Lakefront Purchase

Land use planners at Lake Tahoe, primarily working with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and local municipalities, regulate development to protect the lake’s water quality and the surrounding environment. They oversee permitting, restrict land coverage (impervious surfaces), manage development rights, and enforce environmental thresholds to ensure projects comply with strict regional sustainability standards

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) site with permitting tools (applications/forms, fees, inspections, BMPs, land capability, zoning/ordinances), plans and programs (environmental improvement, forest health, transportation, housing, shoreline), maps/records, major projects, and public participation. Includes meeting materials, announcements, calendar, eNews/Tahoe In Depth, and contact info (Stateline, NV).

Essential shoreline planning documents and implementation materials include may be obtained by emailing shoreline@trpa.gov, be sure to include the APN (fill in APN):

• Shoreline Implementation Program: Outlines the development standards, environmental impact mitigation, and scheduling for shoreline projects.

• New Pier Information Packet: Contains the eligibility criteria, proposal deadlines, and lottery system details for private pier construction.

• Shorezone Project Information Packet: The main application guide for property owners seeking permits for new, relocated, or converted moorings and buoys.

• This resource can provide pier permit or pier recognition documentation, buoy permit information, including number of buoys assigned, buoy annual registration status, any shorline project permits or modifications, and any compliance/enforcement history.

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shoreline@trpa.gov or 775-588-4547

In the Lake Tahoe Basin, BMP stands for Best Management Practices. These are engineered measures and landscaping methods designed to capture stormwater, prevent soil erosion, and filter out pollutants before they reach Lake Tahoe. BMPs are legally mandated for all developed properties in the Tahoe region.

For BMP installation drawings, site plans used for certification, or BMP inspection/approval forms you can email: jdouglas@trpa.gov or bmp@trpa.org. When requesting information you will need to provide the APN for the property which is: ENTER APN

Established in 1938, the Commission manages 4 million acres of tide and submerged lands and the beds of natural navigable rivers, streams, lakes, bays, estuaries, inlets, and straits. These lands, often referred to as sovereign or public trust lands, stretch from the Klamath River and Goose Lake in the north to the Tijuana Estuary in the south, the Colorado River in the east, and from the Pacific Coast three miles offshore to world-famous Lake Tahoe in the east, and includes California’s two longest rivers, the Sacramento and San Joaquin. The Commission, in its capacity as a landowner, protects and enhances these lands and natural resources by issuing leases for use, development, and environmental preservation, championing public access, and resolving boundaries between public and private lands.

To obtain a copy of a pier or buoy lease(s), payment status, rent amounts, or renewal terms email: Ninette.Lee@slc.ca.gov

You will need to provide the APN.

There is an option to have the buoy lease transferred while in escrow if the seller agrees to participate. Here are the advantages:

1. Preserves the annual license fee plus cost of living increases of the existing contract for the buyer.

2. Less work for all parties involved, particularly at the state level and the Buyer does not have to enter a new contract.

Drew Simpkin at State Lands will be able to assist:

Drew.Simpkin@slc.ca.gov

J.R. Krauss Ltd. – Lake Tahoe Pier Inspections & Construction

J.R. Krauss Ltd. brings extensive knowledge and experience in pier inspections and pier construction throughout the Lake Tahoe region. With a strong understanding of the lake’s unique environmental conditions, shoreline requirements, and construction considerations, they provide knowledgeable guidance and dependable expertise for pier projects. Whether you need an existing pier inspected, repairs evaluated, or a new pier built, J.R. Krauss Ltd. offers specialized experience to help navigate the process and ensure your project is approached with care and attention to detail.

530-362-1161 or jonkrauss@sbcglobal.net

Another 30+ year experienced pier and engineering contractor is Pacific Built Inc.

530-583-3447

pacificbuilt@yahoo.com

Lake Tahoe Parcel Tracker – Property Research

The Lake Tahoe Parcel Tracker can be used to research a property’s TRPA-related records using its Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN).

For each property, you can:

Enter the APN to locate the parcel.

Scroll to “TRPA Cases, Applications and Permits” to review individual records associated with that parcel.

View the TRPA mooring registration to check the mooring-related information associated with the property.

This can be a useful resource when researching a Lake Tahoe property, particularly one with an existing pier or shoreline improvements.

For permit records, you can also use the TRPA Permit Search, which allows searches by parcel number (APN) or file number.

File requests beyond what is available on the site can be sent to: filerequest@trpa.gov

For water diversion permits and State Lands approvals at Lake Tahoe on the California side, it’s important to distinguish between taking water from the lake and building or maintaining a pier or other structure over the lakebed. For a water diversion permit transfer a new lease will need to be obtained through CA State Lands.

Key agencies and permit resources:

1. California State Lands Commission (CSLC)

Handles leases and authorizations for structures occupying state-owned submerged lands, including private piers, boat lifts, mooring buoys, and water intake lines.

State Lands leases and permits

2. California State Water Resources Control Board

If you mean a permit to physically divert water from Lake Tahoe or a tributary, search the state's water-rights records. The board administers water-rights applications, permits, licenses, and diversion-use statements.

California State Water Quality Control Board: calwatrs.waterboards.ca.gov/portals

Will Anderson: Will.Anderson@waterboards.ca.gov

Search water-rights records (eWRIMS)

Lake Tahoe and Truckee River water-rights program: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/tahoe_truckee

3. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA)

Pier construction and shoreline work may also require TRPA approvals, in addition to State Lands authorization and any applicable water-quality or federal permits.

CA State Parks

TRPA official website: trpa.gov

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