El Dorado County reports enforcement gains in vacation‑rental program; board orders West Slope review

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 30 received a status update on the county’s Vacation Home Rental (VHR) program and enforcement work and directed staff to bring back a focused review for the West Slope.

Planning and code enforcement staff told the board the 2024 amendments to the county’s VHR ordinance and the creation of a dedicated enforcement unit have materially changed how the county responds to reported VHR problems, though staff and supervisors said additional refinements are needed for rural and West Slope properties.

Planning and building Director Karen Garner said the item was “intended to provide an update on the county’s vacation home rental program with an emphasis on the enforcement.” She noted the board had approved the ordinance updates roughly a year earlier and that the presentation would show data from before and after the changes.

Chief Deputy Director Bridal Ferry said staff viewed this year as a “mini celebration” of enforcement progress, saying the county moved from largely complaint‑driven work to a mix of complaint response and proactive identification of illegal listings. “The board provided us with resources in the form of additional staff,” Ferry said, adding that the goal remained voluntary compliance, not fines.

Code Enforcement Supervisor Kevin Bailey described the new enforcement structure: three…