Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Truckee, CA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Truckee, CA, but with restrictions. STRs are allowed in all residential zones but subject to a cap of 1,255 certificates and a 365-day waiting period after property transfer. Requirements include a 24/7 local contact reachable within 30 minutes, occupancy limits of two guests per bedroom plus two (excluding children under 13), and mandatory bear-box trash enclosures. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are allowed in all residential zones but subject to a cap of 1,255 certificates and a 365-day waiting period after property transfer. Requirements include a 24/7 local contact reachable within 30 minutes, occupancy limits of two guests per bedroom plus two (excluding children under 13), and mandatory bear-box trash enclosures.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Truckee. 1) Submit a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate application via the Town's STR Portal (truckee.munirevs.com) and pay the non-refundable fee. 2) If the cap is reached, apply to join the waitlist. 3) Schedule and pass a fire safety inspection with the Truckee Fire Protection District (required within 3 years of initial approval and every 3 years thereafter).

1) Submit a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate application via the Town's STR Portal (truckee.munirevs.com) and pay the non-refundable fee. 2) If the cap is reached, apply to join the waitlist. 3) Schedule and pass a fire safety inspection with the Truckee Fire Protection District (required within 3 years of initial approval and every 3 years thereafter).

Vrbo is permitted in Truckee, CA under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Truckee are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

The most recent tracked change in Truckee is "Truckee STR Permit Lottery System Active" (2024-11-01, status: passed). Truckee's annual permit lottery opened with a limited number of new STR permits available. Demand significantly exceeded supply, with many applicants turned away. See the regulatory updates section on this page for the full history.

Truckee opens a permit lottery annually for new STR applicants. Applications are selected randomly from the qualified pool. With demand far exceeding supply, many applicants do not receive permits in a given year.

No. Truckee STR permits are non-transferable. The new property owner must enter the lottery, and with the permit cap, there is no guarantee of obtaining one.

All permitted STR operators must post house rules prominently, designate a 24/7 local emergency contact, install noise monitoring devices, and ensure guests comply with parking and occupancy limits. Violations can result in permit suspension.