EDC wants vacation rentals to be good neighbors
C.L. Raffety, El Dorado County tax collector, leads a meeting Oct. 23 about vacation rentals. Photo/Kathryn Reed
By Kathryn Reed
Vacation rentals aren’t going anywhere, so El Dorado County officials want to find a way for neighbors to get along with these temporary guests.
C.L. Raffety, the county treasurer-tax collector, hosted a meeting in South Lake Tahoe on Oct. 23 for people who manage vacation rentals or own them. Her department oversees vacation rentals throughout the county.
“We want to work to prevent violations,” Raffety told the group. “They have a right to rent their home, but neighbors also have rights. Everyone has rights that need to be respected.”
The county has devised the Good Neighbor Program. A trifold brochure has been created with the intent that it be handed out to all renters. It touts how to be a good neighbor by following noise, parking, garbage, pet, and occupancy regulations.
It says, “Renters please keep in mind that you may be cited or fined or evicted for creating a noise disturbance or violating any of the provision of the county vacation home rental ordinance chapter 5.56. Neighbors are provided contact numbers and should an occasion arise they are encouraged to report disturbances. Your permanent neighbors have a right to peace and repose and this must be respected at all times of the day but especially into the evening hours.”
The goal of the whole program is to reduce the number of complaints.
“It starts with VHR (vacation home rental) owners taking the responsibility to communicate with their VHR neighbors in a diplomatic outreach effort to prevent incidents that lead to complaints,” reads a letter the county sent to owners. “The outreach includes distributing to the permanent residents in the vacation home rental neighborhood, a brochure with your local contact person’s phone number.”
Every vacation rental has to have a person who can be at the property within an hour – no matter the time of day or weather conditions. That person, the owner or property managers are being encouraged by county reps to walk the neighborhoods to get to know the permanent residents before there is an issue.
There are about 700 permitted vacation rentals in the unincorporated area of the Lake Tahoe Basin of El Dorado County. All are supposed to be permitted. County officials at the meeting said they regularly peruse vacation rental websites to check addresses to see if they have a permit.
Those without permits are also not paying transient occupancy tax — which is another issue.
People have 10 days to get into compliance before a fine would be levied. County officials said only once has someone not complied. The county does not mandate owners put their permit number on any website advertising the property.
South Lake Tahoe, however, does have that rule in its ordinance.
Several representatives from property management firms urged Raffety to get the Board of Supervisors to make that change to the county ordinance. She said she would see what she could do.
Enforcement of rules in the ordinance is an ongoing battle.
“They hired two code enforcement officers for the community development agency. They are so busy with health and welfare issues,” Raffety said. “They don’t do vacation rentals.”
El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies can enforce some aspects of the ordinance, but for a citation to be issued the reporting party needs to sign a complaint. That has been a sticking point with some people because they don’t want their name to be known. Property managers asked Raffety to coordinate a meeting with the higher ups in the sheriff’s department to discuss how things might be able to work better in the field.
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Notes:
• Complaints about vacation rentals may be made to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office at 530.573.3000 or to Raffety’s office at 530.621.5800.
• South Lake Tahoe will be revisiting its vacation rental ordinance early next year.
How about also requiring bear proof trash containers for all vacation rentals?
What about the lack of maintenance or even general care on most of these? Overgrown yards, utility shut-off notices, phone books, peeling paint. These points are of more concern to me. There is no property oversight whatsoever, and in order to keep or neighborhoods from becoming fire hazards and targets for thieves, this should be priority. Anyone can tell these kids to turn down their music or move their cars. Where are we holding the property owners and management companies responsible for these aspects?
Do I laugh now or later. Anyone want to bet nothing changes and vacation rentals continue to be an extreme nuisance and the county and city will continue to lose mucho dinero from uncollected TOT taxes (which should be raised to 12%.) The tax collector is just putting a pretty face on an ugly problem.
As far a signing a complaint by a citizen who worries about retaliation, there is absolutely no reason if the officer hears noise or observes other violations of law that she can’t be the complaining party, just like traffic tickets. Officers are able to cite or arrest if the officer sees the crime being committed.
Let’s get the Sheriff and Police Chief to start enforcing and not make excuses but they need the support of elected officials, eh Tom and Cherrie and Kenny or Sue.
