Tuolumne County Permit Requirements Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Tuolumne County adopted Chapter 8.70 (Inspection of Short-Term Rentals) with an effective date of January 19, 2024. The ordinance requires all short-term rental operators in unincorporated areas to pass a Fire and Life Safety inspection before they can legally rent. This applies to any rental of 30 days or less — whether it's a whole house, a single bedroom, a tent, or a glamping setup.

The inspection covers specific safety requirements: smoke alarms must be installed in each bedroom and on every level of the dwelling; carbon monoxide alarms are required outside each bedroom area if the property has fuel-burning appliances or fireplaces; at least one 5-pound 2-A:10-B:C fire extinguisher must be near the kitchen, with an additional extinguisher on each level of multi-story properties. An evacuation plan diagram must be posted in a visible location, and the property address must be displayed with 4-inch numbers visible from the road.

Operators must designate a local contact person who is available 24/7 by phone and able to arrive on-site within 60 minutes. The property must also comply with all defensible space requirements under PRC 4291 and Chapter 8.14.

Inspections cost $103 and must be renewed every two years. Beyond the inspection, all STR operators must hold a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) certificate and collect 12% TOT on all rentals. Airbnb collects and remits TOT automatically for the county, but operators on other platforms (VRBO, Booking.com, direct bookings) must collect and remit quarterly.