Vacation Rental Management
Vacation Rental Management in Tahoma, CA
On Lake Tahoe's quiet West Shore, Fairly runs Tahoma vacation homes for owners who want them earning through the summer rush and the ski months alike, with listings on Airbnb, Vrbo and Fairly.com, rates set night by night, and a caretaker nearby for every turnover.
4.8
Average review in Tahoma, CA
Fairly is an Airbnb Superhost, and our homes average 4.84 stars across 21,000+ guest reviews. 96% of our reviews are four stars or better. Better reviews attract better guests, at higher prices, maximizing your revenue.
Tahoma market overview
Tahoma is a small, wooded community on Lake Tahoe's West Shore, strung along Highway 89 between Homewood and Meeks Bay. Its draw is the lake itself: private piers, shallow coves and a stretch of shoreline far quieter than the North and South Shore towns. Sugar Pine Point State Park sits at the south end of the community, with lakefront trails, the historic Ehrman Mansion in summer and groomed cross-country ski trails in winter, and Emerald Bay is a short drive south, with South Lake Tahoe and, just over the Nevada line, Stateline beyond it at the far end of the lake. Tahoe City is a short drive north on Highway 89, and past it Highway 28 follows the north shore through Carnelian Bay to Tahoe Vista.
Demand follows the lake. July is the peak by a wide margin, with August and June close behind, and nightly rates are at their highest then. Winter brings a second, smaller season from December through February, when skiers and snow-seekers fill homes with fireplaces and room for gear. April, May, October and November are quiet, and that is when owners schedule maintenance and their own stays.
What homes earn in Tahoma, CA
The chart shows what well-run Tahoma vacation rentals earn month by month. It draws on homes listed on Airbnb and Vrbo with a review score of 4.8 or higher that are available or rented at least 300 days a year, so it reflects homes run as full-time rentals rather than occasional ones. Your own home's numbers depend on its size, its distance from the water and its amenities. You can customize a projection for a specific home.
| Month | Total rent | Occupancy | Avg. daily rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | $4,484 | 32% | $452 |
| Feb | $5,067 | 39% | $464 |
| Mar | $2,752 | 23% | $386 |
| Apr | $1,008 | 10% | $336 |
| May | $1,619 | 14% | $373 |
| Jun | $6,696 | 48% | $465 |
| Jul | $12,770 | 77% | $535 |
| Aug | $9,281 | 60% | $499 |
| Sep | $4,525 | 36% | $419 |
| Oct | $1,808 | 17% | $343 |
| Nov | $1,782 | 15% | $396 |
| Dec | $4,295 | 32% | $433 |
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This is based on properties listed on Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com with an average review score of 4.8 out of 5 or higher, limited to homes available or rented at least 300 days a year. Earnings vary based on the unique amenities and qualities of each home.
A guaranteed $5,000 increase in earnings
We guarantee that homeowners coming from self management or other managers will make an extra $5,000 in their first year with Fairly.
Vacation Rental Taxes and Regulations in Tahoma, CA
Two counties in one community
Short-term rentals are allowed in Tahoma, but which rules apply depends on the county your home is in, because the county line runs through the community. The southern, lakeside half of Tahoma, toward Sugar Pine Point and Meeks Bay, is in El Dorado County. The northern end and the hillside neighborhoods to the west are in Placer County. Your property tax bill shows which county you are in. Tahoma has no city government, so all rules and taxes are county ones.
Placer County side
Placer County levies a 10% transient occupancy tax in the North Lake Tahoe area, plus a North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District assessment of 1% or 2% depending on zone, with the higher rate closest to the lake. Both apply to stays of 30 days or less and are filed with the Treasurer-Tax Collector.
Before renting, you need a TOT certificate and then a short-term rental permit from the county. A permit requires a passing interior fire and life-safety inspection and an exterior defensible-space inspection by North Tahoe Fire, both renewed every three years, plus a photo of the home's bear bin and a local contact who can be reached 24 hours a day and lives within 35 driving miles. Eastern Placer County caps non-owner-occupied permits, and once that cap is reached, each permitted rental must rent at least 30 nights a year.
El Dorado County side
El Dorado County levies a 10% transient occupancy tax, plus an additional 4% in the unincorporated Tahoe area, for 14% in total. It is filed quarterly with the Treasurer-Tax Collector, and operators also need a county business license.
A vacation home rental permit is required first. The Tahoe Basin is capped at 900 permits, and no new permit is issued within 500 feet of an active one; homes inside that buffer join a waitlist. Permits do not transfer when a home is sold, last one year, and require a fire department inspection every two years, at least 10 rented nights a year, and two on-site parking spaces. The local contact must live within half an hour of the home.
How Fairly handles it
We register your home for the county lodging tax, then collect and remit it on every booking. We assist with the rental permit application and its renewals, and your Fairly caretaker lives nearby and can act as the home's local contact under either county's rules.
Operating a vacation rental in Tahoma, CA
Operating in Tahoma means two distinct seasons. Summer brings back-to-back turnovers through July and August, when guests arrive for the lake and expect boats, paddleboards and beach gear ready to go. Winter brings snow: driveways and walkways need clearing before each arrival, guests need clear guidance on chains and parking, and Highway 89 to the south over Emerald Bay closes during heavy storms.
Bears are part of life on the West Shore, so trash has to go into a bear-resistant bin, never left out between pickups. Both counties also inspect rentals for fire safety and defensible space, which means keeping the lot clear of pine needles and brush and the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms current. Your Fairly caretaker lives nearby, handles each turnover and walkthrough, and keeps the home ready for those inspections.
Frequently asked questions
Fairly charges a flat 20% commission on rental revenue, paid only when your Tahoma home books, with no long-term contract and no hidden fees. The rate covers listings on Airbnb, Vrbo and Fairly.com, nightly pricing, guest messaging, a local caretaker for turnovers, and collecting and remitting the county lodging tax on every stay.
Yes, with a county permit, and the county depends on where the home sits. The southern, lakeside half of Tahoma is in El Dorado County, which caps the Tahoe Basin at 900 permits and keeps a 500-foot buffer between rentals. The northern and hillside areas are in Placer County, which issues short-term rental permits under its own cap.
On the El Dorado County side, guests pay a 14% transient occupancy tax: the county's 10% plus an additional 4% in the Tahoe area. On the Placer County side, it is a 10% transient occupancy tax plus a 1% or 2% North Lake Tahoe tourism assessment. Fairly registers your home for the tax and remits it on every booking.
Summer, led by July, when families come for the lake, the piers and Sugar Pine Point State Park. December through February is a second, smaller season driven by skiing and snow. Spring and late fall are quiet, which makes them the natural time for repairs and owner stays.
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Fairly Vacation Rental Management
Serving Tahoma, CA and neighboring areas
Available 24/7