Vacation rentals aren’t going anywhere, so El Dorado County officials want to find a way for neighbors to get along with these temporary guests.
Right off the bat, bad approach. THE ANNOYING ‘guests’ need to find a way to get along with US. They are invading our world, not the other way around.
I have only one phone number needed, it’s to the Sheriffs office. This meeting appears to be nothing but lip service as usual.
I have several of these pests in my neighborhood. I would not have purchased here if I would have known. They (as mentioned), are run down looking, yards that are an extreme fire danger AND one owner keeps filling his yard with sticks and large branches that are dead. He seems to think it’s art. Well, he was probably friends with Timothy Leary. Both ideas are dead.
Once again the county has a meeting with owners and managers. Why weren’t neighbors told about the meeting and invited to attend. I have asked the tax collectors office to invite me to these meetings, once again, no. These people have and are continuing to make rules that relieve them from any and all responsibility for vacation rental problems, they put all the blame on the renters. Owners and managers are the ultimate responsible party and need to be held accountable for any problems. If the renters are partying and causing trouble, the managers and owners need to be fined. And then they can take it out on the renters, not the other way around. You can bet if owners and managers start paying fines the problems with vacation rentals will drop immediately!
And quiet needs to be enforced during the day time also. Permanent residences deserve peace and quiet 24 hrs a day. This is why we live here.
The bottom line and most effective way to stop problems is to fine owners and managers.
Or else get these illegal hotels out of our neighborhoods!
“‘We want to work to prevent violations,’ Raffety told the group. ‘They have a right to rent their home, but neighbors also have rights.'”
As a resident, my rights have not been respected in El Dorado County and like many of my neighbors I am forced to tolerate mini-motels all around my home. Don’t be tricked into thinking that the County has no control over this matter. Other communities have regulations in place to deal with this industry – including complete bans on this land use. The City of Carmel, for example, has the following message on their website: “In order to preserve Carmel-by-the-Sea’s residential character, no home or subordinate unit may be rented for less than 30 consecutive days.”
Vacation rental regulation is a tax revenue opportunity for El Dorado County in its quest for dollars and Tahoe residents are worse off because of this. If vacation rentals represented 25 to 50 percent of the housing stock in high-end communities like El Dorado Hills I’d wager that County officials would start cracking down on this land use.
It IS annoying having constant parties in residential neighborhoods. We had a group of men renting a house in the neighborhood who apparently were trying to see who could swear the most and the loudest. Bachelor party, I’d assume.
But there ARE things you can do; call police if it’s a valid complaint. Find out who owns the house, or the rental agency; it isn’t that hard to do. At least with vacation rentals, you don’t have to take a chance of having FULL TIME neighbors-from-hell. ‘Cause that’s even worse.
Some here would like to have the county ban the practice. I understand that feeling, I’m often annoyed by the constant, changing, ongoing party. But then I remind myself that because of those houses, I’ve met some very cool people from all over the world that I’d never have met otherwise. AND I respect the private property rights of the people who own those houses. It’s their house, and as long as they obey the law and try to be good neighbors, I don’t have the right to tell them what they can or can’t do with their own property.
If they are NOT good neighbors, we do have options.
with more Redevelopment chewing up the Motel Industry,
starting in 1989 with eliminating 2000 rooms.
you should expect more and more Vacation Rentals.
their are 5 on my block of Modesto ave.
your lucky that you do not live at Carlson’s the Mcintire monster in his backyard is always out of control.
Check the Plan Area Statement for your neighborhood. Some of these do not allow vacation rentals.
Chief, you do bring up an interesting question; WHY do they keep letting McIntyre build those monstrosities? A friend who has lived near Heavenly for 30 years told me he’s building a 10 bedroom place near her. Now, honestly, WHAT does the building department THINK is going to be done with a 10 bedroom house?? They know damn well it’s just a motel in disguise. You’d think there would be some zoning questions there. But STPUD likes selling all those sewer units, and the city is getting big bucks in permit fees too. In my neighborhood there are 6 McIntyre McMansions, and 4 of them are vacation rentals. . .
How about also requiring Bear Proof Canisters on all propertys with in city limits.. yah I mean you slum lords!
