Property Care Guide

101 Old Cedars Pl, Tahoma, CA 96142

Tahoma, CA 96142 · Elevation 6225 ft

Tahoe Cedars Sub

Location & Property Details

Elevation
6225 ft
Fire Hazard Severity Zone
Very High (CAL FIRE FHSZ)
Fire District
Meeks Bay Fire Protection District
Water
Tahoma Mutual Water
Electric
Liberty Utilities
Gas
Southwest Gas

Seasonal Maintenance Calendar for Tahoma

At 6225 ft in a Very High fire hazard zone, this property has specific seasonal maintenance requirements. Actual timing shifts 2–4 weeks in heavy snow years.

Spring

  • Clear winter debris, pine needles, and broken branches from roof, gutters, and around foundation
  • Inspect roof for damage from snow load; check flashing and shingles
  • De-winterize exterior plumbing and irrigation systems
  • Check deck boards and railings for rot or separation from frost heave
  • Schedule HVAC filter change and sealed-combustion system inspection per manufacturer schedule - modern units require annual service to maintain efficiency and warranty coverage

Summer

  • Create and maintain 100-ft defensible space (zones 0/1/2 per CAL FIRE)
  • Stain or reseal decks during dry weather window
  • Inspect and clean chimneys, stovepipes, and spark arrestors
  • Test smoke and CO detectors; replace batteries
  • Review smart home and monitoring systems: thermostat scheduling, camera battery backup, and leak-sensor alerts are especially valuable for unoccupied vacation properties

Fall

  • Clear pine needles from roof, gutters, and within 5 ft of structures (Zone 0)
  • Winterize exterior plumbing: drain hoses, shut-off exterior spigots, blow out irrigation
  • Service heating system and replace furnace filters
  • Check roof for loose shingles before snow season
  • Test smoke/CO sensor connectivity and remote alert delivery before closing for the season - post-2000 systems integrate with monitoring apps that require annual re-verification

Winter

  • Monitor snow load on roof
  • Keep attic and crawlspace ventilation clear of snow to prevent ice dams
  • Check for ice dam formation at eaves and roof valleys
  • Ensure heat tape on exposed pipes is functioning

What This Means for an Owner Here

Properties inside CAL FIRE's Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone - including this 101 Old Cedars Pl parcel at 6,225 ft - carry a maintenance burden that is non-negotiable: defensible space at zones 0, 1, and 2 must be maintained on a calendar schedule, not on an as-needed basis. The Meeks Bay Fire Protection District performs annual inspections, and the most common owner mistake is treating Zone 0 (the five-foot ember-resistant ring) as a landscaping decision when it is in fact a structural-protection decision.

Service Area & Utility Context

Liberty Utilities electric service in California carries the wildfire-mitigation overhead of PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) events. Any property in Liberty's service area benefits from a documented PSPS plan: which circuits hold during a shutoff, what backup options exist, and how long the residence can hold without grid power before pipes are at risk.

Property Profile

Parcel summary - built in 2023, 4,481-sq-ft of conditioned space, 4 bedrooms with 6 bathrooms set on an unrecorded lot; current assessed value sits at $8,109,000. The annual maintenance schedule at 6,225 ft under Meeks Bay Fire Protection District oversight reflects the structure's age, its envelope condition, and the operational status of any mechanical systems; the last recorded sale was in 2023 at a recorded price of $7,950,000.

Fire District Inspection: Meeks Bay Fire Protection District

Inspection Window May through July
Program Defensible Space Inspection

Meeks Bay Fire Protection District covers Tahoma, Homewood, Meeks Bay, and Rubicon Bay. Annual defensible space inspections are conducted in late spring. The Very High FHSZ designation applies throughout. The district is smaller than NTFPD or TPFD — inspection resources are limited, and owners should not wait for a formal inspection notice before maintaining clearances.

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Tahoe Cedars — Community Profile

Built: 1916–2023 No HOA

Tahoe Cedars (also indexed as 'Tahoe Ced' variants in county records) is one of the West Shore's oldest established communities, with parcels from 1916. El Dorado County jurisdiction. No overarching HOA. The area has a mix of original cabins, mid-century homes, and recent rebuilds. West Shore TRPA rules are among the most restrictive in the Basin due to proximity to sensitive shoreline habitat — coverage percentages and setbacks are closely monitored.

