Overview: Are STRs allowed in Homewood, CA?

Yes. Short‑term rentals are permitted in Homewood, which sits on California’s West Shore within Placer County. Homewood is governed by Placer County’s Short‑Term Rental Ordinance, not the City of South Lake Tahoe. As of the latest ordinance and program guidance:

• Placer County issues STR permits subject to an overall cap.
• The cap is 3,900 permits (effective March 31, 2022).
• Owner‑occupied STRs are exempt from the cap.
• The county operates a live public portal that shows active permits and remaining availability. Until the cap is reached, applications are processed first‑come, first‑served; once the cap is reached, applicants are placed on a waitlist.
• A 30‑night minimum rental requirement applies once the cap is reached, with owner‑occupied STRs exempt from this minimum.
• Permit validity is one year; permits terminate automatically on sale and must be reapplied for by the new owner.

Investors should verify current availability and the cap status using the county’s public portal prior to purchase and again before submitting an application.

Key reference: Placer County STR Program and Live Permit Availability.

How to Start an STR Business in Homewood (Step-by-Step)

1. Confirm eligibility and cap status

• Confirm the property is within Placer County and the West Shore area (Homewood).
• Check live permit availability and active permits via the county’s public portal.
• Confirm any HOA/Condo rules allow short‑term rentals (HOAs may prohibit or restrict STRs more strictly than county code).

2. Obtain a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

• All STRs must hold a current TOT certificate prior to operation.
• Apply via Placer County’s TOT portal.

3. Complete required fire and safety inspections

• Exterior Defensible Space inspection: must be passing and on file before applying (valid for three years). Schedule with your local fire district (North Tahoe Fire serves Homewood).
• Interior Fire Life Safety inspection: scheduled after application submission (valid for three years). Placer County staff conduct this inspection for North Tahoe Fire district properties; non‑refundable fee applies.
• New and renewing STR permit holders must maintain a passing FLS inspection at all times; lack of a current inspection can result in permit suspension.

4. Designate a Local Contact Person

• Must be reachable by phone 24/7 and able to be physically present within 60 minutes (the ordinance references a 25‑driving‑mile radius; Placer program guidance specifies a 35‑driving‑mile radius—use the more recent county guidance unless the latest ordinance explicitly requires 25 miles). The contact must have access and authority to manage the unit.

5. Prepare mandatory documentation and payments

• Bear‑proof trash proof (photo of bear box/dumpster).
• Homeowner’s exemption documentation if applying for owner‑occupied status (copy of property tax bill).
• STR permit application fee.

6. Apply for (or renew) your STR permit

• Submit via the county’s online portal.
• For renewals, apply no earlier than 30 days prior to expiration; the county notifies owners 30 days before the permit’s end.

7. Implement required postings and operations

• Post permit number and county hotline on the exterior, the Good Neighbor flyer inside the unit, and include all required details in every advertisement.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• STR Permit (one‑year validity; non‑transferable; terminates on sale; automatic renewal for good standing if renewed before expiration).
• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate (held prior to operation; must remain current).
• Fire & Life Safety (Interior) inspection: passing inspection on file at all times (valid three years).
• Defensible Space (Exterior) inspection: passing inspection on file at all times (valid three years).
• Bear‑proof trash container or bear box photo and proof of service level (minimum two trash containers per week).
• Local Contact Person designation and contact details.
• Homeowner’s exemption proof if seeking owner‑occupied status.
• Permit application fee and inspection fee payments.
• Good Neighbor Flyer and exterior postings (permit number and STR hotline).
• Compliance with county noise, parking, occupancy, fire restrictions, and snow‑removal requirements.

Specific Regulations (County and State) Governing STRs in Homewood

Placer County STR Ordinance (Placer County Code Chapter 9, Article 9.42) and the STR Program pages govern STRs in Homewood. Key rules include:

Definitions and scope

• STR: residential unit or portion thereof rented for one night to 30 days for lodging/sleeping. Hotel/motel/condo‑hotel/timeshare operations are not considered STRs and are not subject to the ordinance or cap.
• Condo‑hotel: defined facility with front‑desk management, access to all units, complaint response, trash/noise/parking enforcement, and NFPA fire systems, inspected annually; units in approved condo‑hotels do not require individual STR permits.

