Property Care Guide

7252 Antelope Way, Tahoma, CA 96142

Tahoma, CA 96142 · Elevation 6225 ft

Westlake Vil 4

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
  • 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

The Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation is the single largest factor shaping annual maintenance for a property like this one. In the Westlake Vil 4 area, Defensible space is non-discretionary at all three zones, and the Meeks Bay Fire Protection District will compel compliance if owners delay. The practical reality is that Zone 0 work (the first five feet around the structure) is treated as part of the building's fire protection, not its landscaping.

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

The county assessor records this as a 1977 960-sq-ft 2 bedrooms 1 bathrooms structure on a a 0.25-acre lot parcel; at a recorded price of $121,500; current assessed value sits at $186,324. At 6,225 ft in the Meeks Bay Fire response area, the maintenance budget scales with the structure size, the lot perimeter, and the age of the original mechanical systems; classified by the county as improved single family residential to 2.5 ac..

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. Meeks Bay Fire Protection District runs the Defensible Space Inspection program with field activity concentrated in May through July. For a 960 sq ft property at 7252 Antelope Way, the highest-leverage owner habit is documented self-inspection: photograph each zone, note clearance distances, and store the record alongside the prior year's inspection report.

Get defensible space help before inspection season →

Westlake Vil 4 — Community

This property is in the Westlake Vil 4 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 1977-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%

Running this 960 sq ft property as a vacation rental falls under El Dorado County rules: TOT applies at 10%. Short-term rental rules in El Dorado County run stricter than Placer County's framework: mandatory registration, 10% TOT, and occupancy caps are enforced. West Shore communities like Tahoma and Meeks Bay show lower STR density partly because of this regulatory differential. Owners should verify current STR permit status with the county before assuming rental viability. For a 1977-built structure, registration and renewal cycles align with annual fire-district inspections - sequence them together.

Property Tax & Transfer

Property tax treatment for 7252 Antelope Way follows El Dorado County assessor practice. Prop 19 applies in El Dorado County the same way it does elsewhere in California - the parent-to-child exclusion is restricted to primary residences and carries a value cap. The county assessor administers. A Measure E special tax overlay also applies within portions of the Tahoe Basin. For a 1977-built parcel (current assessed value $186,324), transfer planning benefits from a sit-down with both the assessor and tax counsel before any change in title.

Fire Compliance

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

El Dorado County Fire Protection District and CAL FIRE — El Dorado Unit carries fire-compliance jurisdiction over this 1977-built parcel at 6,225 ft. 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. 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: 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

Operating an STR at 7252 Antelope Way in the Tahoma / West Shore zip means competing inside a 6.3%-density market. 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. The properties that consistently land in the upper half of $30,000–$48,000 are the ones whose owners reinvest 8-12% of gross back into the unit annually - appliances, soft goods, deferred maintenance - rather than skimming.

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)

Background on Tahoma: 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. For a 960 sq ft property like 7252 Antelope Way, the neighborhood's development era (1920s–1940s (West Shore)) is the single best predictor of which systems are original, which were retrofitted, and which are still on the next-replacement calendar.

Tahoma / Homewood / West Shore: Local Events & Lifestyle

Tahoma / Homewood / West Shore character: 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. 7252 Antelope Way inherits this orientation. Owners who understand the area's annual cadence (peak weeks, shoulder seasons, off-season quiet) plan their maintenance and rental calendars to match, rather than fighting the rhythm.

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. For owners at 7252 Antelope Way, this is one of the calendar markers worth knowing - both for personal use planning and rental availability.

Property Record

Bedrooms
2.0
Bathrooms
1.0
Living Area
960 sq ft
Lot Size
0.25 acres
Year Built
1977
APN
014-303-004-000

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.

Request Maintenance Quote

Considering Buying 7252 Antelope Way, 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 1977-era construction in Tahoma.
  • STR (short-term rental) viability and county compliance for Tahoma.

By submitting this form, you agree to be contacted by Tristan Roberts (DRE #01259729), Coldwell Banker Realty (DRE #01259729). California law requires a written buyer representation agreement before touring a home; I will send one before any showing. This page is informational and is not a real estate listing, appraisal, or solicitation of a current client of another broker. VERIFY WITH ATTORNEY before relying on any legal obligation language herein.

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 OpportunityEqual 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