Property Care Guide
7278 5th Ave, Tahoma, CA 96142
Tahoma, CA 96142 · Elevation 6225 ft
Tahoe Ced Addn
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
- 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
The Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation is the single largest factor shaping annual maintenance for a property like this one. In the Tahoe Ced Addn 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 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
Public records show a 2,242-sq-ft home built in 2007 on a compact 0.14-acre lot, with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms as of the last assessor update; current assessed value sits at $866,951. 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 2015 at a recorded price of $747,000; 2-story configuration.
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 7278 5th Ave 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.
Tahoe Cedars — Community Profile
For ownership inside Tahoe Cedars, the community framework is the default operating layer. 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. A 2,242 sq ft home at 7278 5th Ave benefits from owners who read the CC&Rs as a working document rather than a closing-binder artifact. There is no overarching HOA - individual parcel restrictions and TRPA/county rules govern. The cost of skipping that reading is almost always paid later, with interest.
El Dorado County — Permits, Taxes & Compliance
Permits
Portal: El Dorado County Development Services (edcgov.us)
For 7278 5th Ave, structural and mechanical work routes through El Dorado County Development Services (edcgov.us). Building permits in El Dorado County route through Development Services; Tahoe Basin parcels also face concurrent TRPA review. The county updated its defensible-space and fire-hardening requirements after 2020 to track California's AB 38 disclosure rules at point of sale. Owners of a 2007-built home at 6,225 ft should budget review time accordingly - TRPA overlap on Tahoe Basin parcels is the dominant timeline driver.
Short-Term Rental Rules
TOT Rate: 10%
If 7278 5th Ave is operated as a short-term rental, the El Dorado County 10% TOT applies and registration is enforced. 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. The compliance overhead is roughly two hours per year of documentation if the operator is organized; multiples more if they are not.
Property Tax & Transfer
Tax and transfer rules in El Dorado County apply to this 2,242 sq ft property. 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. The intersection of Prop 19, family transfers, and short-term-rental income reporting can compound quickly (current assessed value $866,951) - a documented plan beats reacting to notices.
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 2007-built parcel at 6,225 ft. Tahoe Basin parcels within El Dorado County sit in Very High FHSZ. Inspection responsibility is shared between the El Dorado County FPD and CAL FIRE. After 2021, sellers must disclose defensible-space compliance status (or non-compliance) at sale, under the fire-hardening documentation rule. 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)
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 2,242 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)
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 2007-built property at 6,225 ft like 7278 5th Ave sits in the middle of that historical arc - meaning the surrounding zoning, road access, and utility easements all reflect decisions made during the 1920s–1940s (West Shore) era, not current planning practice. That gap matters more for renovation planning than most owners expect.
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. 7278 5th Ave 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. A property at 6,225 ft in Tahoma sees this in the surrounding ecosystem of dining, lodging, and traffic patterns each year.
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 7278 5th Ave, 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
- 3.0
- Living Area
- 2242 sq ft
- Lot Size
- 0.14 acres
- Year Built
- 2007
- APN
- 015-311-030-000
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 7278 5th Ave, 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 2007-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.