Property Care Guide
443 Red Cedar St, Tahoe City, CA 96145
Tahoe City, CA 96145 · Elevation 6225 ft
Tahoe City Terrace
Location & Property Details
- Elevation
- 6225 ft
- Fire Hazard Severity Zone
- Very High (CAL FIRE FHSZ)
- Fire District
- North Tahoe Fire Protection District
- Water
- North Tahoe PUD
- Electric
- Liberty Utilities
- Gas
- Southwest Gas
TR Tahoe provides year-round property care across Tahoe City and North Lake Tahoe.
Seasonal Maintenance Calendar for Tahoe City
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
- Check for galvanized supply pipe corrosion if original plumbing was not replaced - 1980s-era Tahoe construction commonly used materials that show mineral buildup and reduced flow by now
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
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
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
- Verify heat tape type and rating match the existing pipe material - mismatched tape/pipe combinations from earlier retrofits are a frequent failure point in 1980s-era vacation properties
What This Means for an Owner Here
Sitting inside a Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone changes the maintenance contract on a property. A parcel at 6,225 ft in Tahoe City falls under North Tahoe Fire Protection District jurisdiction, and the calendar of work is set by them rather than by the owner: spring clearance of Zone 0 before vegetation greens up, summer maintenance of Zones 1 and 2, and fall verification ahead of red-flag season. In the Tahoe City Terrace area, The penalty for falling behind isn't a fine - it's a non-renewal notice from the insurance carrier.
Service Area & Utility Context
Liberty Utilities operates the California-side electric grid at this property's location, which means PSPS protocols, rate cases, and outage-restoration timelines are governed by CPUC. A property at 6,225 ft in Liberty territory typically benefits from battery backup sized for the longest historical PSPS event in the region - usually 72 hours.
Property Profile
Assessor data on this property: 1986 build, 1,428-sq-ft of living area, 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms , lot area of a compact 0.23-acre lot; at a recorded price of $200,000; current assessed value sits at $319,318; the assessor lists 400 sq ft of garage area; 2 parking spaces of record; classified by the county as single fam res half plex. Owners of a structure with this profile at 6,225 ft typically allocate maintenance budget across envelope (roof, deck, windows), mechanical (HVAC, plumbing, chimney), and exterior (defensible space, driveway, drainage).
Fire District Inspection: North Tahoe Fire Protection District
Annual Defensible Space Inspection Program is the framework North Tahoe Fire Protection District uses, with on-site review during the April through June window. NTFPD inspects properties in the Very High FHSZ annually between April and June. Inspectors check Zone 0 (0–5 ft), Zone 1 (5–30 ft), and Zone 2 (30–100 ft) clearances per CAL FIRE standards. Properties that fail first inspection receive a notice and second inspection. Persistent non-compliance can result in abatement with owner liability for costs. NTFPD also offers free chipper days where residents can have cleared material chipped and removed at no charge — typically in April and May. For 443 Red Cedar St, the failure mode to avoid is treating any single zone as 'done for the year' - vegetation regrows, debris accumulates, and a parcel that passed in spring can fail by late summer without an interim check.
Tahoe City Terrace — Community
This property is in the Tahoe City Terrace subdivision in Tahoe City, Placer County. Contact TR Tahoe for property-specific information about local maintenance considerations, neighbor patterns, and service availability in this community.
Placer County — Permits, Taxes & Compliance
Permits
Portal: PlacerGOV (placer.ca.gov/buildingpermits)
PlacerGOV (placer.ca.gov/buildingpermits) is the entry point for any work on a 1986-built structure in Placer County. Placer County Building permits are mandatory for structural, additions, roof replacement, electrical upgrades, and HVAC swaps. Most applications flow through the PlacerGOV portal. Tahoe Basin parcels also face concurrent TRPA review, which extends the typical timeline relative to non-Basin work. For a parcel at 6,225 ft, the practical timeline runs longer than the published window - staging documentation early shortens the back-and-forth.
Short-Term Rental Rules
TOT Rate: 10%
Short-term rental operations at 443 Red Cedar St are governed by Placer County with a 10% transient occupancy tax. Placer County requires a TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) certificate for all short-term rentals under 30 days. The certificate number must be posted in all listing platforms. TOT is collected and remitted to Placer County quarterly. Violations can result in back-tax liability plus penalties. Owners considering STR use should align registration with the property's sale-cycle planning.
Property Tax & Transfer
Placer County administers the assessor records for this parcel (current assessed value $319,318). California Prop 19 (effective Feb 2021) changed parent-to-child property transfer rules - only a primary residence transfer receives the reassessment exclusion, and the exclusion is capped. Investment and vacation properties no longer receive automatic exclusion. Placer County Assessor administers transfers. A 1986-built structure that has been in a family for decades typically faces the largest gap between assessed value and current market - that gap shapes both transfer strategy and inheritance planning.