El Dorado County — Permits, Taxes & Compliance

Permits

Portal: El Dorado County Development Services (edcgov.us)

El Dorado County Development Services handles building permits. For Tahoe Basin properties, TRPA review runs concurrently. The county's defensible space and fire hardening requirements have been updated post-2020 to align with California's AB 38 fire hardening disclosure requirements.

Short-Term Rental Rules

TOT Rate: 10%

El Dorado County has applied stricter short-term rental regulations than Placer County. Registration, TOT collection (10%), and occupancy limits are enforced. The West Shore (Tahoma, Meeks Bay) has lower STR density partly due to these regulatory differences. Verify current STR permit status with El Dorado County before assuming a property can be operated as a vacation rental.

Property Tax & Transfer

El Dorado County follows the same California Prop 19 rules as other counties — parent-to-child exclusion limited to primary residences, capped exclusion amount. El Dorado County Assessor administers. The county also has its own Measure E special tax overlay in portions of the Tahoe Basin.

Fire Compliance

Agency: El Dorado County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE — El Dorado Unit

Properties in El Dorado County's Tahoe Basin area are in Very High FHSZ. The El Dorado County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE share responsibility for inspections. Post-2021 regulations require fire hardening documentation at sale — sellers must disclose compliance or non-compliance with defensible space requirements.

Short-Term Rental Context: Tahoma / West Shore (96142)

6.3% of properties in this zip are registered STR operators
$30,000–$48,000 estimated median gross annual STR income
Peak months: July–August; West Shore attracts lower density but loyal repeat visitors

Tahoma and the West Shore (96142) have the lowest STR density of the core North Tahoe zips at 6.3%, largely because El Dorado County has historically applied stricter STR regulations than Placer County. El Dorado County's TOT rate is 10%. West Shore properties appeal to buyers seeking seclusion over activity — a distinct buyer profile that supports premium pricing for lakefront and pier-access homes.

Income estimates are based on Placer/El Dorado County TOT filings and publicly reported AirDNA/VRBO North Lake Tahoe data, 2023–2024. Actual results vary by property type, condition, and operator.

Tahoma: Community Background

Development era: 1920s–1940s (West Shore)

Tahoma and the West Shore were among the first areas of Lake Tahoe developed for summer recreation, served by steamboat access before roads were improved. The name 'Tahoma' is a corruption of the Washoe word for the lake. The area's 1920s–1940s cabin character is more intact on the West Shore than the North Shore, partly because the lower STR density has reduced the pressure to renovate for rental marketability. El Dorado County jurisdiction.

Tahoma / Homewood / West Shore: Local Events & Lifestyle

The West Shore — Tahoma, Homewood, Rubicon Bay, Meeks Bay — is the quietest and most privacy-oriented sector of the Tahoe Basin. Fewer commercial amenities mean buyers here are self-selecting for seclusion and natural access over convenience. STR density is low (6.3%); the buyer profile trends toward long-term owners and families.

Homewood Mountain Resort

December–April

A smaller, family-oriented ski resort on the West Shore with exceptional lake views from nearly every run. Homewood has been undergoing a redevelopment process that, if completed, would add lodging and village infrastructure. Currently operates as a classic Tahoe ski hill without resort amenities.

D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay State Parks

June–September

Two of California's most iconic state parks, accessible from the West Shore. Rubicon Trail and Vikingsholm Castle are summer draws. West Shore properties near the park access command a premium among buyers who prioritize seclusion over amenities.

West Shore Café Summer Season

May–October

The West Shore Café and Bar is a lakefront institution in Homewood. Accessible by boat, it anchors the West Shore's social scene during summer and supports rental marketing for properties in the area.

Property Record

Bedrooms
4.0
Bathrooms
6.0
Living Area
4481 sq ft
Year Built
2023
APN
098-360-002-000

Data from county assessor public records. May differ from current as-built condition.

Managing a Renovation or Remodel?

Out-of-area owner planning a project in Tahoe? TR Tahoe provides owner’s representative and construction oversight services — real-time photo documentation, invoice review with broker oversight, weekly progress reports, and budget tracking against your contractor’s estimate.

  • Real-time photo documentation
  • Invoice tracking with broker oversight
  • Weekly progress reports
  • Budget tracking against contractor estimate

See a Sample Project Project Management Services

Seasonal Care, Handyman & Maintenance

TR Tahoe has served North Lake Tahoe since 1997. Pine needle clearing, defensible space, snow load monitoring, pipe freeze prevention, deck staining, fire prep — the work that keeps a Tahoe property in good shape and your insurance in force.

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