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Nevada · Douglas County

Douglas County

county Restricted Verified · last verified 2026-07-15

Douglas County regulates short-term rentals under Douglas County Code Title 20, Chapter 20.622, the "Lake Tahoe Vacation Home Rental ('VHR') Ordinance," as amended by Ordinance 2025-1655 (the County publishes the operative text as "Chapter 20.622 (Following the Adoption of Ordinance 2025-1655)"). A "Vacation Home Rental (VHR)" is "one dwelling unit rented for the purpose of overnight lodging for a period of not less than one day and not more than 28 days other than an ongoing month-to-month tenancy." The license type is a county-issued VHR Permit, "valid for one calendar year after it is issued," renewable annually. VHRs are geographically confined: "All VHRs shall be limited to the Lake Tahoe Township" (20.622.010(A)) — the Board found "that Lake Tahoe Township is the only appropriate and logical choice for the operation of short-term vacation home rentals," invoking NRS 244.357 limited-area authority. Because permits are only issuable in Tahoe Township and it is "unlawful to rent a dwelling unit or any bedroom for 28 consecutive calendar days or less without a valid Vacation Home Rental Permit," STRs are effectively prohibited elsewhere in the county, including East Fork Township / Carson Valley (Minden, Gardnerville, Genoa); operating without a permit "anywhere within Douglas County" draws a civil penalty "of up to $20,000." Within Tahoe Township: "No more than 600 VHR permits may be issued within the Tahoe Township," and "the VHR Density within each residential community shall not exceed 15%" (40% in the Tahoe Village TRPA plan area). Tier 1 (owner-occupied) permits count toward the 600 cap. As of July 15, 2026 the County reports 556 VHR permits, and "Effective June 15, 2023" a first-come-first-served waitlist governs full neighborhoods. "Permits are limited to one permit per owner" unless more than one was lawfully held prior to June 4, 2021, in which case those permits "may be renewed annually through October 1, 2024." Three tiers apply: Tier 1 (owner resides in unit and present at all times, "no more than four renters"), Tier 2 ("up to 10 nighttime occupants"), Tier 3 ("11 nighttime occupants or more," requiring a VHR special use permit from the VHR Advisory Board, available only after 12 months in good standing as a Tier 2). No VHR permits are issued in Cave Rock Cove, Logan Creek, Shakespeare Point, Uppaway, and non-affiliated Glenbrook parcels (effective December 31, 2024); the County's waitlist page additionally lists "Roundridge - HOA" as a no-permit neighborhood, which is not enumerated in the ordinance text. Lincoln Park permits are capped at 15% density, may "only be renewed twice, for a total maximum duration of three years," with nighttime occupancy "no more than six" (effective January 15, 2025). Room tax in Lake Tahoe Township is "14% plus $5 per room per night."

Not legal advice. Last verified 2026-07-15 · sources linked below.

Requirements checklist

  • county Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Annual — 'A VHR permit is valid for one calendar year after it is issued.' 'All VHR renewal applications must be submitted and all renewal fees must be paid prior to the expiration of the current VHR permit.' No grace period: an owner who fails to timely renew 'must immediately cease operation of the VHR at the expiration of the current VHR permit.' 'If the renewal application is not submitted within 30 days after the permit's expiration, the owner may be required to file a new permit application and pay the accompanying new permit fee.' Permits are not transferable and 'shall be void if title to the rental unit is transferred,' except transfer to a controlled family trust or closely held legal entity meeting 20.622.020(F). · Applies to: Any dwelling unit or bedroom rented for 28 consecutive calendar days or less, located in Lake Tahoe Township, Douglas County · official page ↗
  • county Minimum-use / demonstrated-rental requirement at renewal Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Checked at each annual renewal · Applies to: All VHR permit renewals · official page ↗
  • county VHR Permit Waitlist Application Conditional
    Fee: $124.8 / 12 months · Renewal: 'The fee is good for 12 months.' · Applies to: Owners in 'full' neighborhoods where no permits are available, or otherwise ineligible due to the 600-permit cap or density restrictions of 20.622.030(B)(1)-(5) · official page ↗
  • county Tier 3 VHR Special Use Permit Conditional
    Fee: — · Renewal: 'A Tier 3 special use permit is valid for twelve months after it is granted by the VHR Advisory Board. A Tier 3 special use permit may be renewed annually as set forth in Section 20.622.030(F) without VHR Advisory Board approval, unless the Tier 3 special use permit is conditioned otherwise.' · Applies to: VHR units with 11 or more nighttime occupants · official page ↗
  • county Designated Local Contact Person (24/7, 30-minute response) Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Ongoing; owner must notify the County in writing upon a change of the local contact and must post changes inside the VHR 'within ten days of any change of contact information' · Applies to: All VHRs · official page ↗
  • county Local Licensed Property Manager Conditional
    Fee: — · Renewal: Ongoing · Applies to: All Tier 2 units with a nighttime occupancy of 10, and all Tier 3 units — unless the property is managed by the homeowner residing within one hour of the VHR during the rental period · official page ↗
  • county VHR Certification Training Course and Certification Test Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: 'Once certified, local contacts, owners, and local licensed property managers may not be required to become re-certified but may be required to take a refresher course and must continue to comply with all provisions set forth in this section to remain certified.' · Applies to: All local contacts, owners, and local licensed property managers · official page ↗
  • county General Liability Insurance Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Proof submitted with permit application and each renewal · Applies to: All VHRs — $500,000 for Tier 1 and Tier 2; $1,000,000 for Tier 3 · official page ↗
  • county Annual Fire/Life-Safety Inspection Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Annual · Applies to: All VHRs · official page ↗
  • county Trash / bear-proof refuse storage declaration Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Ongoing · Applies to: All VHRs · official page ↗
  • county Transient Occupancy / Lodging Tax registration and monthly returns Required
    Fee: — · Renewal: Monthly — 'Room taxes collected for stays in one month are due by the last day of the following month.' · Applies to: All VHRs and transient lodging in Douglas County · official page ↗