Fire Compliance
Agency: CAL FIRE — Placer Unit, in conjunction with local fire districts
CAL FIRE — Placer Unit, in conjunction with local fire districts carries fire-compliance jurisdiction over this 1986-built parcel at 6,225 ft. The Tahoe Basin portion of Placer County carries Very High FHSZ designation from CAL FIRE. Local fire districts conduct the annual defensible-space inspection program under contract. The two consequences of non-compliance to plan around are insurance carrier action and a district abatement notice. For an Very High-zone property, owners who treat defensible space as an annual maintenance contract rather than a one-time task carry the lowest non-renewal risk.
Short-Term Rental Context: Tahoe City (96145)
Tahoe City's 96145 zip is North Tahoe's highest-density STR market. The Commons Beach corridor and lakefront access drive summer occupancy above 85% in July–August. Placer County issues TOT certificates and collects a 10% transient occupancy tax on gross rental revenue. Operators must post the TOT certificate number in all listings. For a 1986-built 1,428 sq ft property at 443 Red Cedar St, gross-revenue performance inside that envelope depends on three operator decisions: dynamic pricing through peak weeks, professional photography that survives the OTA crop, and a turnover crew that holds the property to a consistent inspection standard.
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.
Tahoe City: Community Background
Development era: 1910s–1930s
Reading the Tahoe City block grid tells most of the story. Tahoe City developed around the Tahoe Tavern resort, which opened in 1901 and established the area as a destination for Californians of means. The Truckee River Dam at the outlet was built in 1913 to regulate lake levels — still in operation today. The commercial district along Highway 28 emerged in the 1920s–1930s, and the area transitioned from an elite resort destination to a broader vacation community as automobile access improved through the mid-20th century. 443 Red Cedar St is one parcel in that pattern, and its 1986-built envelope reflects the 1910s–1930s construction conventions that dominated the area when the lot was first improved - which sets the baseline for everything from setback assumptions to original electrical service size.
Tahoe City / North Shore: Local Events & Lifestyle
Tahoe City is the commercial and community center of the North Shore. The Truckee River outlet, Commons Beach, and cluster of restaurants and shops along Highway 28 give it a walkable town character unusual for the Tahoe Basin. Year-round residents and second-home owners both orient toward Tahoe City as the area's civic hub. For an owner at 443 Red Cedar St, that character translates directly into property-level decisions: which weeks command rental premium, which seasons demand the highest maintenance attention, and which amenities matter to long-term resale.
SnowFest! North Lake Tahoe
Early March (10 days)
North Tahoe's signature winter festival, headquartered in Tahoe City since 1985. Polar plunges, snow sculpting, parades, torchlight parades at Palisades Tahoe, and live music across 10 days. The area's highest hotel occupancy weekend outside of peak ski weeks.
Tahoe City Blues, Brews & BBQ
August
Annual summer festival at Commons Beach in the heart of Tahoe City, featuring live blues music, local craft breweries, and lakefront views. One of the most accessible events for families staying in the 96145 area. For owners at 443 Red Cedar St, this is one of the calendar markers worth knowing - both for personal use planning and rental availability.
Commons Beach Summer Concert Series
July–August (weekly)
Free Thursday evening concerts at Commons Beach in Tahoe City. Draws locals and visitors; a consistent summer draw that supports strong July–August rental occupancy in the 96145 zip. A property at 6,225 ft in Tahoe City sees this in the surrounding ecosystem of dining, lodging, and traffic patterns each year.
Ironman 70.3 Lake Tahoe
Late August
Triathlon event using the Lake Tahoe Basin. The swim leg uses the crystal-clear near-shore water of the North Shore. Draws athletes and supporters from across the Western US and creates a late-August occupancy spike.
Property Record
- Bedrooms
- 2.0
- Bathrooms
- 3.0
- Living Area
- 1428 sq ft
- Lot Size
- 0.23 acres
- Year Built
- 1986
- APN
- 094-122-007-000
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
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.
Considering Buying 443 Red Cedar St, Tahoe City, CA 96145?
I’m Tristan Roberts — a licensed Lake Tahoe Realtor (DRE #01259729, Coldwell Banker) and the founder of TR Tahoe Property Care. I represent buyers, and I bring both the brokerage and the property-care lens to every showing.
When you view this home with me, I’ll point out:
- What this property’s elevation (6225 ft) and Very High fire hazard zone mean for ongoing maintenance and insurance.
- How the North Tahoe PUD water source and North Tahoe Fire Protection District district affect long-term costs.
- Issues common to 1986-era construction in Tahoe City.
- STR (short-term rental) viability and county compliance for Tahoe City.
Broker of Record: Coldwell Banker Realty — DRE #01259729 — 475 N Lake Blvd Unit 102, Tahoe City, CA 96145 (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §10140.6)
Equal Housing Opportunity. We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation.
Or text/call directly: (530) 448-1734 · tristan@cblaketahoe.com
Looking to buy, sell, or value this property?
Tristan Roberts is a licensed Coldwell Banker real estate broker with 27 years in North Lake Tahoe (DRE #01259729).
View sale history and market data at cblaketahoe.com →
This page is a property care and maintenance reference, not a real estate listing or appraisal.