Kings Beach by the numbers
- Drive from our Sparks warehouse45 mi, about 59 min via I-80, CA-267
- Population2,736
- Households1,133
- Homes owned / rented62.8% / 37.2%
- Median year built1973
- Median home value$772,100
- Moved in the past year9.9%
- Elevation6,540 ft
- CountyPlacer County
- ZIP codes96143
Data (read 2026-10-19): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates; OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data, free-flow drive from 2277 Glendale Ave, Sparks; USGS Elevation Point Query Service.
Kings Beach (ZIP 96143) is about 45.1 miles and 59 minutes from the Sparks warehouse by I-80 and CA 267, at 6,540 feet. Tahoe City (ZIP 96145, the Census Bureau's Sunnyside-Tahoe City place) is 52.1 miles and 71 minutes away on I-80 and CA 89, at about 7,000 feet. Both are in Placer County, and the median home value is about $772,100 in Kings Beach and $1,019,300 in Tahoe City.
Water and sewer come from a public utility district
North Tahoe Public Utility District's site lists water and wastewater service, utility rates, a bill calculator and bill payment, and the district serves the Kings Beach area. Tahoe City Public Utility District's site has an online bill pay page, water conservation information and permit information for the Tahoe City area. Ask each district which parcels it covers and what a new account needs.
Electric service in the California Tahoe basin is arranged through the local electric provider for your address; confirm the name with your landlord or seller. A district or electric bill in your name serves as a proof of address.
Seasonal housing changes the checklist
With 66.2 percent of Tahoe City units and 43.6 percent of Kings Beach units classed as seasonal in the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 estimates, many homes are second homes or vacation rentals. Ask whether the home is licensed for short-term rental use, who plows the access road in winter and whether the home is winterized. Our Lake Tahoe guide covers the lake-wide picture.
Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District
The public schools around Kings Beach and Tahoe City belong to Tahoe-Truckee Unified School District, whose website has enrollment pages and new student enrollment FAQs. Bring birth certificates, immunization records and two proofs of residency, and call the district office before the school year starts.
California DMV: Truckee field office
California's DMV gives new residents 10 days to apply for a California driver license and 20 days to register a vehicle brought from another state. The nearest California DMV field office on the DMV's site is Truckee, listed at 11357 Donner Pass Road, Suite I. Check the office page for current hours and appointments before you go.
California also asks for a smog certification on most vehicles registered from out of state. Read the DMV's new-resident pages for what applies to your vehicle.
County offices
Kings Beach and Tahoe City are in Placer County. The Placer County website lists the Assessor, the Clerk-Recorder and the Treasurer-Tax Collector, with services at the county's Tahoe offices. Winter weather can close mountain roads, so read our winter driving guide and plan arrival days with a weather window.