NAKOMA: YOUR HOME. YOUR CHOICE.
Short-Term Rentals at Nakoma
From Truckee to all the communities around Lake Tahoe, local jurisdictions are regulating the ability of homeowners, especially new home buyers, to rent their properties for 30 days or less, also known as short-term rentals (STR). Think AirBnB, VRBO, VACASA, etc.
As a prospective home buyer or builder of a custom home in a mountain resort destination, what are you to do if earning income from STR is an element of your investment plan, or even used as an occasional income generator?
As a prospective home buyer or builder of a custom home in a mountain resort destination, what are you to do if earning income from STR is an element of your investment plan, or even used as an occasional income generator?
check out Nakoma!
Unlike the towns of Truckee and South Lake Tahoe, the Lake Tahoe-adjacent portions of Placer and El Dorado counties in California, and Washoe and Douglas counties in Nevada, Nakoma’s home county, Plumas, does not have STR regulations beyond paying an applicable lodging tax.
And in the unlikely event that Plumas County moved to regulate STR, Nakoma Resort has a seamless rental program specifically for homeowners in the community. Read about the resort’s Vacation Rental Management Program here.
Meanwhile, in other resort developments near Nakoma, such as Whitehawk Ranch and Grizzly Ranch, the respective homeowner associations prohibit rentals of less than 30 days.
And in the unlikely event that Plumas County moved to regulate STR, Nakoma Resort has a seamless rental program specifically for homeowners in the community. Read about the resort’s Vacation Rental Management Program here.
Meanwhile, in other resort developments near Nakoma, such as Whitehawk Ranch and Grizzly Ranch, the respective homeowner associations prohibit rentals of less than 30 days.
DO THIS, DON’T DO THAT
Regulations on short-term rentals in the greater Truckee-Tahoe region have been a moving target in the last year. Here’s a quick overview, but please do your own research as STR information for each jurisdiction is different and in some cases still in flux.
TRUCKEE
The Town of Truckee has reached its cap of 1,255 STR permits.
• The town is not accepting new permits, and there is a one-year waitlist.
• There is a one-year waiting period after a home is sold before the new owner may register a STR.
• Vacant land and properties under construction that have yet to receive a Certificate of Occupancy are unable to apply for the STR waitlist.
• The town is not accepting new permits, and there is a one-year waitlist.
• There is a one-year waiting period after a home is sold before the new owner may register a STR.
• Vacant land and properties under construction that have yet to receive a Certificate of Occupancy are unable to apply for the STR waitlist.
PLACER COUNTY
In Placer County’s eastern reaches, including near Truckee and on Tahoe’s North and West Shores, there is a cap of 3,900 STR permits. As of November 2023, there were 3,304 permitted STRs. That number has likely increased.
• A change in ownership of property with a permitted STR results in the automatic termination of the STR permit. The new owner may apply for a new STR permit…
• …but remember there is an overall cap on STR permits and there is a waitlist.
• A change in ownership of property with a permitted STR results in the automatic termination of the STR permit. The new owner may apply for a new STR permit…
• …but remember there is an overall cap on STR permits and there is a waitlist.
INCLINE VILLAGE/WASHOE COUNTY
Most homeowner associations around Incline Village do not allow STRs, nor do most condominiums and townhouse developments. Currently, Washoe County officials are considering an updated STR ordinance:
• Properties with STR permits would not carry the permit with a sale; new owners would need to secure their own STR permit.
• Permits could be revoked for properties with illegal construction.
• Any owner whose permit is revoked can’t get a new permit for at least one year.
• Properties with STR permits would not carry the permit with a sale; new owners would need to secure their own STR permit.
• Permits could be revoked for properties with illegal construction.
• Any owner whose permit is revoked can’t get a new permit for at least one year.
TAHOE EAST SHORE/NEVADA
In Tahoe’s East Shore Nevada communities of Stateline, Zephyr Cove, and Glenbrook, Douglas County has a 600 STR permit cap.
• Remaining applicants will be placed on a waitlist to qualify to apply for future available permits.
• There is also an effort afoot to eliminate all STRs in residentially zoned areas in Douglas County over a three-year period.
• Remaining applicants will be placed on a waitlist to qualify to apply for future available permits.
• There is also an effort afoot to eliminate all STRs in residentially zoned areas in Douglas County over a three-year period.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE/EASTERN EL DORADO COUNTY
In 2018 voters passed Measure T, banning STRs within the city limits of South Lake Tahoe, other than the city core.
• However, within the SLT core there are a limited number of single-family homes and condominiums that would qualify for STR.
• Outside the SLT city limits in El Dorado County within the Tahoe Basin, there is a STR cap of 900
• A home must also have a 500-ft buffer zone around each STR property.
• Properties that have an active permit when a house changes ownership do not transfer.
• However, within the SLT core there are a limited number of single-family homes and condominiums that would qualify for STR.
• Outside the SLT city limits in El Dorado County within the Tahoe Basin, there is a STR cap of 900
• A home must also have a 500-ft buffer zone around each STR property.
• Properties that have an active permit when a house changes ownership do not transfer.