The South Lake Tahoe City Council is planning to review the city's rules for vacation-home rentals, and at least one council member said the rental program should be abolished.

"Our neighborhoods in some cases are no longer neighborhoods, because the homes are used only as vacation-home rentals. ... The situation is not acceptable," said City Councilman Bill Crawford, who has asked that the issue be placed on the agenda for an upcoming council meeting. An exact date for the discussion had not been announced as of Tuesday.

Crawford listed multiple problems with the rental homes, including properties becoming run-down, loud partying by renters, and animals getting into trash that is left out improperly.

Crawford questioned whether the city's revenue from vacation rentals covers expenses arising from the rentals, such as police and fire department responses.

Another council member, Ted Long, said enough rules seem to be in place regarding vacation rentals - but enforcement might need to be stepped up in some cases to deal with such issues as too many people crammed into a house or trash left out improperly.

"As a whole, vacation rentals have been a very healthy thing for us," Long said. "Do we need some more rules on it? I'm not so sure."

Under the vacation-rental ordinance adopted in 2003, those who wish to rent a home to vacationers in South Lake Tahoe are required to obtain a permit from the city. The requirement applies to homes, townhouses and condos rented for 30 consecutive days or less.

The maximum number of overnight guests allowed is calculated from two times the number of bedrooms, plus four. The owner is required to use "best efforts" to ensure that renters don't cause unreasonable noise or disturbances and that they comply with garbage and parking ordinances. Owners must designate someone as a "local contact person."

Rental-home owners can face fines for not following the rules, or even lose their permit.

The number of registered vacation rentals in the city has been about 1,300 to 1,500, according to city officials. Fifty-six properties have been issued penalties and fines since 2004; no permits have been revoked.

The city collects about $1.3 million per year in transient occupancy tax, or TOT, from vacation rentals, city officials said.

Chris Chandler, property manager with Coldwell Banker McKinney & Associates, said he was apprehensive about the vacation-rental ordinance at first, but now feels it is beneficial.

"It has certainly helped educate guests coming into town on what the local rules are," said Chandler, whose office manages about 125 rentals on the South Shore. "I've seen many fewer complaints because of it."

Chandler said the home rentals give visitors an option that's often more affordable than staying in a hotel, as well as greater privacy and a chance to prepare their own meals.

But vacation-rental homes that accommodate large groups still can cause problems when they're near other homes, Chandler said. He should know - he lives next to a six-bedroom vacation rental, and the home's hot tub is next to his master bedroom.