West Slope VHR Public Engagement
VHR Ordinance Review
El Dorado County — Public Engagement
Board of Supervisors Video: August 18, 2026
Link to Video: BOS Meeting August 18, 2026 - (Approximately 1 hour 3 min into video VHR discussion)
Send comments/concerns to your elected officials - link to Elected Officials - El Dorado County
Updated Information from BOS Meeting August 18, 2026
El Dorado County Board of Supervisors (Board) received a presentation on August 18, 2026, outlining potential changes to the Vacation Home Rental Program based on the recommendations from the West Slope Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Program Ad Hoc Committee. The list of proposed changes is below.
Proposed changes to the VHR Ordinance
1) Restore the “plus 2” to the occupancy standard on the West Slope;
2) Remove the 500-foot buffer around hosted home rentals on the West Slope;
3) Allow ‘detached’ guest houses to be rented short term Countywide;
4) Amend the 500-foot buffer provision to exclude parcels five acres or larger from requiring a buffer or being restricted from a VHR permit by neighboring buffers on the West Slope; (See the El Dorado County GIS Viewer Map for Parcel sizes and Information)
5) Remove the restriction on the number of bedrooms that can be rented in a hosted home rental, which is currently capped at two bedrooms, on the West Slope;
6) Increase the age limit for children that do not count toward the occupancy limit to be consistent with the age limits on the rental platforms, on the West Slope;
7) Revise restrictions on grills, fireplaces, and fireworks to strengthen and emphasize fire safety Countywide;
8) Explore the potential for allowing for non-state streamlined or County-streamlined ADUs/Secondary Units to be permitted as VHRs on the West Slope, and include options in the ordinance update if possible; and
9) Return to the Board with a process for considering VHR permit applications for operators whose VHR permits on the West Slope were denied or revoked due to County ordinance changes, or who have been operating a non-allowed unit but who had been issued a VHR permit from the County, provided the unit is a legally permitted and habitable structure. State-streamlined ADUs would be excluded from this consideration, Countywide.
Meeting Details
To view the meeting minutes or watch a recording of the item at the Board, follow this link to the August 18, 2026, meeting.
County of El Dorado - Meeting of Board of Supervisors on 8/18/2026 at 9:00 AM
(VHR discussion starts about 1hour and 3 minutes into the video)
Timeline & Next Steps
- Staff is drafting the ordinance updates for Board consideration.
- Then a final online survey will be published on these recommendations.
- First reading of the VHR Ordinance will be heard by the Board.
- The second reading and adoption will occur at a separate Board meeting.
- 30 days after adoption the new ordinance will take effect.
Contact
Provide comments to your Board of Supervisors. Their contact information can be found here: Elected Officials - El Dorado County
(Older info previous to Board of Supervisor Meeting 8/18/26)
Overview
(Older info previous to Board of Supervisor Meeting 8/18/26)
El Dorado County is reviewing elements of the West Slope Vacation Home Rental (VHR) ordinance. As part of the Board’s direction during the formation of the West Slope Ad Hoc Committee, this review will consider adjustments to parcel buffers (including smaller or no buffers for larger parcels), the inclusion of attached and detached guest houses, potential removal of the Hosted Home Rentals buffer on the West Slope, and a re-examination of occupancy levels. We want to understand what outcomes the public supports and what should be avoided to balance neighborhood character, housing, tourism, safety, and property rights.
Key Topics Under Review
- Buffers: Whether and how to adjust VHR parcel proximity buffers, including options for smaller or no buffers on larger parcels
- Guest Houses: Whether attached and detached guest houses should be included/allowed within VHR operations
- Hosted Home Rentals: Suggested change: Remove the buffer that currently limits Hosted Home Rentals on the West Slope
- Occupancy Levels: Revisit occupancy limits to ensure safety and compatibility with neighborhood infrastructure
Meeting Details
Date & Time: March 4th, 2026 — 5:30 PM
Location: County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 330 Fair Lane, Placerville, CA
Format: In-person or Online Link to Zoom Meeting Online
Public Comment: Email comments to WestSlopeVHR@edcgov.us
Here is a link to the online video from 3-4-2026 3-4-2026 West Slope VHR Public Meeting Video
Policy Options & Considerations
Buffers
- Option A: Scale buffers by parcel size
- Option B: No buffer for parcels above a defined acreage
- Option C: Keep existing 500 buffers
- Option D: Consider other options
Guest Houses
- Staff suggestion: Allow Attached & Detached with conditions on the West Slope
Hosted Home Rentals
- Staff suggestion: Remove the buffer limiting Hosted Home Rentals on the West Slope
Occupancy Levels
- Align with fire code, bedroom count, and septic capacity
- Explore caps per-bedroom or square footage
Timeline & Next Steps
- Now – March 4th, 2026: Collect public comments via email
- March 4th, 2026: Public meeting at 5:30 PM
- Post-meeting: Ad Hoc committee refinement and public survey
- Staff drafts ordinance updates for Board consideration
- Presentation to Board for approval
- Presentation made to Board on August 18, 2026