Cap, availability, and minimum stays

• Overall cap: 3,900 permits. Owner‑occupied STRs in good standing with a current TOT certificate are exempt from the cap.
• Availability: applications processed first‑come, first‑served until cap is reached; then a waitlist.
• Once the cap is reached, a 30‑night minimum rental applies, excluding owner‑occupied STRs (amendments adopted December 17, 2024, effective January 16, 2025).

Local Contact Person

• Must be reachable 24/7 by phone and able to be physically present within 60 minutes of contact. Placer’s program guidance specifies a 35‑driving‑mile residence requirement for the local contact.

Parking

• On‑site parking required for all vehicles, boats, and trailers; if not available, use a county‑approved off‑site parking plan.
• No parking may encroach into the roadway.
• Snow area parking must comply with county code.
• All permitted parking locations and the number of vehicles that fit must be disclosed in every rental agreement and online listing.

Noise

• Guests must comply with county noise standards and the Tahoe Basin Area Plan CNEL.
• Daytime and nighttime noise limits must be posted inside the unit.
• Amplified sound outside or audible beyond the parcel line is prohibited at any time.
• Quiet hours: 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time; no sound from the STR may be audible beyond the parcel line during quiet hours.

Trash and refuse

• No accumulation of trash or debris outside the unit except in proper receptacles.
• Minimum service level: two trash containers per STR per week.
• Exterior trash receptacles must be “animal‑proofed” and comply with bear‑resistant enclosure requirements.

Postings and advertising

• Interior: Good Neighbor Flyer posted by the front door and on each bedroom door; include local contact and emergency info; noise, parking, fire/life safety, occupancy, bears/trash, and pet rules.
• Exterior: STR permit number and county hotline posted on the bear box/trash receptacle, front window, or front door, visible from the street.
• Advertisements must include: permit number; maximum daytime and nighttime occupancy; permitted parking locations and quantity; link to Good Neighbor Flyer.

Visible address

• Address identification must be legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property.

Fire and life safety

• Maintain passing interior Fire Life Safety and exterior Defensible Space inspections at all times (valid three years).
• Smoke alarms in every bedroom and at least one on every level, installed per California Building Code.
• Carbon monoxide alarms outside each bedroom, on every level, and in bedrooms or attached bathrooms with fuel‑burning appliances.
• Fire extinguisher(s): minimum one five‑pound 3‑A:40‑B:C extinguisher near the kitchen; additional extinguishers on each level; annual inspection by a certified professional.
• Landline or Voice‑over‑Internet‑Protocol phone in the unit.
• Compliance with Hazardous Vegetation and Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance at all times.

Active building permits

• STRs cannot be rented during active construction, remodeling, or additions unless the building permit has passed final inspection or the county issued an occupancy certificate, and safety can be maintained.

Maximum occupancy

• Nighttime occupancy: two people per bedroom plus two additional people, up to 12 guests (excluding children under 12). Nighttime occupancy begins at 9:00 p.m.
• Daytime occupancy: 1.5 times the maximum nighttime occupancy (excluding children under 12).

Snow removal

• Snow removal services must be provided for any STR booked between December 1 and April 1 (owner, manager, or professional service).

Prohibited structures, units, and activities

• Not allowed in structures with affordability/deed restrictions or in non‑residential occupancy buildings under state and county codes, unless the deed restriction expressly permits short‑term rentals under the Workforce Housing Preservation Program.
• STR of tiny homes or mobile/manufactured homes is prohibited.
• Only one STR unit per property, including single‑family and multi‑family.
• Incidental camping is prohibited (tents, decks, RVs).
• Fire restrictions: no grills or barbecues under flammable sources; minimum 10‑foot clearance from structures and flammable materials; charcoal grills are strictly prohibited; no open wood‑burning pits/bonfires/campfires; on Red Flag Warning days, all outdoor open flame sources (including gas/propane/pellet barbecues) are prohibited.
• Pets must be secured within the parcel; if not fenced, pets must be leashed and accompanied.
• Subletting is prohibited.
• Special events (weddings, corporate/commercial functions) are prohibited unless the county issues a separate permit.
• Fireworks are prohibited unless a separate permit is issued.

