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A draft of Douglas County's proposed vacation rental ordinance will be reviewed at Thursday's commissioner meeting.
"Staff anticipates the ordinance will need modifications, but wanted to start the introduction process and discussion with the board and community," Douglas officials said.
Excessive noise, disorderly conduct, vandalism, overcrowding, traffic and congestion are just a few of the resident complaints received by local officials concerning vacationers using these homes, county officials said. The transitory nature of occupants makes enforcement difficult, the officials said.
The ordinance, which places a level of responsibility on the owners of vacation properties, is designed to deal with those issues.
The county ordinance is a requirement of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Julie Regan, communications director for TRPA, said all other counties have their ordinance in place.
"Originally, the ordinances were to be in place by 2004, but we were aware of Douglas County's need to take more time," she said. "We worked with Douglas County most of last year, but this is a matter best addressed by local governments."
Some requirements in the ordinance:
-- No owner of a vacation rental may rent the unit for four or fewer weeks without a valid vacation home rental permit.
-- The permit must be filed with the community development department prior to use of the property as a vacation home rental.
-- The owner must limit overnight occupancy to no more than two persons per bedroom, plus two additional persons per residence.
-- The owner must limit the number of vehicles, not to exceed the number of designated on-site parking spaces.
-- Renters must use best efforts to assure the occupants or guests do not create unreasonable noise or disturbances, engage in disorderly conduct or violate provisions of this code ... by notifying the occupants of the rules.
-- A warning will be given to first-time offenders. Second-time offenders during any 12-month period would incur a fine not to exceed $250. The fine would be up to $500 for the third violation and $1,000 for the fourth.
The permit could be revoked after the fifth violation and cannot be reinstated for at least a year.
"Staff anticipates the ordinance will need modifications, but wanted to start the introduction process and discussion with the board and community," Douglas officials said.
Excessive noise, disorderly conduct, vandalism, overcrowding, traffic and congestion are just a few of the resident complaints received by local officials concerning vacationers using these homes, county officials said. The transitory nature of occupants makes enforcement difficult, the officials said.
The ordinance, which places a level of responsibility on the owners of vacation properties, is designed to deal with those issues.
The county ordinance is a requirement of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Julie Regan, communications director for TRPA, said all other counties have their ordinance in place.
"Originally, the ordinances were to be in place by 2004, but we were aware of Douglas County's need to take more time," she said. "We worked with Douglas County most of last year, but this is a matter best addressed by local governments."
Some requirements in the ordinance:
-- No owner of a vacation rental may rent the unit for four or fewer weeks without a valid vacation home rental permit.
-- The permit must be filed with the community development department prior to use of the property as a vacation home rental.
-- The owner must limit overnight occupancy to no more than two persons per bedroom, plus two additional persons per residence.
-- The owner must limit the number of vehicles, not to exceed the number of designated on-site parking spaces.
-- Renters must use best efforts to assure the occupants or guests do not create unreasonable noise or disturbances, engage in disorderly conduct or violate provisions of this code ... by notifying the occupants of the rules.
-- A warning will be given to first-time offenders. Second-time offenders during any 12-month period would incur a fine not to exceed $250. The fine would be up to $500 for the third violation and $1,000 for the fourth.
The permit could be revoked after the fifth violation and cannot be reinstated for at least a year.
