How we got Here/History of Measure T
In 2018 the city of South Lake Tahoe banned vacation rentals in the city limits due to a vote that went to ballot. The measure passed only by 58 votes. What followed is that no vacation rental permits were available in the city except for in the Tourist Core. The Tourist Core is a small area mainly located off of Ski Run Blvd. and adjacent to the Heavenly Gondola. The local group who brought this measure to the ballot was sick and tired of having very large homes built in their once quiet neighborhoods. Many of them considered these homes as hotels and not homes. I remember these stickers being placed all over town “Homes not Hotels” . Honestly, I was surprised these grown adults were basically adding this graffiti to anything they could find; light poles, trash cans, trailheads, etc.
Current Rules in the City Limits as of March 2026
To make a very LONG story short, vacation rentals are now allowed again. The city council has to make it official and will do so at the end of this month and then the changes are effective 30 days later. The current rules allow for vacation rentals in the city of South Lake Tahoe with a maximum number of 900 allowed. There are about 450 currently. To get a permit I would recommend hiring an experienced property manager that knows how to navigate the process. Find more information at the City of South Lake Tahoe’s web-site.
The City has a great list of FAQ’s
The city is really trying to do a good job communicating the new rules. It hasn’t been easy with the rules changing frequently over the last few years. The most recent change that was very difficult to address was the 150 foot buffer policy. Thankfully that is going away since it really made things complicated. To view their list of the most common questions please visit this page on their web-site.
Current Rules in the County as of March 2026
Keep in mind that there are different rules for homes in the city and county. In the County vacation rental permits can be issued but are difficult to obtain since there is a 500 foot buffer. This means that a vacation rental permit can’t be applied for if there currently is one within 500 feet of the home. The county has a map that is updated frequently and I can check this information for you. For the county rules please visit their web-site. I recommend consulting your local real estate professional to help you navigate through all of this info. That is what I am here for-Jennifer Fortune!! 530-318-9286