El Dorado County Short-Term Rental Rules (Meyers & Tahoma)

El Dorado County manages short-term rental regulations for the unincorporated areas of the Tahoe Basin on the California side, including popular communities like Meyers (just south of South Lake Tahoe) and Tahoma/Homewood on the west shore.

The county requires a Vacation Home Rental (VHR) permit for properties rented for less than 30 days. The process is more involved than Truckee's but less restrictive than South Lake Tahoe's tiered permitting system. The TRPA overlay adds environmental review requirements for any property modifications.

El Dorado County has been actively updating its STR regulations in recent years, with permit fees of $564 new / $282 renewal (+ $31 tech surcharge), a 900-permit cap with 500-ft buffer, 14% TOT in the Tahoe Basin (10% base + 4% Measure S surcharge), and enhanced enforcement. Property owners should stay current with evolving rules.

The VHR permit process in El Dorado County involves several steps, including TRPA compliance for Tahoe Basin properties:

These are the key operating rules for vacation rentals in El Dorado County:

El Dorado County allows VHRs in most residential zones within the Tahoe Basin, subject to permit approval. The county adopted a 900-permit cap on VHR permits in November 2024 with a 500-ft buffer required between VHR properties to manage density.

The TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency) overlay applies to all Tahoe Basin properties. This means any structural modifications, additions, or changes to the property may require TRPA environmental review in addition to county permits.

West shore communities like Tahoma and Homewood tend to be quieter, residential neighborhoods where neighbors may be more sensitive to STR activity. Meyers has a more established STR market given its proximity to Heavenly and South Lake Tahoe.

Here is a breakdown of the taxes and fees associated with operating an STR in El Dorado County:

Complaint-based enforcement with growing proactive monitoring. The county is exploring platform scanning technology.

Complaint hotline: El Dorado County Code Enforcement — (530) 573-7999

• 2024 900-permit cap adopted November 2024 with 500-ft buffer. Enhanced enforcement staffing.
• 2023 Board of Supervisors began considering VHR permit cap and buffer requirements.
• 2022 Updated VHR ordinance with stricter noise and parking requirements.
• 2021 Expanded fire safety inspection program for all VHR properties.

Compare STR rules across all Lake Tahoe jurisdictions:

El Dorado County governs several unincorporated communities in the Tahoe Basin that fall outside the City of South Lake Tahoe's jurisdiction. Meyers, located along Highway 50 just south of the city limits, and Tahoma, situated on the West Shore, are two of the most notable areas where El Dorado County's Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance applies. Because these areas are unincorporated, they follow the county's permit process rather than the city's — and the rules differ in meaningful ways, including fee structures, enforcement mechanisms, and the role of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).

The TRPA overlay adds a layer of complexity that distinguishes El Dorado County properties within the Tahoe Basin from those outside it. Properties inside the TRPA boundary must comply with agency-level environmental and land use standards in addition to county-level STR regulations. This can affect everything from parking requirements to noise standards and defensible space mandates. Compared to Placer County — which governs the North Shore — El Dorado County's approach to STR permitting has its own fee schedule, inspection requirements, and renewal process. Buyers looking at properties in Meyers or Tahoma should understand that being on the same lake as Tahoe City or Kings Beach does not mean being under the same rules.

The El Dorado County VHR permit application process begins with submitting an application to the county's Planning and Building Department. Applicants must provide property details, proof of ownership, and a designated local contact person who can respond to complaints within 30 minutes of the property. A fire and life-safety inspection is required, covering smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and defensible space clearance. The county charges application and inspection fees that are typically due at the time of submission.

Once the application is complete, county staff reviews the materials for compliance with the VHR ordinance and applicable zoning requirements. The review timeline can vary depending on application volume and inspection scheduling, but applicants should generally expect the process to take several weeks. Permits must be renewed annually, and renewal requires that the property remain in full compliance with all operational standards — including occupancy limits, parking requirements, noise restrictions, and trash management. Failure to maintain compliance can result in fines, permit suspension, or revocation.

One important distinction in El Dorado County is the prohibition on hot tub use during quiet hours, which is more specific than what some neighboring jurisdictions require. The county also requires that all STR advertisements include the permit number and maximum occupancy, and the local contact person must be available around the clock during any active rental period. These requirements are actively enforced, and repeat violations can lead to escalating penalties.

Meyers occupies a strategic position in the South Shore market. Situated at the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 89, it serves as a gateway to both South Lake Tahoe and the backcountry recreation areas along the Sierra crest. The community is within a short drive of Heavenly and Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resorts, and it offers direct access to popular summer destinations including Hope Valley, Carson Pass, and the Meiss Meadows trailhead. This year-round recreation access makes Meyers properties attractive to guests who want proximity to activities without being in the busier South Lake Tahoe core.

Because Meyers is unincorporated El Dorado County — not the City of South Lake Tahoe — it operates under a different set of STR rules. This jurisdictional distinction matters: while South Lake Tahoe has implemented its own evolving permit framework, Meyers properties follow the county's VHR ordinance. For investors, this means a different fee structure, different enforcement approach, and potentially different permit availability dynamics. Property prices in Meyers are often lower than comparable homes closer to the lake, which can improve the ratio of purchase price to rental revenue.

The area's appeal is growing as more visitors discover the quieter, more residential character of Meyers compared to the commercial density of South Lake Tahoe's main corridors. Guests who book Meyers properties typically value space, proximity to nature, and a home-base feel for multi-day ski trips or summer adventures. For buyers evaluating South Shore investment opportunities, Meyers represents a jurisdiction and location that deserve serious consideration alongside the more obvious choices.