Short-term rental permit rules in El Dorado County, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
El Dorado County requires a Vacation Home Rental (VHR) permit for any unincorporated property rented for terms of 30 consecutive days or less, under Chapter 5.56 of the County Code (Ordinance Nos. 5135 and 5209). In the Lake Tahoe Basin portion of unincorporated El Dorado County, no more than 900 VHR permits may be issued. A 500-foot buffer applies between active VHR parcels in the Tahoe Basin. Permits do not transfer with sale of the property - the permit becomes null and void on transfer of ownership. Quiet hours are 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. The County maintains a 24/7 VHR complaint hotline at (530) 573-7999. Hosted rentals - where the owner is present - are exempt from the permit requirement.
El Dorado County Code Chapter 5.56 (Vacation Home Rentals) is the controlling local authority, established by Ordinance 5135 and amended by Ordinance 5209. It applies to any structure in the unincorporated area of the County rented for 30 consecutive days or less. Key provisions: (1) Permit required - no owner may rent a unit for 30 days or less without a valid VHR permit. A separate permit is required for each VHR, and there may not be more than one VHR per parcel. (2) Tahoe Basin permit cap - within the Lake Tahoe Basin portion of unincorporated El Dorado County, no more than 900 VHR permits may be issued. Properties acquired after the cap is reached can be added to a waitlist. (3) 500-foot buffer - permits may not be approved for parcels within 500 feet of another parcel with an existing VHR permit, unless specific exceptions apply, to prevent clustering. (4) No transfer on sale - when a VHR-permitted property changes ownership, the permit becomes null and void; the new owner must apply for a new permit (and is subject to the Tahoe Basin cap and buffer). (5) Quiet hours - 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (6) Occupancy and parking - the permit specifies a maximum overnight occupancy and minimum required off-street parking spaces, with limits driven by the number of bedrooms. (7) Posted information - VHRs must post the permit number, occupancy limits, parking rules, and the 24/7 hotline number at the rental. (8) Transient Occupancy Tax - VHRs are subject to El Dorado County's TOT under Chapter 3.28. (9) Hotline and enforcement - the County operates a 24/7 VHR complaint hotline at (530) 573-7999 administered by the Code Enforcement Division - VHR Unit. Code enforcement officers are typically available in person until 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, 10 p.m. Thursday, and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. (10) Hosted rentals - rentals where the primary owner is present during the rental period are 'Hosted Home Rentals' and are exempt from the VHR permit cap and 500-foot buffer, though they are subject to separate registration and TOT requirements. The City of South Lake Tahoe (incorporated, within the Tahoe Basin but outside El Dorado County's unincorporated VHR regime) operates its own STR program under City of South Lake Tahoe Municipal Code.
Operating a VHR in unincorporated El Dorado County without a permit, exceeding occupancy or parking limits, or violating quiet hours can result in administrative citations, escalating fines, and suspension or revocation of the VHR permit under Chapter 5.56. Repeat violations or unpermitted operation can result in misdemeanor charges and abatement actions. Failure to collect and remit Transient Occupancy Tax under Chapter 3.28 is a separate violation with interest, penalties, and potential criminal exposure under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7280 et seq.
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