South Lake Tahoe Passes Updated VHR Ordinance

New rules include a cap on residential VHR permits and other changes after Measure T was overturned.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 9:19pm

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The South Lake Tahoe City Council approved updates to the city's vacation home rental (VHR) ordinance, including a cap of 900 VHR permits in residential areas, a waitlist when the cap is reached, and a minimum age of 25 to rent a VHR. The changes come after a court overturned the city's previous Measure T, which had banned VHRs in residential neighborhoods.

Why it matters

The updated VHR ordinance aims to balance the interests of residents and the tourism industry after the previous ban was ruled unconstitutional. The new rules seek to limit the number of VHRs in residential areas while still allowing some short-term rentals to continue operating.

The details

The key updates to the VHR ordinance include: removing the previous 150-foot buffer between VHR properties, establishing a cap of 900 VHR permits in residential areas, creating a waitlist when the cap is reached, requiring a minimum renter age of 25, allowing attached condos to get VHR permits, mandating 'family-friendly' language in VHR ads, and shifting appeals of permit denials to an independent hearing officer.

  • The updated ordinance was approved on March 10, 2026 in a 3-2 vote by the South Lake Tahoe City Council.
  • The ordinance will come back for a second reading at the council's March 24, 2026 meeting, with it going into effect 30 days later.

The players

Cody Bass

The mayor of South Lake Tahoe who opposed the updated VHR ordinance.

Scott Robbins

A South Lake Tahoe city councilmember who voted against the updated VHR ordinance, saying he will always be opposed to VHRs.

Keith Roberts

The South Lake Tahoe mayor pro tem who voted in favor of the updated VHR ordinance.

Heather Horgan

A South Lake Tahoe city councilmember who voted in favor of the updated VHR ordinance, saying it can be fine-tuned further if needed.

David Jinkens

A South Lake Tahoe city councilmember who voted in favor of the updated VHR ordinance, saying the city council compromised and placed protections in place after Measure T was overturned.

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What they’re saying

“This will of course be the energetic conversation and debate on the first reading. After the court ruling throwing out Measure T, the city council held several hearings and ultimately made serious changes in the way vacation rentals are handled and managed. The city council compromised on the matter and placed protections in place (enforcement, rules of conduct, reduction of the number of units, fee increases, strict permitting requirements, strong penalties and fines, and increased police staffing to manage the system etc.) Residents need to understand that there is no more pre–Measure T VHR ordinance in place because after the Measure was declared illegal, the City Council made amendments to it to strengthen protections for neighbors and establish rules of conduct that will be fairly but strictly enforced. Repeat violators will have their VHR permits revoked.”

— David Jinkens, South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember

“I appreciated all of the comments on the issue during the meeting and said I wish 'we could all have everything we want.' The ordinance can be fine-tuned further if deemed necessary for a successful outcome.”

— Heather Horgan, South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember

What’s next

The updated VHR ordinance will come back for a second reading at the South Lake Tahoe City Council's March 24, 2026 meeting, with it going into effect 30 days later.

The takeaway

The updated VHR ordinance in South Lake Tahoe represents a compromise between residents and the tourism industry after the previous ban was overturned. The new rules aim to limit the number of VHRs in residential areas while still allowing some short-term rentals to continue operating, though further adjustments may be needed to balance the competing interests.