How to Prevent South Lake Tahoe Noise Violations

By Torrie Wedeman, InvitedHome Lake Tahoe Director of Operations

Worried about guest behavior at your vacation rental? 

The City of South Lake Tahoe has enacted changes to noise violations that have a major impact on vacation rental owners. As of December 22, 2017, these owners are now much more responsible for the actions of their guests -- and the city is pledging to pursue violators with no less than a small police task force.

What does this mean for the vacation rental owner? Here are the biggest takeaways.

  • There will be no more warnings. If you violate the new VHR codes, you and your guests will both be hit with a minimum fine of $1,000.
  • If you receive three fines within 24 months, you’ll lose your vacation rental permit. You won't have the option to renew, but instead, will need to get on the waiting list, which is currently about two years. 
  • There can’t be any excessive noise between the hours of 10pm and 8am.
  • As the owner, you are legally required to let your guests know their duty to comply with every facet of the new ordinance.
We're following the changes, providing updates, and making sure you know how to avoid losing your South Lake Tahoe vacation rental permit, here. 

When we first learned about the impending changes to the Ordinance, we knew we had to put the proper preventative measures in place to safeguard our owners from substantial fines. Equally as important, we wanted to shield our guests from the decidedly distressing situation of receiving a citation in the middle of vacation.

To continue providing the unforgettable vacation experiences our guests have come to expect and protect our homeowners from violations, we turned to technology. We’ve always been one step ahead in the vacation rentals industry, and to maintain that position, we partnered with a group called NoiseAware to become the beta company to test the early version of their product. After 30 days, the results had both parties excited for the future.

NoiseAware is a noise monitoring solution that we've implemented to tackle noise-related issues on several fronts. The new system will help us:

  • Protect owners from unexpected costs due to improper guest behavior
  • Defend against false complaints by leveraging historical data
  • Improve our owners' standing in the community and the city
By taking this approach, we're now committed to settling any noise issues within 15 minutes -- and most importantly, before they can turn into an official violation. In the 30-day test period, we prevented 100% of noise issues, and 71% were resolved in 15 minutes. As we ramp up our partnership with NoiseAware, we know these figures will only improve.

Improved relationships with homeowners, the city, and the neighbors

By staying on the cutting edge of vacation rental technology, we’ve been able to better nurture the relationships with our homeowners, maintain steady relations with the city of South Lake Tahoe, and keep our owners in good standing with their neighbors. Here’s how:

  • Owners - Our South Lake Tahoe homeowners are thrilled that we’re taking proactive steps to keep their second home secure. We already have in place a strict guest vetting procedure, but with NoiseAware, we can ensure guests never behave improperly. Some owners have even taken to calling it the "party monitor" - an apt description. Our owners also love that we’re helping to create the best guest experience possible, ensuring great reviews and sustained bookings.
  • Neighbors - Our homeowners’ neighbors have recognized that we’re protecting their quiet times, and our SLT teams have noticed a significant drop in the number of calls they receive from the neighbors who are especially sensitive to sound. 
  • The City - Before we installed NoiseAware, a homeowner received a violation, for which we attended a hearing to appeal. After explaining to the city that we had since installed a system to monitor sound levels and mitigate issues within 15 minutes, we won the appeal -- and the trust of the city. We don’t expect to attend any more hearings. Ever.
We know what it takes to be the undisputed leader in luxury vacation rental management: Complete and equal dedication to the homeowner, their guests, and the community. By staying ahead of the curve and partnering with NoiseAware, we’re further reinforcing those commitments, and preserving the joy of owning a vacation home.

Want to keep reading?

Case Study on Guest Vetting

Find out what happened when one man looking for a trustworthy property manager called several prospective companies to test their guest vetting procedures. Spoiler: He chose InvitedHome, and for good reason. 

How to Avoid Losing Your South Lake Tahoe Vacation Rental Permit

We're keeping a close eye on the changes to South Lake Tahoe's VHR industry, and giving you updates on the best ways to safeguard your rental income.

Do You Know What Your Property Management Fee Covers?

The fees for vacation rental management vary widely depending on the level of service that's offered. At InvitedHome, you'll always know exactly how you're management fee is working for you. 
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