Applications & Forms
Getting Started
Many activities and projects within the Lake Tahoe Region require both a Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) environmental review permit and a separate building permit from the applicable County or City. Typically, for projects requiring TRPA environmental review, a TRPA application will need to be submitted and approved before final approval of a local agency building permit.
Some local jurisdictions within Tahoe can review and issue a TRPA determination or permit on behalf of TRPA. See the “Where to Apply” fact sheet to learn more.
If you are just getting started, please take a minute to review the Permitting Process and Frequently Asked Questions pages.
Helpful Tips
There are generally four categories of TRPA environmental review:
- Exempt Activities – No TRPA review or approval required.
- Qualified Exempt Activities – Information and declaration form required.
- Minor Applications – Expedited review for simple and routine projects.
- Standard Project Applications – See application packets below by category.
Need Assistance? We’re here to help. To speak with a permitting technician, call 775-589-5333, email trpa@trpa.gov, or schedule an appointment.
Verifications & Determinations
Site Assessment (Single Family Residential Only)
Verification and Banking
Land Capability Verification
Land Capability Challenge
IPES Evaluation
IPES Limited Incentive Program
Soils/Hydrology Scoping Report
Historic Resource Determination
Information and Resources
What is verified on my property?
Land Capability & Coverage 101
Find an IPES score
Site Assessment Sample Site Plan
Development Rights Banking, Conversion, and Transfers
Grading & Earth Moving
Grading and digging season for permitted projects at Lake Tahoe is from May 1 through October 15. Grading projects are confined to drier months to protect Lake Tahoe’s water quality from sources of erosion and sediment that harm water quality.
Activities that disturb soil are limited seasonally because that’s historically when most of the Tahoe Region’s precipitation occurs. Working in dry conditions prevents loose soil and mud from washing away from project sites and into streams and ultimately Lake Tahoe. Not all digging requires a permit.
Homeowners can move up to ten cubic yards of soil on non-sensitive lands (grading season only) and three cubic yards on sensitive lands or off season provided the activity is completed within a 48-hour period, the excavation or grading is not a part of a larger permitted project, and the excavation site is stabilized to prevent erosion. Projects that typically do not require a permit include:
- Residential home landscaping and gardening projects
- Irrigation installation
- Exempt residential fences up to six feet in height
- Spring cleaning of permanent BMPs (Best Management Practices) www.tahoebmp.org
Projects that create or relocate land coverage require a TRPA permit.
Grading & Excavation
Driveway/Parking Area Paving
Underground Tank Removal
Grading Season Exception
Information and Resources
Sample BMP & Grading Plan
Site Winterization Guidelines
Standard Conditions of Approval – Grading (Attachment Q)
Best Management Practices (BMPs) & Stormwater Systems
BMP Retrofit Permit
BMP Small Retrofit Plan
BMP Calculation Spreadsheet (PDF)
BMP Calculation Worksheet (Downloadable Excel File)
Information and Resources
Sample BMP & Grading Plan
BMP Status
https://tahoebmp.org/
BMP hotline: 775-589-5202
Lot Configurations & Subdivisions
Residential Development
Single Family Dwelling & ADUs
Multi-Family Dwelling & ADUs
Driveway/Parking Area Paving
Wood Heater Retrofit Statement Form
Tree Removal & Defensible Space
Information and Resources
Lake Tahoe Info Parcel Tracker
Permit Review Map
Sample Plans
Land Coverage Exemptions
Emergency Power Generators
Scenic Protection Information
Single Family Dwelling Findings
Multi-Family Dwelling Project Findings
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) & Tiny Homes
Residential Bonus Unit Program
Deed Restriction Real Estate Disclosure Form
Commercial Development
Tourist Accommodation Development
Public Service & Recreation Development
Shoreline & Shorezone Development
New Pier Application Process
Shorezone Project
Qualified Exempt Declaration
Marina Project
New Mooring Lottery (Submit through LakeTahoeInfo)
Existing Mooring Permitting and Registration (Submit through LakeTahoeInfo)
Information and Resources
Findings for Shorezone Projects
Design Review Guidelines
Scenic Information
Lake Tahoe Info Parcel Tracker
Shoreline GIS Map
Scenic Assessments
Scenic Assessment for Shoreland and Shorezone Projects
Scenic Assessments Contrast Rating Sheet
Standards and Guidelines
Levels of Review in Shoreland Areas
TRPA Design Review Guidelines
TRPA Scenic Color Brochure
Applicants should only refer to the numeric Pantone colors listed in this brochure as digital and print reproduction of colors may vary.
Appendix H- Visual Assessment Tool
General Applications & Documents
Tree Removal & Defensible Space
Construction Schedule Extension
Owner Authorization & Signature Page
MOU Qualified Exempt Declaration
Temporary Uses Activities Structures
Wood Heater Retrofit Statement Form
Information and Resources
Parcel & Permit Records
Project Review Map
Where to Apply?
Coverage Exemptions
Emergency Power Generators
Projects Requiring Public Hearing or Noticing
See other resources under the Permitting tab, Resources
Standard Conditions of Approval
Security Procedures (Attachment J)
Standard Conditions of Approval – Residential Driveway (Attachment P)
Standard Conditions of Approval – Grading (Attachment Q)
Standard Conditions of Approval – Residential Projects (Attachment R)
Standard Conditions of Approval – Shorezone Projects (Attachment S)
Standard Conditions of Approval – Underground Tank (Attachment U)
Sample Plans
Lakefront Scenic Contrast Rating Spreadsheet (PDF)
Lakefront Scenic Contrast Rating Spreadsheet (Downloadable Excel File)
Proposed Site Plan
Existing Site Plan
BMP & Grading Plan
Defensible Space Site Plan
Existing Floor Plans & Elevations
Proposed Floor Plans
Proposed Elevations & Roof Plan
Proposed Elevations
Lakefront Scenic Site Plan
Lakefront Scenic Elevations
Fees & Mitigation
Environmental Documentation
Appeals, Requests, and Amendments
Notice of Appeal Application
Affidavit Form
Outsource Review Request Form
Minor Applications
Bundled Applications
Petition for Expedited Review Forms
Pre-Application Consultation Request
Public Records Requests should be submitted online via Accela Citizen’s Access. Login or Create an Account, choose Create Application and select “FOIA-subpoena” from the list. For this particular application, no parcel number or address is necessary but can be included if it is relevant to the request. Owner information is required.