road and traffic rules and, on private roads, by the homeowners association. In communities like Pine Mountain Lake, the association can cite or fine for illegal parking, congestion, and overflow under its CC&Rs and STR permit policy. Parking that obstructs fire access can also be addressed as a life-safety problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tuolumne County require a set number of parking spaces for a short-term rental?
Where can my short-term rental guests park in unincorporated Tuolumne County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tuolumne County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tuolumne County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.