Penalties and enforcement

• Operating or advertising without a permit: $1,500 first penalty; $3,000 second; $5,000 third; thereafter, nuisance abatement and judicial remedies may be sought.
• Operating in violation of prohibitions: 30‑day notice to discontinue, then escalating penalties ($1,500 / $3,000 / $5,000) and potential permit revocation.
• Operational standards violations: 30‑day notice; then $1,500 / $3,000 / $5,000; subsequent citations and revocation hearing.
• Parking, trash, and occupancy violations: county may cite both guest and owner; cure required within one hour or $1,500 first penalty; $3,000 second after one day; $5,000 third and revocation hearing. Receiving three notices of violation within 90 days triggers a $1,500 citation regardless of cure time.
• Noise violations: cure within one hour or $1,500 to each guest and/or owner; $3,000 after one additional hour; $5,000 after three hours; three notices within 90 days triggers a $1,500 citation regardless of cure.
• Permit revocation grounds include false applications; violations or investigations under local/state/federal laws; repeated citations; delinquency in fees, penalties, or taxes; prior revocations; threats to health/safety; failed/refused inspections; and absence/expiration of TOT or business license.

State‑level context (California)

• California Building Code standards govern smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and certain safety installations.
• State Health and Safety Code governs fireworks restrictions.

Local Authority Contact Information

• Short‑Term Rentals Program (Placer County)

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phone: 530‑581‑6234
  • Address: Placer County Tahoe City Office, PO Box 1909, 775 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145
  • Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  • Public counter posting pickup hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

• Code Enforcement (24/7 Violation Hotline)

  • Phone: 530‑448‑8003
  • Use this number to report violations for fastest response.

• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Certificate

  • Apply via Placer County TOT portal.

• North Tahoe Fire District (Homewood area fire services)

  • Defensible Space inspections are scheduled through the district’s website.
  • Interior Fire Life Safety inspections are coordinated through Placer County’s STR program; scheduling emails are provided on the county site.

Source Links

• Placer County Short‑Term Rental Program (Homewood is in Placer County): www.placer.ca.gov/6109/Short-Term-Rental-Program
• Live Permit Availability (Active permits and cap status): placer-ca-str-public-portal.deckard.com/
• STR Fact Sheet (operational standards, prohibitions, penalties): www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/67683/STR-_Fact_Sheet?bidId=
• Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) application: placer-ca-str.deckard.com/apply-tot
• STR Permit Application (new): placer-ca-str-permit.deckard.com/apply-str-license/property
• STR Permit Renewal: placer-ca-str-permit.deckard.com/renewal/find-license/email
• Update STR Permit (manager/contact documents, inspections, etc.): placer-ca-str-permit.deckard.com/update-certificate/find-license/email
• North Tahoe Fire District (Defensible Space scheduling for Homewood/Tahoma): www.ntfire.net/home-rental-inspections/
• STR Good Neighbor Flyer (required interior posting): www.placer.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/58384/Placer-Good-Neighbor-Flyer-NEW
• Condo‑Hotel Application (exempt properties): placercounty.prod.simpligov.com/prod/portal/ShowWorkFlow/AnonymousEmbed/3d33ae06-3125-41e0-9183-8d4c0c0fa6a7
• Eastern Placer Boundary Map (jurisdictional reference): map.gridics.com/us/ca/placer-county?layers=%7B%22BASE+LAYERS%22%3A%7B%22General%22%3A%5B%22ca-city-land_use-eastplacerboundary-06061u%22%5D%7D%7D#9.01/38.989/-120.8295/0/45

Practical note for investors: Homewood’s STR eligibility is clear and mature within Placer County’s framework. Availability hinges on the 3,900‑permit cap and the 30‑night minimum rule once the cap is reached. Because permit inventory changes daily, use the live portal to confirm availability immediately prior to acquisition and application. Ensure fire inspections, bear‑safe trash, local contact designation, and postings are scheduled early in your opening plan to avoid downtime.