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Why Airbnb style rentals near Tahoe are getting new rules from Placer County

The new ordinance basically boils down to "good neighbor" practices, but, if you keep violating the rules, you could see some fines or even permit revocations.

PLACER COUNTY, Calif — Placer County is laying down some new ground rules for short-term rental homes like Airbnb’s heading into 2020.

While these short term rentals have played a big role in Placer County’s tourism economy for years, complaints have started to pile up as they get more and more popular. 

“There’s been a lot of complaints and phone calls about this. We’ve drafted the ordinance in response to nuisance issues due to short-term vacation rentals,” said Kally Kedinger-Cecil, associate planner with Placer County.

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This ordinance specifically targets the eastern portion of Placer County. These rentals have gotten so popular that they’re actually starting to clash with the very reasons some people come to the area, according to the county. There's also a concern about basic safety measures.

“We’re really talking about health and safety provisions, such as people [that] are sleeping in rooms designated as bedrooms without egress windows, [and] that trash isn’t left out in area that’s exposed for bears…,” said Tim Wegner, deputy director of Building Services.

If you want your property to be a short-term rental in eastern Placer County, you’ll have to follow Placer County’s new rules and permit application.

Ordinances and regulations are nothing new for Airbnb’s around the Tahoe area. El Dorado County and the City of South Lake Tahoe put in their own regulations well before Placer County passed theirs. 

However, Kedinger-Cecil said the Placer County ordinance has a stronger focus on dealing with issues like noise, parking, occupancy, guest safety, and garbage collection.

“The difference between our ordinance and El Dorado County’s and South Lake Tahoe's is ours is more focused on just those nuisance issues whereas their ordinances… I would say they have a lot more regulations [regarding where they can be located],” Kedinger-Cecil said.

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When it comes to violations, the ordinance plays out with a complaint being lodged and a county staffer confirming what happened. From there, they’ll try to resolve the issue, but, if it keeps happening, you could be looking at fines of $500 per day for each violation in the first citation and up to $1,000 per day for each violation in the second citation.

In some situations, you might even get your short-term rental permit denied, suspended, or revoked.

Kedinger-Cecil said the county realizes that people on a long-term stay at a hotel can be just as likely to cause problems as someone in a short-term rental. However, the county already has code enforcement for long-term rentals but they previously lacked one for short-term rentals. 

On top of that, Kedinger-Cecil noted that hotels and some resorts have 24/7 staff to address nuisance issues, but a single-family home might not have that.

The goal of the new ordinance is basically to encourage good neighbor practices, according to Wegner.

There'll be an application process for a permit, which will include maximum occupancy amounts. People will have to submit an application by March 31 of each year for their short-term rental property.

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When it comes to operations, there'll also be requirements to have a local contact person within an hour away, onsite parking or a county approved parking plan, quiet hours and noise limits between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., a ban on letting trash build up outside, and a weekly trash collection with animal proofed trash cans.

Expect the ordinance to be a work in-progress. Staff expect to bring it back to the Board of Supervisors in the future to make any necessary revisions.

To read the whole ordinance, click HERE.

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WATCH ALSO: 

Measure T bans short-term rentals, like Airbnb, in South Lake Tahoe

Measure T has passed in South Lake Tahoe by only 58 votes, meaning that short-term rentals, such as Airbnb and VRBO, will be partially banned.

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