Call the Senior Code Enforcement Officer at (775) 782-6214 or send an email. You may also submit a
Code Enforcement Report Form
On street parking violations including abandoned vehicles, parking violations, unattached trailers, RVs on the street, and parking on sidewalks are addressed by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. You can contact the Sheriff's office at 775-782-5126.
No. Home occupation permits are not required. However there are standards contained in Douglas County Code that require that home occupations not cause or create nuisances, limit the number of employees, and other provisions that limit the impact on neighborhoods. Contact the Planning Technician, 775-782-6217, if you have questions.
Code Enforcement does not handle barking, at large or loose dogs. Barking dogs are handled by Douglas County Animal Care & Services. You can call them at (775) 782-9061.
If you wish to rent your home for up to 28 days and your home is located within the jurisdiction of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, you must obtain a Vacation Home Rental Permit. Please call Lucille Rao at (775) 782-6218 or send an email.
In general the case is prioritized and usually a site inspection occurs within two business days. After a site inspection, the number and types of violations are recorded if they are present. An enforcement notice is written detailing codes violated, corrective action that is needed, and a due date that the violation(s) have to be corrected by. These notices are sent to the property owner and tenant if known. After the due date another inspection takes place. If the violations are corrected the case is closed. If the owner continues to choose not to correct the violations, cases can be referred to the District Attorney for criminal charges to be filed or Code Enforcement can assess civil penalties. Though most code cases are resolved in a short amount of time, on occasion a case will take months to come to a successful resolution due to the unwillingness of property owners or tenants.
If your property is zoned below SFR 1/2 (generally those properties with less than 1/2 acre) you are allowed to park up to 2 RVs, boats, trailers or similar equipment in a rear or side yard that is screened from view of the right of way and adjoining parcels with a 6 foot solid fence. On properties zoned SFR 1/2 with at least 1/2 acre RVs, boats, trailers or similar equipment may be parked on the property. If you need to know what your property is zoned you can contact the planning desk at 775-782-6217.
RV occupation is limited to 7 consecutive days and no more than 14 days total in a year.
Solid waste, garbage, trash, and rubbish is not allowed to be piled up on the property. Solid waste is to be stored in a trash receptacle with a lid, and removed from the premises on a regular basis. An excessive amount of solid waste is a public nuisance. Solid waste is not to be stored in open truck beds or in trailers.
Junk in Douglas County is defined as articles of personal property that have outlived their usefulness in their original form, or articles of personal property that have been discarded and are no longer used for their manufactured purpose, regardless of value. Please see Title 20, Chapter 20.691.020 Property Maintenance Definitions.
It depends. Poultry is regulated under animal keeping. Animal keeping is allowed on parcels zoned SFR 1 and above with at least 1 acre. There are also some properties zoned SFR 1/2 that are in a Livestock Overlay Zone that allows the keeping of animals with some provisions. Generally if you live in a residential area on less than 1/2 acre you are not allowed to keep poultry. Contact the Planning Technician to find out what your parcel is zoned. 775-782-6217.
Douglas County has an ordinance on "noxious vegetation." It says that grass and weeds over 10" in height is not allowed. Code Enforcement suggests that neighbors talk with each other, as perhaps the neighbor needs some help that you may be willing or able to provide. You can also report a code violation.
Cargo containers, metal storage containers, or sea cargo containers are not allowed on a vacant parcel or on any parcel zoned below SFR 1. On properties zoned SFR 1 or greater, with at least 1 acre, containers are allowed with a minor design review and have to meet certain conditions. Conditions include one per acre with a maximum of 2 in residentially zoned districts, painted similar to house or earth tones, screened with a fence, and not modified to occupy humans or animals. Contact the Planning desk for more information 775-782-6217
Code Enforcement does not investigate property line disputes. This is a civil matter between you and your neighbor.
You can get a temporary sign permit for banners, A-frames, and inflatable devices. Please see Title 20 Code Section 20.696 Sign and Advertising Control. For questions about getting a permit you can contact the Planning Technician at 775-782-6217 or visit them on the 2nd floor of 1594 Esmeralda in the Minden In
No. Any structure over 120 square feet needs a building permit. Temporary tent/garage structures don't meet building code. They also do not meet the accessory structure conditions. They are not allowed.
No. An unregistered vehicle or otherwise junk vehicle needs to either be in an enclosed building or in a rear or side yard screened with a 6 foot fence from adjacent properties and right of ways.
Yes you can, however it is always better to leave your contact information just in case code enforcement needs to ask questions, or if you would like to be updated on the case status. Often a report will come in anonymously on a property on something that isn't a violation. Providing your information will allow you to be contacted in such an event. Your name is generally not revealed unless the case ends up in court.