Dogula: I’m exhausted and tired of calling the cops and I suspect they have better things to do – like fight crime. We’ve lost this war…we’re occupied territory. The victors are VRBO.com, Lake Tahoe Accommodations and hordes of Bay Area second home owners looking to turn a buck. And now the County Assessor demands a piece of the pie. We’re like Joseph, sold into slavery in Egypt. But like Joseph, will our day ever will come? Almost every “resort” community in America is dealing with this issue, so why can’t we improve our plight as so many others have done? Follow the dollars….
Renters get loud, renters wake up to flat tires, renters no come back.
“A friend who has lived near Heavenly for 30 years told me he’s building a 10 bedroom place near her. Now, honestly, WHAT does the building department THINK is going to be done with a 10 bedroom house?? They know damn well it’s just a motel in disguise. You’d think there would be some zoning questions there.”
So Dogula, from your above comment it sure sounds like your advocating MORE government regulations.
Imagine that!
It all comes down to the management company, I have a few by me and the company that oversees them is very proactive and seems to be very carful who they rent them out to. The only time there was a problem with noise they were there and things got resolved real quick. I do take the time to say hi and welcome them to our town plus let them know I live close by and if they need anything come and see me. You may be surprised how they treat you in return if they feel welcome.
Wrong again, Bigs. I am NOT advocating for more control. I’m saying, since the system exists, why don’t you use it? I don’t personally believe in zoning laws. But since you folks insist on bureaucracy, why not DO something with it instead of just allowing it to suck up all our money?
Noisy and overcrowded vacation rentals are a problem.
Having grown up in Tahoe and dealing with rentals of all sorts , here’s my advice.
1. Get the owners phone number and name, build a relationship so you’re on good terms .Exchange phone numbers so they have yours as well and tell the owner you’ll keep an eye on the place when it’s vacant. Easy to do!
2. Confront the noisy guests in a calm and polite way asking them to to be a little more quiet.Call the owner if they don’t comply, call the owner.
3.If none of that works, call SLTPD at 542 6100 if you’re in the city and have a problem
or El Dorado County Sheriffs dept. at 573 3000 and let them know what the problem is. Good luck1 OLS
I attended this meeting (as a concerned citizen and did not identify myself, I live here as well) and agree that it should have been more open to the residents of the county. The property managers that were in attendance feel the same pain that we do in the county in a feeling of lack of enforcement. We need to enforce or enhance the ordinance as the city has done. The county is not doing enough as they do not have an office up here to deal with this situation. They do not have a clue sitting in a chair in Placerville.
“EDC wants vacation rentals to be good neighbors”…no they don’t.
In the past ten years I have called the Sheriff’s office about three vacation rentals near me. In each case the noise ceased within a half hour. So, in my area the Sheriff’s deputies are doing a good job.
Last year I got phone call from a woman with the county asking about problems in the neighborhood. I suspect that she was looking for tax evaders but she said she wanted to make sure that the county was responding to complaints.
One of the houses was rented recently by my son. There was a three ring binder warning renters not to make noise and cause a response from the Sheriff or they would be liable for the $100 fine. I don’t know if there is actually a fine but the property manager was responding to the visits from the deputies.
So, OLS has given good advice. At least in the county the Sheriff will respond to complaints.
kenny curtzwiler,
” The property managers that were in attendance feel the same pain that we do in the county in a feeling of lack of enforcement.”
That is a really stupid statement. The property managers are a big part of the problem. They think because they have the renters sign a paper saying they will be quiet and observe all the rules, they have done their part. Baloney !! They need to police their rentals, and not expect the sheriff to be the “manager”. Especially problem ones like I have near me, one with an indoor pool. The managers should be physically checking on these properties to insure they are quiet, not too many people or cars and following all the rules. And I mean driving by the house. These managers can not expect neighbors to police their rentals, by calling the sheriff when problems arise. It is the managers job to insure problems don’t happen .
As I said earlier, fine the managers and owners when problems arise, and the problems will go away !
