Apply & Renew - Permitting Process for VHRs

Lake TahoeNo more than 600 permits may be issued in the Tahoe Township. There is also a limit on density, (the total percentage of VHRs that may be permitted) per neighborhood area. To see density by neighborhood area, click here to use the County's online viewer.

It is the responsibility of applicants to be aware of all current regulations regarding VHRs in Douglas County prior to application.   To view the current Douglas County Code Title 20.622 VHR Ordinance 2023-1627 click here.





Existing Permits - Already Have an Accela Account and DSTR#### Permit Number
For existing permits please be advised, your permit expires and is subject to renewal annually. If you do not take the steps to renew your permit prior to the expiration date, your permit application will be considered a new permit application and subject to the new permit cap. It is the responsibility of the permit holder, not the County, to ensure your permit does not expire. There is no grace period.

To complete your Vacation Home Rental permit renewal, please follow the steps below:

REVIEW permit renewal requirements and instructions for completing a renewal for years following your initial permit application created in the Accela permitting system by downloading this renewal guidebook
SCHEDULE your annual Fire & Life Safety Inspection directly through Tahoe Douglas Fire District here or by calling (775) 588-3591.  You will need to book your appointment 60 days prior to your expiration to ensure Fire District availability.  Tahoe Douglas Fire District will require their own fees to be paid at time of scheduling, and you will need to submit a copy of your passing inspection record during application.  For VHR inspection FAQs visit here
GATHER all required documents as described in the renewal guidebook. You will upload these with your online application. 
SUBMIT an online renewal application and upload all required documents through your Accela account and permit record. Refer to user instruction guides in the renewal guidebook.
WAIT for the Douglas County VHR staff to review your application and documents.  You will receive an email if anything else is needed to approve your application.  Send any requested corrections required to complete your application.
PAY invoiced fees due by following instructions sent via email after staff approval.  Once payment is verified, your renewal permit will be sent via email.

New Permits
Douglas County is accepting new permit applications for unconstrained neighborhoods ONLY as of June 15, 2023 until the total permit cap of 600 is reached.  In the event the total permit cap is reached, any new permit applications already in the review process will then have to be placed on the waitlist.  For current information on full neighborhoods, please visit the VHR Waitlist page here

To complete your new Vacation Home Rental permit application, please follow the steps below:

REVIEW permit requirements and instructions for completing an application in our new permitting system by downloading this permitting guidebook
SCHEDULE your Fire & Life Safety Inspection directly through Tahoe Douglas Fire here or by calling (775) 588-3591.  Appointments may take up to 60 days to book depending on Fire District availability.  Tahoe Douglas Fire will require their own fees to be paid at time of scheduling, and you will need to submit a copy of your passing inspection record during application.  For VHR inspection FAQs visit here
GATHER all required documents as described in the permitting guidebook. You will upload these with your online application.  Great examples of a floor plan and parking plan can be found on our Resources page.
REGISTER for a new user account here.  Refer to user instruction guides in the permitting guidebook.
SUBMIT an online application and upload all required documents here. Refer to user instruction guides in the permitting guidebook.
WAIT for the Douglas County VHR staff to review your application and documents.  You will receive an email if anything else is needed to approve your application.  Send any requested corrections required to complete your application.
PAY invoiced fees due by following instructions sent via email after staff approval.  Once payment is verified, your permit will be sent via email.

Waitlist Applications

Douglas County is accepting waitlist applications for full neighborhoods only as of June 15, 2023. Once notified, applicants will then have 60 days to meet all of the conditions of a VHR permit as determined by the County and pay the necessary fees.

Applicants are required to pay the annual waitlist fee to be placed, and to remain, on a waitlist to qualify for a future permit. 

If it is determined by the County the applicant is unable to meet all of the conditions of the permit, the permit allocation will go to the next applicant on the waitlist. For more information regarding the waitlist, visit the VHR Permit Waitlist 
tab.

VHR Permit Fees (subject to change)
The Douglas County VHR program is self-funded. VHR permit fees fund 8 staff members supporting the program.

(Effective 10/3/2022) - The filing fee for a Vacation Home Rental Permit application is:
VHR Permit Tier Type Fee 4% Technology Fee Total
Tier 1 (Owner Occupied) New $ 590.00 $ 24.00 $ 614.00
Tier 1 (Owner Occupied) Renewal $ 475.00 $ 19.00 $ 494.00
Tier 2 (Occupancy 10 or less) New $ 2,070.00 $ 83.00 $ 2,153.00
Tier 2 (Occupancy 10 or less) Renewal $ 1,540.00 $ 62.00 $ 1,602.00
Tier 3 (Occupancy >10) New $ 4,735.00 $ 189.00 $ 4,924.00
Tier 3 (Occupancy >10) Renewal $ 4,260.00 $ 170.00 $ 4,430.00
Annual Permit Draw/Waitlist $ 100.00 $ 4.00 $ 104.00
The filing fee for a VHR appeal application to VHR Advisory Board is $300.00 - BOCC appeals are $875.00