Earlier editions: 2026-09
Sacramento Municipal Code Art. IV Mayor
Sacramento Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Sacramento
Cite as: Sacramento Municipal Code Article IV · Text as of 2026-10-04
§ 40 Mayor-Functions.¶
(a) The presiding officer of the city shall be the mayor.
(b) The mayor:
(1) Shall be recognized as the official head of the city for the performance of all duties lawfully delegated to the mayor by this Charter, by action of the council or by other laws.
(2) Shall provide leadership within the community in the sense that the mayor shall have the primary, but not exclusive, responsibility of interpreting the policies, programs and needs of city government to the people, and as the occasion requires, may inform the people of any change in policy or program;
(3) Shall have the right but not the exclusive power to make recommendations to the city council on matters of policy and program that require council decisions;
(4) Shall be a member of the city council and shall be entitled to make and second motions on matters before the city council and vote on city council actions, but shall possess no veto power over actions of the city council;
(5) Shall be included within the terms "council" and "city council" used in this Charter unless otherwise expressly provided;
(6) May propose ordinances and resolutions which shall be considered by the city council;
(7) Shall appoint and may remove members of the boards and commissions and advisory agencies in accordance with Article XV except as otherwise provided in this Charter;
(8) Shall have and exercise such other powers and duties as provided in this Charter, the laws of the state, and ordinances and resolutions of the city.
§ 41 Mayor-Qualifications.¶
The mayor or candidate therefore, at the date of candidacy and election or appointment, shall be an elector and a resident of the city not less than 30 days prior to the date of candidacy and election or appointment, as the case may be, and shall continue to reside in the city during the term of office. The term "elector" shall have the meaning given in Section 27 of Article III. "Date of candidacy" shall mean the date of filing nomination papers or equivalent declaration or candidacy.
§ 42 Mayor-Election.¶
The mayor shall be elected from the city at large as provided in Section 152 or Article X of this Charter.
§ 43 Mayor-Term.¶
The term of office of mayor shall be four years, and until a successor qualifies.
§ 44 Mayor-Compensation and expenses for full-time service.¶
The mayor shall serve full-time and shall receive compensation as established by the compensation commission pursuant to Section 29 of Article III of this Charter. The mayor shall devote his or her full time and attention to the duties of the office.
§ 45 Vice-Mayor; Mayor Pro Tem.¶
At the first council meeting in January of each year, the city council shall elect one of its members, other than the mayor, to serve as vice-mayor during the ensuing calendar year.
During any absence of the mayor from the city or a meeting of the city council, the vice-mayor shall be the acting mayor until the mayor returns. In addition, if the mayor becomes incapable of acting as mayor and incapable of delegating duties, or if a vacancy exists in the office of mayor, the vice-mayor shall become the acting mayor.
In the event of the absence, vacancy in office or inability of both the mayor and vice-mayor to perform their duties, the council may appoint one of its members to serve as mayor pro tem. The mayor pro tem shall temporarily act in the capacity of an acting mayor. Any person serving as an acting mayor under this section shall continue to hold office as a member of the city council.
An acting mayor shall possess all powers of the office of mayor and shall be subject to all prescribed duties for such office.
§ 46 Mayor-Vacancy.¶
A vacancy in the office of the mayor shall be filled by special election to be called by the city council as provided in Section 154 of this Charter, unless such vacancy occurs within one year of the next general election at which the office of mayor would normally be filled, in which case the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by a majority or the members or the city council then in office. A person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor shall hold office for the unexpired term of the former incumbent.
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