Kenny: If elected would you support a moratorium on new vacation rentals in El Dorado County as other communities around the country have done? Seal Beach did this in 2012 with mixed results (some owners are still operating underground until busted). New York City regulates vacation rentals to protect the City’s hotel industry and preserve housing units for City residents. Maui County has more than 16,000 vacation rentals in their jurisdiction, most of which are allowed outright when located in a hotel or commercial zoning district. Vacation rentals in Maui may be permitted in residential neighborhoods following an approval at a public hearing. Hawaiians can’t just pick-up and move to the Carson Valley when vacation rental businesses gobble-up all available real estate and drive-up rents and house prices above what locals can afford. I understand Dogula’s distaste for zoning, and I’ve heard you preach about too much government interference in our lives (and I generally agree), but sometimes regulation is necessary to protect people. I may change my mind and vote for you if you would openly support a vacation rental moratorium in El Dorado County. What say you?
Rob5
If the vacation rentals are managed properly, neighbors would never have to call the sheriff.
I don’t know how many times you called the sheriff, but I called seven weekends in a row this past summer. And twice I called both Fri and Sat. This is in the county, the sheriff does respond and takes care of the problem.
But why should I ever have to call? Bad managers who don’t care are the problem, no matter what they say. All they want is their fee and they pass all problems off to the sheriff. We need heavy regulation and fines for these managers.
The major offenders are the rental companies who could care less how old the people are they are renting to and they don’t have any fail safe in place for this issue! They need to make sure that they are talking to the neighbors around the properties that they rent to and should be available for call an any time. They also need to be giving out these brochures to all the renters and they should have these issues in there contracts. I am a vacation home owner and I attached this to every check in reservation and actually have this stuff already in my contract with them. I talk regularly with my neighbors and have done even paid for fencing for there privacy . I also give the neighbors my phone number and ask them to call me and I have had the occasion to call renters and discuss the noise issue as we are very close to our neighbors turns out they had the windows open and we just playing cards and as you know noise really carries in Tahoe as it is a basin. I may be an exception I know… I’m proactive!!! I love Tahoe and really don’t want to ruin my neighbors life. Im also very picky who I rent to . I have an age limit as well.
Steven,
I agree with everything you say. Right now the only option we have is to call the Sheriff. I was responding to the comments that suggested that calling the Sheriff was not useful.
Vacation rentals should be outlawed or at the very least there should be substantial fines for violations.
The major offenders are the rental companies who could care less how old the people are they are renting to and how many of that same age thus a party group. They don’t have any fail safe in place for this issue! They need to make sure that they are talking to the neighbors around the properties that they rent to and should be available for call from the neighbor any time. They also need to be giving out these brochures to all the renters and they should have these issues in their contracts. I am a vacation home owner and I have attached this to every check in reservation and actually have this stuff already in my contract with them. I personally talk to each renter about the rules and ask if they have read and understand the contract and note that in my reservation also the reason they are coming to tahoe. Ages of everyone in their group. I talk regularly with my neighbors and have even paid for fencing with double thick lattice for their privacy . I also give the neighbors my phone number and ask them to call me and I have had the occasion to call renters and discuss the noise issue as we are very close to our neighbors turns out they had the windows open and we just playing cards and as you know noise really carries in Tahoe as it is a basin. I also have a 10pm outside noise limitation. I may be an exception I know… I’m proactive!!! I love Tahoe and really don’t want to ruin my neighbors peace. I also want to have a successful rental because I must rent I don’t have a choice or I would loose my property. I’m also very picky who I rent to . I have an age limit as well.
As a taxpayer, I have a problem with managers and owners expecting taxpayers to subsidize the vacation rental business by having our law enforcement constantly responding to these things. In general, police officers and deputies have bigger fish to fry. If you can’t be a responsible business owner and/or manager then get out. Would a restaurant whose food constantly caused food poisoning be allowed to continue on?
I have had a rental property next to me for 15 years never had a problem. Everyone is always quiet by 11pm. Renters pay a transient occupancy tax which probably in some way pays for county services.
If there were no rentals then many of these properties would be sold increasing the supply of homes for sales driving down the value of our homes. I say find a solution.
Okay, in summation on noisy vacation rentals.If talking with the loud renters does’nt work, call the owner of the property and as a LAST resort call law enforcement.
Get to know all your neighbors! Full time and part time people. That benefits all!!! OLS
I love the vacation rental next to me. The year round neighbor has the stinking loud diesel truck that warms up for twenty + minutes everyday and the 8 month long fire burning in the old woodstove using scrap wood and trash.
