Regulations >
California >
Tahoma

Want to see how Tahoma compares to other top cities in California?  Explore all city regulations in California. →

B

Tahoma, CA

Generally Investor Friendly

Local STR Agent

Local STR Agent

Tahoma STR Expert
Tahoma, California skyline

STR Regulations for Tahoma, California

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Tahoma, CA?

YES, short-term rentals ARE permitted in Tahoma, California. Tahoma falls under Placer County's jurisdiction, and STRs are explicitly allowed subject to the county's regulations and permitting requirements.

Key Points for Tahoma STR Investors:

  • STRs are permitted under Placer County's Short-Term Rental Ordinance
  • Maximum cap of 3,900 STR permits countywide (currently not reached)
  • When cap is reached, 30-night minimum rental rule activates (owner-occupied properties exempt)
  • Multiple STRs per property may be allowed under specific conditions
  • Located within the Placer County Short-Term Rental program area
  • Fire Life Safety inspections and Defensible Space inspections are mandatory

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Tahoma?

Tahoma hosts earn a median $47,920/year with $425 ADR and 50% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $72,214+ per year.

See the full Tahoma market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Tahoma, CA

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Obtain Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

  2. Complete Required Fire Inspections

    • Exterior Defensible Space inspection (must be completed before application)
    • Interior Fire Life Safety inspection (scheduled after application submission)

  3. Gather All Required Documentation

    • Review complete list below in "Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines"

  4. Submit STR Permit Application

  5. Receive Permit and Comply with Posting Requirements

    • Mandatory signage and documentation must be displayed in STR unit

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Mandatory Documents for New STR Permit Application:

1. Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

  • Must be obtained before STR permit application
  • Register online through county system

2. Exterior Defensible Space Fire Inspection

  • Must be completed within the last year before application
  • Conducted by local fire department
  • Inspection valid for 3 years
  • CRITICAL: Apply without this requirement and your non-refundable application may be denied

3. Interior Fire Life Safety Inspection

  • Completed after application submission
  • Conducted by Placer County staff for North Tahoe Fire District (which serves Tahoma)
  • Cost: $507.02 (non-refundable)
  • Valid for 3 years
  • Email scheduling: [email protected]

4. Proof of Bear Bin/Dumpster

  • Bear box photo showing front of house (with address visible)
  • OR picture of closest dumpster for condos
  • Financial assistance available: 0% interest loan up to $2,200 through TTSD
  • Loan information: www.waste101.com/bear-aware

5. Local Contact Person

  • Must be reachable 24/7 by phone
  • Must live within 35 driving miles of STR unit
  • Must have access and authority to manage STR unit
  • Can be property management company or agent meeting availability criteria

6. Primary Homeowner Exemption (if applicable)

7. Application Fee

  • $326.02 (non-refundable)
  • Payment options: Credit, debit, bank account
  • Paper checks no longer accepted

Renewal Requirements:

  • TOT Certificate (no renewal needed)
  • Current passing Fire Life Safety AND Defensible Space inspections (both valid for 3 years)
  • Local Contact Person information
  • Primary Homeowner Exemption documentation (if applicable)
  • Renewal fee: $326.02

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals in Tahoma, CA

Placer County STR Ordinance Requirements:

Permit Limits:

  • Total cap: 3,900 STR permits countywide
  • 30-night minimum rental rule activates when cap is reached
  • Owner-occupied STRs exempt from 30-night minimum
  • Multiple STRs per property allowed under specific conditions

Fire and Safety Requirements:

  • Both Interior Fire Life Safety AND Exterior Defensible Space inspections required
  • Inspections must remain current (valid for 3 years)
  • STR permit suspended without passing inspection on file
  • Cannot rent without valid STR permit

Wildlife and Environmental:

  • Bear-resistant trash containers mandatory
  • 0% interest loan available for bear box installation up to $2,200
  • Bear safety documentation and postings required

Operational Requirements:

  • Local Contact Person within 35 driving miles, available 24/7
  • Property manager required if owner not local
  • Mandatory postings in STR unit:
    • Sticker or bear box magnet
    • Good Neighbor Flyer
  • Guest compliance with all local ordinances required

Penalties for Non-Compliance:

  • Operating without permit violates STR Ordinance section 9.42.100(A)
  • Owner responsible for guest compliance
  • Code enforcement can cite both owner and guests
  • Permit suspension for fire inspection failures

Additional Guidelines:

  • Condo-hotel properties may be exempt from individual STR permits
  • Contact Placer County to verify condo-hotel status
  • HOA/CC&R restrictions may be more restrictive than county law
  • Verify property zoning and use restrictions

Contact Information for Local Authority in Charge of STRs

Primary Contact:

