Property Care Guide
6220 Lark Dr, Tahoma, CA 96142
Tahoma, CA 96142 · Elevation 6225 ft
Chamberlands Unit B
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
TR Tahoe provides year-round property care across Tahoma and North Lake Tahoe.
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
- Inspect crawlspace and sub-floor - pre-1980 construction often has degraded vapor barriers and original insulation that retains moisture and reduces energy efficiency
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
- Check original single-pane windows and door weatherstripping; aging seals significantly raise heating costs in Tahoe winters and are a common source of pipe-freeze vulnerability
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
- Pre-1980 galvanized or original copper supply lines are more prone to freeze damage - verify heat tape covers all exposed runs under the structure, including any original un-insulated sections
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 Tahoma falls under Meeks Bay 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 Chamberlands Unit B 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 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
Public records show a 1,003-sq-ft home built in 1970 on a compact 0.24-acre lot, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms as of the last assessor update; current assessed value sits at $831,300. The combination of structure size and lot area at 6,225 ft typically drives both the seasonal-maintenance load and the defensible-space perimeter the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District expects; the last recorded sale was in 2025 at a recorded price of $790,000.
Fire District Inspection: Meeks Bay Fire Protection District
Defensible Space Inspection from Meeks Bay Fire Protection District concentrates field visits in the May through July window. 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. The owners of 6220 Lark Dr who treat the visit as a confirmation rather than a first-pass inspection - meaning Zone 0 work happens two weeks earlier on the owner's own initiative - rarely see follow-up notices.
Chamberlands Unit B — Community
This property is in the Chamberlands Unit B subdivision in Tahoma, El Dorado County. Contact TR Tahoe for property-specific information about local maintenance considerations, neighbor patterns, and service availability in this community.
El Dorado County — Permits, Taxes & Compliance
Permits
Portal: El Dorado County Development Services (edcgov.us)
El Dorado County Development Services (edcgov.us) is the entry point for any work on a 1970-built structure in El Dorado County. Permit applications for any major work go through El Dorado County Development Services, with concurrent TRPA review on Tahoe Basin parcels. Post-2020 updates to county fire-hardening and defensible-space rules now align with AB 38, which mandates hardening disclosure at sale. 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 6220 Lark Dr are governed by El Dorado County with a 10% transient occupancy tax. 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. Owners considering STR use should align registration with the property's sale-cycle planning.
Property Tax & Transfer
Tax and transfer rules in El Dorado County apply to this 1,003 sq ft property. 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. The intersection of Prop 19, family transfers, and short-term-rental income reporting can compound quickly (current assessed value $831,300) - a documented plan beats reacting to notices.
Fire Compliance
Agency: El Dorado County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE — El Dorado Unit
Under El Dorado County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE — El Dorado Unit oversight, this parcel sits in a Very High FHSZ tier. 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. The maintenance cadence the agency expects is roughly: clear in spring, verify in summer, reconfirm before red-flag season - three touchpoints per year, not one.
Short-Term Rental Context: Tahoma / West Shore (96142)
The Tahoma / West Shore STR market sits at 6.3% registered operator density. 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. A 1,003 sq ft home at 6,225 ft typically sees the spread inside the $30,000–$48,000 band determined by amenity load (hot tub, EV charger, pet-friendly), not by raw nightly rate.
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)
The Tahoma story matters for parcel-level due diligence. 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. A 1970-built home at 6,225 ft inherits a construction context shaped by that history - 1920s–1940s (West Shore) development standards differ meaningfully from current code in ways that affect insurance, permits, and resale.
Tahoma / Homewood / West Shore: Local Events & Lifestyle
Local context for Tahoma / Homewood / West Shore: 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. A 1970-built 1,003 sq ft property at 6,225 ft sits inside that pattern - both the lifestyle benefits and the operational rhythm follow from it.
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. For owners at 6220 Lark Dr, this is one of the calendar markers worth knowing - both for personal use planning and rental availability.
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. For owners at 6220 Lark Dr, this is one of the calendar markers worth knowing - both for personal use planning and rental availability.
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
- 3.0
- Bathrooms
- 2.0
- Living Area
- 1003 sq ft
- Lot Size
- 0.238 acres
- Year Built
- 1970
- APN
- 098-060-010-000
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 6220 Lark Dr, Tahoma, CA 96142?
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 Tahoma Mutual Water water source and Meeks Bay Fire Protection District district affect long-term costs.
- Issues common to 1970-era construction in Tahoma.
- STR (short-term rental) viability and county compliance for Tahoma.
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.