On 5/4/2023, the Douglas County Board of
Commissioners INTRODUCED the following
ordinance:
ORDINANCE: 2023-1617
TITLE: Ordinance 2023-1617, an ordinance
amending various provisions of Chapter
20.622 of the Douglas County Code,
relative to vacation home rentals within the
Tahoe Township.
SUMMARY: Ordinance 2023-1617, an
ordinance amending various provisions
of Chapter 20.622 of Douglas County
Code, relative to Vacation Home Rentals
(“VHRs”) in the Tahoe Township. These
changes arise out of recommendations
made by the VHR Advisory Board. The
changes include, but are not limited to:
(1) reorganizing the location of certain
provisions to make the chapter easier to
read and comprehend; (2) removing or
modifying language that was unclear and/
or repetitive; and (3) adding provisions
to assist with enforcement and promote
the purpose of the chapter, including
(a) a new daytime occupancy limit for
Tier 2 and Tier 3 VHRs that is double the
units’ nighttime occupancy limit; (b) a
requirement that certain properties with
nighttime occupancy levels exceeding two
individuals per bedroom ensure that the
additional guests are 18 years of age or
younger; (c) a new density limitation that
VHRs not exceed 15% of the total number
of dwelling units located within any given
residential community, with the exception
of the Tahoe Village TRPA plan area,
which has a density limitation of 40%; (d)
new standards for noise monitors and a
provision requiring them for properties that
have been the subject of a substantiated
noise complaint; (e) a requirement that
applicants hold a valid Tier 2 VHR permit
for a period of 12 months before being
eligible to apply for a Tier 3 special use
permit; (f) a requirement that the County
be a named insured on all required general
liability insurance policies; (g) a prohibition
against using umbrella policies to achieve
minimum insurance liability coverage;
(h) a requirement that licensed property
managers be used for all Tier 3 VHRs and
Tier 2 VHRs permitted for 10 occupants,
and that such property managers reside
and work within one hour of any VHR they
manage; (i) a provision allowing owners
who reside within an hour of a Tier 3 VHR
to act as a property manager for the VHR;
(j) a requirement that owners contract
with a waste management company for
regular trash removal; (k) a description
of the methodology used by the County
to calculate the number of permitted
parking spaces associated with a VHR;
(l) a requirement that all Tier 3 VHRs have
one available parking space for every four
occupants; (m) a requirement that owners
must submit a VHR renewal application
prior to the expiration of their VHR
permit; (n) requirements for advertising,
including a prohibition against misleading
ads that list bedrooms or bed numbers
that imply higher occupancy limitations;
(o) a modification to the fine structure,
allowing for fines of up to $2,500 per day,
per violation, but capping maximum fines
at $20,000; (p) a requirement that VHR
permits be revoked or suspended after
two substantiated code violations; (q) a
provision that would allow the County to
prohibit certain individuals from acting
as local licensed property managers or
locate contacts when the individual has
failed to comply with the code on two or
more occasions; (r) a prohibition against
reapplying for a VHR permit for one year
after a VHR permit has been revoked,
and a permanent ban after a VHR has
been revoked a second time; and (s) a
requirement that VHRs not be subdivided
into smaller units.
The 2nd Reading of this Ordinance will be
held on 6/1/2023. A copy of this ordinance is
on file in the Clerk’s Office for public review.
Pub Date: May 10, 2023 Ad # 33532
