South Lake Tahoe council advances first reading of stricter rules for vacation home rentals after hours of public comment

The South Lake Tahoe City Council on June 3 completed a first reading of an ordinance that would impose new limits and enforcement measures on short‑term vacation home rentals outside the city’s tourist corridor. The ordinance, drafted after council direction in May, would add a 150‑foot spacing buffer between VHRs, require a designated property manager and 24/7 responsiveness, mandate indoor noise monitoring and outdoor video monitoring of trash and parking, and lower occupancy to two people per bedroom (with an exception for up to five children under age 13). Council staff said permits would be issued by the police department and the city would phase in a monthly cap on permit releases to manage workload.

The change also exempts attached condominium units that held permits as of Sept. 1, 2016, and would require defensible‑space inspections and higher fines for repeat violations. Appeals of permit denials or revocations would go to the Planning Commission under the proposed code language. City attorney Heather Strad told council the draft tracks prior motions from…