Sacramento · Renting & eviction
Renting in Sacramento: the rules that apply
Sacramento's own rules first, then the state law underneath — with the code text for every value.
Key points
Sacramento adds its own rules on eviction and just cause, relocation payments, short-term rentals and hotel and short-term rental tax on top of California's statewide rules. Each value below links to the section of the Sacramento Municipal Code it was read from (checked October 2026).
Each rule below is marked Sacramento code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Sacramento has a related local rule: Sacramento Tenant Protection Program: 2026 Annual Maximum Rent Increase (city guidance); Tenant Protection (Ch. 5.156). This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Rent cap right now | 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the California consumer price index (Department of Industrial Relations), used for counties outside the four metro areas, April to April, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
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| Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482) | 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption | A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). |
| Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption | A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Eviction and just cause
Sacramento code more than 12 months failure to pay rent after three days from receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent
All 9 Sacramento rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Relocation payments
Sacramento code Twice the established monthly rental rate of the vacated unit, in addition to return of deposits required by law. Tenant who caused or substantially contributed to the condition giving rise to the order to vacate
All 8 Sacramento rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Notices
We found no Sacramento rule on this in the Sacramento Municipal Code (checked October 2026). The state rule below applies.
| Notice of a rent increase | At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. |
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| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord) | 60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. |
| Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant) | At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) |
| 30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant | 30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. |
| Notice to pay rent or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. |
| Notice to cure a lease violation or quit | 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave |
| No fee for serving notices | A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice |
Security deposits
CA state law Sacramento has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →
Retaliation
CA state law Sacramento has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →
Harassment and lockouts
CA state law Sacramento has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Lockouts and self-help eviction banned: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(b)). Utility shutoffs banned: A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(a)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Sacramento has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →
Landlord entry
CA state law Sacramento has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →
Short-term rentals
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Hotel and short-term rental tax
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Other Sacramento rules on this
Sacramento's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Sacramento Tenant Protection Program: 2026 Annual Maximum Rent Increase (city guidance)
- Tenant Protection (Ch. 5.156)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Sacramento?
Sacramento has a related local rule: Sacramento Tenant Protection Program: 2026 Annual Maximum Rent Increase (city guidance); Tenant Protection (Ch. 5.156). Otherwise state law applies: 8.6% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.6% inflation) (Civ. Code § 1947.12(a)(1), (g)).
How much notice does a Sacramento landlord have to give?
Sacramento has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% (Civ. Code § 827(b)(2), (b)(3)(A)).
How much can a Sacramento landlord charge for a security deposit?
Sacramento has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)).
Can I rent out my home short-term in Sacramento?
Sacramento's code: A short-term rental permit. (§ 5.114.110); No; but a rental that is not the host's primary residence must name a property manager living within 30 miles. (§ 5.114.300).
What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Sacramento?
Sacramento's code: An additional 3% of the rent. (Added to the 7% base hotel tax since June 30, 1978.) (§ 3.28.040); An additional 2% of the rent. (Added to the existing hotel taxes since July 1, 1994.) (§ 3.28.050).
General information, not legal advice.
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