Knock Knock!  Who’s there?  Vacation Rental Police Ma’am - We noticed that you have exceeded the number of people that are allowed to sit on the patio at this home and have fun.  We’ll be taking the vacation rental owner to jail!  Have a nice evening and remember we’re watching….

Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental community owners/managers and residents met with city council members recently to discuss private homes and condos used as vacation rentals.  This story was covered by Elaine Goodman of the Tahoe Daily Tribune and you can view the complete story here - Changes to Vacation-rental rules approved - Community Service Officer to be hired to enforce regulations.

New registration fees will be collected from vacation rental homeowners to cover the cost of a new community service officer to enforce the new regulations that include:  Renters of vacation homes will be notified that they cannot use vacation homes for weddings or large parties, owners of vacation-home rentals will be required to post signs on the homes that state the maximum number of occupants and number of vehicles allowed.  The sign also will include a phone number and e-mail address where someone can contact police with a complaint about the rental, and lastly restrictions on overnight parking and occupany at vacation-home rentals will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. - two hours longer than the midnight-to-6 a.m. period now stated in the ordinance. 

It’s a tough issue and some balance/compromise needs to be found.  I think most owners and managers would agree that they want a very light “foot print” left by visitors and they do not want to disturb the area, the nearby residents and work hard to keep “high quality” visitors coming in.  Homeowners who want to abolish vacation rentals all together need to find compromise too.  It appears that discussions and meetings like that of the Lake Tahoe City Council are facilitating new cooperation between area homeowners and area vacation rental homeowners.

It is our experience that more damage is done to our vacation rental community from the unfurnished long term renters.  The long term renter truly “moves-in” and are harder on properties.  Whereas the vacationer stays for a week to a month and travels light.  They are on vacation and the majority want peace and quiet.  Most of our visitors are professionals, pay higher average rents for a really nice location and amenties - they are not the one’s throwing patio furniture into the pool and trying to move 6 additional friends and family in to save money.  Long live vacation rentals!