Douglas County: Commissioners: Oct. 5 meeting about VHRs, Oct 19 meeting in Tahoe

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. – At their next meeting on October 5, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners have an item on their agenda that states a presentation and possible discussion will be held on vacation home rentals (VHRs) after a petition was filed by five residents to amend the VHR ordinance. The commissioners are set to discuss the financial impacts such an initiative could pose for the county - a loss of millions of dollars.

The five residents, Jeanne Shizuru, Leonard Kyle, Janine Nyre, Nicholas Maier, and Philip Schloss, make up the committee for the initiative to remove VHRs from neighborhoods and only allow 600 licensed VHRs in the following zones: Commercial, Tahoe Recreational, Tahoe Resort Recreational, Tourist Commercial Development, High-Density Tourist District, Tahoe-Tourist Commercial, Tahoe- Mixed Use, and/or the Town Center District. They are working on passing signature lists to get enough to qualify for the 2024 ballot.

The petition information can be found HERE.

Gaming revenue and jobs have reduced significantly in the Tahoe Township area of Douglas County since 2001, as has the number of families, students, and full-time residents. Revenue from VHRs through the Transit Occupancy Tax (TOT) and fees has helped make up for losses to the County coffers.

According to the meeting agenda, the expected financial impact of the petition to Douglas County will be as follows:

Lost revenue from VHR permitting fees: $769,500
Lost revenue from Transient Occupancy Tax collections: $1,626,121
Total lost revenue: $2,395,621

In addition, certain public agencies are expected to be impacted as follows:
Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority - Lost revenue from TOT collections: $3,213,546
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority - Lost revenue from TOT collections: $236,119
Carson Valley Visitors Authority - Increased revenue from TOT collections: $60,864

While new TOT revenue from increased use of Douglas County hotels could theoretically offset some TOT revenue losses, there is no clear evidence that a substantial reduction in VHRs would lead to an increase in Douglas County hotel use. Based on historical data, at best hotel occupancy rates may increase by up to nine percent. Many of the casinos are already full during the popular times for short-term rental homes. If that were to happen, Douglas County's losses, after an offset for new revenue, would be as follows:

Lost revenue from VHR permitting fees: $769,500
Lost revenue from TOT collections: $1,074,123
Total lost revenue: $1,843,622

The 10 a.m. meeting on Thursday will be held in person and available remotely. See here for details on how to participate and to read the agenda.

Then, the commissioners' next meeting on October 19 will be held on the South Shore. It will be held at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency offices at 128 Market Street, Stateline, beginning at 10 a.m. That meeting will also include a discussion on VHRs and their density. That item is due to be discussed after 1 p.m.

For a list of Douglas County vacation home rental quick facts, click here.

To view the meeting agendas or watch the meetings live, click here.