Truckee, CA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Truckee, CA, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- TMC Ch. 5.02; DC 18.58.220
- First Violation Fine
- Up to $1,500/day
- Fire Inspection
- Every 3 years (TFPD)
- Three-Strike Rule
- 12-month revocation
Summary
Truckee Municipal Code Chapter 5.02 requires every short-term rental operator to obtain a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate from the Town's STR Division before advertising or renting a property for fewer than 30 days.
Short-Term Rentals (STRs) are residential units rented 30 nights or less, typically advertised as vacation rentals. Operation or advertising an STR without a STR Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate will be subject to penalties as defined in Section 5.02.060 of the ordinance. Hosted Rentals will be required to renew every three years. Registrations will expire on the third March 31st after initial registration. Fire Safety Inspections are required within three years from initial registration approval, then once every three years from the last passed inspection.
Full Breakdown
Under TMC Chapter 5.02 and Development Code Section 18.58.220.F, no STR may operate without an active Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate. Applications cannot be submitted within 365 days of the most recent transfer of ownership, and properties that are vacant land or have not yet received a Certificate of Occupancy are ineligible. Detached living areas (DLAs) cannot be rented separately from the main dwelling. A Truckee Fire Protection District fire safety inspection must be completed within three years of initial registration and every three years thereafter.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a registration certificate or violating STR rules carries escalating fines: up to $1,500 per day for the first violation, $3,000 per day for the second violation, and $5,000 per day for each additional violation. After three strikes, the registration certificate is revoked and no new certificate may be issued for 12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to short-term rent in Truckee?
Can I rent a detached guesthouse or ADU separately?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Truckee
How Truckee compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·California rules heatmap·Compare Truckee to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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