Washoe County STR permitting applies to unincorporated County areas
Washoe County Code Chapter 110, Article 319 is the County's current adopted STR framework for qualifying properties in unincorporated Washoe County. Incline Village and Crystal Bay are common Tahoe examples. Reno and Sparks use different local frameworks and are outside the County Planning and Building STR permitting jurisdiction.
Use the current County permit pathway for the exact property
A County STR permit is required before operating a qualifying short-term rental under the Washoe program. The County uses OneNV.us for applications and records and provides different review pathways depending on the property and permit tier.
Do not assume a universal permit fee or permit tier. Use the current Master Fee Schedule and the exact property's application path.
Inspection requirements are property-specific
Washoe County requires a building inspection and publishes a detailed STR inspection checklist. Tahoe Basin properties can also require fire-district or defensible-space review depending on the property's location and circumstances.
The Local Responsible Party has defined response obligations
The County requires a designated Local Responsible Party who is reachable 24/7, can respond within 30 minutes, and can be physically present at the STR within one hour when required. A professional property manager is not automatically required if another qualifying person satisfies the County rule.
Parking, occupancy, tax registration, and private restrictions still need verification
Tahoe Basin STRs have property-specific parking and operating documentation requirements. Lodging-tax registration is a separate operating consideration. HOA, deed, insurance, zoning, building, occupancy, and fire-district requirements can also apply independently of the County permit.
A practical Incline Village / Crystal Bay checklist
- Confirm the parcel is in unincorporated Washoe County.
- Check current permit and OneNV.us records.
- Review the County inspection checklist and applicable fire-district requirements.
- Confirm the Local Responsible Party can meet the 24/7, 30-minute, and one-hour physical-response requirements.
- Verify parking, occupancy, tax registration, HOA/deed, insurance, and other property-specific conditions.
Official sources
- Washoe County - Short Term Rental Permits
- Washoe County - STR Inspections
- Washoe County - Short Term Rentals
Start with the property, not a generic Tahoe assumption.
Request a free 2026 Tahoe Property Snapshot to identify the applicable jurisdiction, current official rule sources, the property-specific items that still need verification, and practical next steps.
Private by default. Your contact information and property details stay with Tahoe Property Pros unless you explicitly request or authorize a management connection.
Verify current rules before acting.
STR requirements can change by jurisdiction. Use this guide as a planning aid and confirm material permit, zoning, tax, and operating requirements with the relevant local authority before making a decision.