El Dorado County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- El Dorado County Code § 5.56.140
- 1st violation fine
- up to $1,500 (12-month window)
- 2nd violation fine
- up to $3,000
- 3rd+ violation fine
- up to $5,000
- Suspension
- 3 violations in 18 months = 6 months
- Revocation
- 4 violations in 18 months
Summary
El Dorado County Code Section 5.56.140 escalates penalties for short-term rental violations: fines climb from up to $1,500 for a first offense to $3,000 for a second and $5,000 for a third or later violation within 12 months. A property with three violations in 18 months gets a six-month suspension, and a fourth revokes the permit outright.
D.The fine for violations specified in Subsections A, B and C of this section shall be as follows:1.For the first violation (or second violation for renting without a permit) within any 12-month period, the fine shall not exceed $1,500.00;2.For a second violation (or third violation for renting without a permit) within any 12-month period, the fine shall not exceed $3,000.00;3.For a third violation (or fourth violation for renting without a permit) within any 12-month period, the fine shall not exceed $5,000.00.4.For any additional violation within any 12-month period, the fine shall not exceed $5,000.00. E.A permit shall be suspended after a property has three violations within any 18-month period. The suspension shall be for six months.F.A permit shall be revoked in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.56.150 after a property has four violations within any 18-month period.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
140 of the Vacation Home Rental Ordinance (Ord. No. 5209, October 22, 2024) sets the countywide strikes framework for both hosted and vacation home rentals. 00, a second climbs to $3,000, and a third or any later violation in that window can reach $5,000 each. Operating without a required permit follows the same ladder but starts with a warning and five days to resolve the first offense. Trash and refuse violations escalate on their own clock under Subsection C: if not cured within the initial 30 minutes, each additional 60 minutes generates a separate Notice of Violation, up to three, and if the problem is not fixed within eight hours of the first notice the permit is suspended outright.
150. An owner or host who is fined can contest the notice at an administrative hearing before a Code Enforcement Hearing Officer and can request a hardship waiver in the same filing, but must deposit the full fine and hearing fee when requesting the hearing.
Violations & Fines
Fines run $1,500 / $3,000 / $5,000 for a first, second, and third-or-later violation in 12 months under Section 5.56.140(D). Three violations in 18 months brings a six-month suspension; four in 18 months revokes the permit under Section 5.56.140(E)-(F) and Section 5.56.150. Hearing requests must be filed, with the fine deposited, before the 15-day notice period runs out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many violations before an El Dorado County rental permit is revoked?
How much is the fine for a first noise or occupancy violation?
Can an owner appeal a fine or suspension?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Dorado County
California rules heatmap·Compare El Dorado 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.