Taxes

TaxRateAdministered byAirbnb remitsVrbo remits
Douglas County room tax — Lake Tahoe Township (combined) 14% — — —
Transient Lodging License Tax (DCC 3.70) — Lake Tahoe Township 4% — — —
Transient Occupancy Tax (DCC 3.12) 8% — — —
Transient Lodging Rental Tax (DCC 3.14) 2% — — —
Tourism surcharge — Lake Tahoe Township — — — —
Douglas County room tax — outside Lake Tahoe Township (combined) 13% — — —
Late-filing penalty and interest — — — —

Lodging-tax estimator

Estimate the combined transient/lodging tax (~41.0%) on a stay in Douglas County. Estimate only — not tax advice.

Operating rules

Primary residence
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Min stay (nights)
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Max nights / year
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Max occupancy
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Zoning-restricted
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Cap on licenses
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Frequently asked questions

Is Airbnb legal in Douglas County?
Douglas County regulates short-term rentals under Douglas County Code Title 20, Chapter 20.622, the "Lake Tahoe Vacation Home Rental ('VHR') Ordinance," as amended by Ordinance 2025-1655 (the County publishes the operative text as "Chapter 20.622 (Following the Adoption of Ordinance 2025-1655)"). A "Vacation Home Rental (VHR)" is "one dwelling unit rented for the purpose of overnight lodging for a period of not less than one day and not more than 28 days other than an ongoing month-to-month tenancy." The license type is a county-issued VHR Permit, "valid for one calendar year after it is issued," renewable annually. VHRs are geographically confined: "All VHRs shall be limited to the Lake Tahoe Township" (20.622.010(A)) — the Board found "that Lake Tahoe Township is the only appropriate and logical choice for the operation of short-term vacation home rentals," invoking NRS 244.357 limited-area authority. Because permits are only issuable in Tahoe Township and it is "unlawful to rent a dwelling unit or any bedroom for 28 consecutive calendar days or less without a valid Vacation Home Rental Permit," STRs are effectively prohibited elsewhere in the county, including East Fork Township / Carson Valley (Minden, Gardnerville, Genoa); operating without a permit "anywhere within Douglas County" draws a civil penalty "of up to $20,000." Within Tahoe Township: "No more than 600 VHR permits may be issued within the Tahoe Township," and "the VHR Density within each residential community shall not exceed 15%" (40% in the Tahoe Village TRPA plan area). Tier 1 (owner-occupied) permits count toward the 600 cap. As of July 15, 2026 the County reports 556 VHR permits, and "Effective June 15, 2023" a first-come-first-served waitlist governs full neighborhoods. "Permits are limited to one permit per owner" unless more than one was lawfully held prior to June 4, 2021, in which case those permits "may be renewed annually through October 1, 2024." Three tiers apply: Tier 1 (owner resides in unit and present at all times, "no more than four renters"), Tier 2 ("up to 10 nighttime occupants"), Tier 3 ("11 nighttime occupants or more," requiring a VHR special use permit from the VHR Advisory Board, available only after 12 months in good standing as a Tier 2). No VHR permits are issued in Cave Rock Cove, Logan Creek, Shakespeare Point, Uppaway, and non-affiliated Glenbrook parcels (effective December 31, 2024); the County's waitlist page additionally lists "Roundridge - HOA" as a no-permit neighborhood, which is not enumerated in the ordinance text. Lincoln Park permits are capped at 15% density, may "only be renewed twice, for a total maximum duration of three years," with nighttime occupancy "no more than six" (effective January 15, 2025). Room tax in Lake Tahoe Township is "14% plus $5 per room per night."
Do I need a license or registration for a short-term rental in Douglas County?
Yes — Douglas County requires: Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit; Minimum-use / demonstrated-rental requirement at renewal; VHR Permit Waitlist Application. See the requirements checklist for fees, renewal, and official links.
What taxes apply to short-term rentals in Douglas County?
Douglas County room tax — Lake Tahoe Township (combined) (14%), Transient Lodging License Tax (DCC 3.70) — Lake Tahoe Township (4%), Transient Occupancy Tax (DCC 3.12) (8%), Transient Lodging Rental Tax (DCC 3.14) (2%), Tourism surcharge — Lake Tahoe Township, Douglas County room tax — outside Lake Tahoe Township (combined) (13%), Late-filing penalty and interest — roughly 41.0% combined. Use the lodging-tax estimator on this page for a specific stay.

Official sources

Related coverage

In Nevada

Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against the linked official sources.