  • Placer County STR Program
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 530-581-6234
  • Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Office Location:

  • Tahoe City Office
  • PO Box 1909
  • 775 North Lake Blvd.
  • Tahoe City, CA 96145

Public Counter Posting Pickup Hours:

  • Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Fire Inspection Scheduling (North Tahoe Fire District - includes Tahoma):

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Interior Fire Life Safety inspections handled by Placer County staff

Complaints and Violations:

  • 24/7 Hotline: 530-448-8003
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Include: Name, phone, property address, violation description
  • All complaints kept confidential

Defensible Space Inspections:

TOT Certificate Questions:

Links to Source Pages

Official Placer County STR Program: www.placer.ca.gov/6109/Short-Term-Rental-Program

Apply for STR Permit: placer-ca-str-permit.deckard.com/apply-str-license/property

Renew STR Permit: placer-ca-str-permit.deckard.com/renewal/find-license/email

Apply for TOT Certificate: placer-ca-str.deckard.com/apply-tot

North Tahoe Fire District STR Inspections: www.ntfire.net/home-rental-inspections/

Bear Box Loan Information: www.waste101.com/bear-aware

Homeowner Exemption Information: www.placer.ca.gov/5657/Homeowners-Exemption

Placer County STR Public Portal Map: placer-ca-str-public-portal.deckard.com

Update Permit Information: placer-ca-str-permit.deckard.com/update-certificate/find-license/email

Eastern Placer Boundary Map: map.gridics.com/us/ca/placer-county?layers=%7B%22BASE+LAYERS%22%3A%7B%22General%22%3A%5B%22ca-city-land_use-eastplacerboundary-06061u%22%5D%7D%7D#9.01/38.989/-120.8295/0/45

Placer County Code Enforcement: www.placer.ca.gov/2309/Code-Enforcement-Services

Additional Resources:

Important Note for Tahoma STR Investors: Tahoma is definitively within Placer County jurisdiction and is NOT subject to El Dorado County's regulations (such as the 500-foot buffer or 900-permit cap). All regulations, permits, and contacts listed above apply specifically to Tahoma properties within the Placer County Short-Term Rental program. Always verify current regulations as local ordinances are subject to updates and amendments.

Next step

Found a property in Tahoma?

Paste any address and get estimated revenue, cash-on-cash return, and comparable STR performance in under 5 minutes. 3 free analyses per day.

Ask the AI Advisor about Tahoma

Free brief

Get the free Tahoma STR Investment Brief

Revenue data, top neighborhoods, seasonal trends, and the key regulations for Tahoma, California in one email.

Tahoma

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
7/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Tahoma Market Analysis

Photos of Tahoma

Overview of Tahoma

Tahoma is a small unincorporated community on the southwestern shore of Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, California. With a year-round population of roughly a thousand residents, it has the feel of a quiet alpine hamlet rather than a town, its neighborhoods tucked among Jeffrey pines and cedars and fronting the deep blue water of the lake. Travelers know Tahoma less as a destination in its own right and more as a low-key, pine-shaded stop along the West Shore, a place people pass through on the way to nearby state parks, beaches, and ski areas. It sits roughly one hundred miles east of Sacramento and about sixty miles southwest of Reno, the two nearest major cities, making it a feasible weekend escape for Bay Area, Sacramento Valley, and Northern Nevada visitors alike.

The defining feature of any stay in Tahoma is Lake Tahoe itself, whose western edge laps against the community's small coves and rocky points. Visitors come for the clarity of the water, the public beach access, and the long, scenic drives that follow the shoreline in both directions.

Just a few minutes south of town, Emerald Bay State Park anchors the southwestern corner of the lake with its steep granite cliffs, the tiny island of Fannette, and the historic Vikingsholm mansion reachable by a downhill hike. Tahoma makes a convenient base for visitors who want to arrive early in the morning to enjoy the bay before the day-tripping crowds thin out the experience.

A short drive north along the West Shore brings guests to D. L. Bliss State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park, the latter home to the preserved Hellman-Ehrman Mansion and miles of easily accessible lakeshore and forest trails. In winter, Homewood Mountain Resort sits essentially within the community, offering skiers and snowboarders a smaller, local-mountain alternative to the larger resorts on the lake's south side.

Taken together, Tahoma's appeal for short-term rentals lies in its combination of lakefront scenery, year-round outdoor recreation, and relative tranquility compared with the busier South Shore and North Shore hubs. Guests who want to wake up steps from Lake Tahoe, walk to a quiet beach, and still be within a half-hour drive of some of the lake's most celebrated natural landmarks tend to find exactly the experience they are looking for here.

Want to know if a property in Tahoma is a good investment?

Enter an address to get instant revenue potential and comps.