It is run by a great management company. The owners a cool too! I meet people from all over the country and world.
If I could just get the locals to stop speeding down my street with their bass shaking my windows it would be great.
I have no opinion on how to solve this issue but I can imagine at least two outcomes. One is, if you enforce zoning laws and make them illegal, property values will decrease for the rentals and that will have a ripple effect on other housing If you don’t control or enforce existing ordinances things will get worse. Take your pick.
I have been told by Lake Tahoe Vacation rentals that they tell these out of town people they will lose their deposit if the Sheriff comes out. Who knows what that amount is. Maybe its different with each home depending on size.
I agree 100% that if the owners and so called managers have to pay a fine they may be more interested in helping us with the problem. Calling some Bay Area absent owner is worthless. Yes, these managers are as much of the problem as the tourists. They don’t screen well enough at all…..nor do I believe for a second that they really care.
The bottom line is it’s about money and that is quite obvious by who put on this so called meeting that no locals were made aware of.
So yes Kenny….what say you to Sleepless?
Transient Occupancy Tax is 10% which is a considerable amount what is being done with this money??? so if I rent for 2100/week charge 185.00 cleaning then dog fee of 100.00 total 2385.00 they charge tax on the total its 238.50 this would be weekly for one rental/week times this by how may weeks rent per year and by how many rentals there are this adds up to ALOT of money do you see where it goes???????????
I think it would be an enormous mistake to disallow vacation rentals. Think the real estate market’s been tough the last few years? Watch what happens if you do that. Over half the houses here are second homes and/or vacation rentals. No income, lots of foreclosures. All our property values would tank.
Not to mention, people have the right to do with their homes as they choose. That’s why they call it “private property”.
“Not to mention, people have the right to do with their homes as they choose. That’s why they call it “private property”.
That is a ridiculous statement. Many things are prohibited, as they should be. Would you like a car wash next door or a pig farm? Or to be more realistic, how about a motel or a liquor store or maybe a McDonald’s?
The conversation should be about where the line is drawn, not should there be a line.
“he’s building a 10 bedroom place near her. Now, honestly, WHAT does the building department THINK is going to be done with a 10 bedroom house??”
“Not to mention, people have the right to do with their homes as they choose. That’s why they call it “private property”.”
So Dog, in an earlier post you intimate an owner is gaming the system by doing what he wants with his “private property” and should be a red flag to the county (ie. GOVERNMENT) and should be dealt with, how I’m not sure.
Then in the above comment you argue for his right to do so.
Huh.
BP, I already answered that question in a post above. Read it.
Oh, never mind, I’ll copy and paste it so you don’t have to work too hard to find it:
“Wrong again, Bigs. I am NOT advocating for more control. I’m saying, since the system exists, why don’t you use it? I don’t personally believe in zoning laws. But since you folks insist on bureaucracy, why not DO something with it instead of just allowing it to suck up all our money?”
Dog logic=illogical at best
What’s illogical?? I don’t like the system. But I have no say on whether or not it exists, so the best option is to use it to advantage.
And rather than all you guys whining and complaining about it, since you apparently approve of said system, why the heck DON’T you use it?? It certainly costs enough. Why don’t you get your money’s worth out of your agencies??
One word Dog.
Irony.
Read your last sentence of your last comment. Now reflect on 95% of YOUR comments.
Irony!
” I don’t personally believe in zoning laws.”
You should move to Houston. I think you would like it there. Experience the consequences of poor zoning.
Also, the state board of education promotes denial of evolution and a young earth, and because the state buys so many texts books they leverage that to attempt to use the state to teach children BS.
‘Read your last sentence of your last comment. Now reflect on 95% of YOUR comments. ‘
Indeed. They have transcended irony to the point where I wonder if they are involved in some higher level nihilist prank. The absurdist form of nihilism, not the kind that ends with practitioners throwing themselves in front of trains.
Limit the number of vacation rentals on each street, enforce the noise ordinance, mandatory metal bear proof trash storage, and heavy fines for vacation rental agencies and renters for violations !
Sick of this problem on my street.
Full time property owners have a right to enjoy peace and quiet in their neighborhoods !
96% of the vacation rentals that pay TOT for the county area only are in the Tahoe Basin with 4% on the west slope. We need to have better representation.