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Sacramento · Renting & eviction

Eviction and just cause in Sacramento

Sacramento's own rules on eviction and just cause, with the code text for every value, and the state law underneath.

Each rule below links to the section of the Sacramento Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sacramento's code says

Sacramento code What Sacramento's code adds
When protection starts
  • more than 12 months
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 rental units, excluding 5.156.030 exempt transient/institutional and restricted government housing, owner-shared units, units built after February 1, 1995, single dwellings, condos/cooperatives and owner/family primary residences.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    Once a tenant has resided in a rental unit for more than 12 months pursuant to the terms of a rental housing agreement, the landlord is prohibited from taking action
Allowed at-fault reasons
  • failure to pay rent after three days from receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Rent must be legally owed under the agreement and applicable law.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    The tenant has failed, after three days from the date of receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent as provided by law, to pay rent to which the landlord is legally entitled under the rental housing agreement in compliance with this chapter and any other state or local law.
  • continued material violation after notice to cease and reasonable cure period
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Written notice to cease, reasonable cure period and warning of possible eviction are required.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    After the landlord has served the tenant with a written notice to cease, provided a reasonable period to cure the alleged violation of the rental housing agreement, and informed the tenant that failure to cure may result in the initiation of eviction proceedings, the tenant continues to violate any of the material terms of the rental housing agreement.
  • criminal activity or continued disorderly conduct violating nuisance law
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Criminal activity must occur in unit/common areas; nuisance requires continued unlawful disorderly conduct after notice to cease.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    The tenant engages in criminal activity in the rental unit, including any common areas, in violation of a local, state, or federal criminal law; or after the landlord has served the tenant with a notice to cease, the tenant continues to engage in conduct that is so disorderly as to destroy the peace, quiet, comfort, or safety of the other tenants in violation of a local or state nuisance law.
  • continued refusal to allow landlord access after receiving three dates for access
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Entry request must comply with Civil Code 1954; landlord first serves notice and gives three access dates.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    After the landlord has served the tenant with notice, the tenant, after receiving three dates for access, continues to refuse to allow landlord access to the rental unit pursuant to a request consistent with California Civil Code section 1954.
Units covered
  • Residential rental units under rental housing agreements, subject to the stated exemptions.
    Applies: Excludes transient/institutional and qualifying government-restricted housing; owner-shared kitchen/bath units; units built after February 1, 1995; single dwellings, condos, stock cooperatives; owner/family primary residences.
    § 5.156.030 · code text
    5.156.030 Exemptions. The following rental units are exempt from the provisions of this chapter: A. A rental unit in a hotel, motel, inn, tourist home, or rooming and boarding house which is rented primarily to transient guests for a period of less than 30 days; and other transient occupancies as defined in California Civil Code section 1940, subdivision (b). B. A rental unit in an institutional facility, including a hospital, medical care facility, residential care facility, asylum, group home for seniors or the disabled; a rental unit in a transitional housing program that assists homeless persons as defined in CA Civil Code section 1954.12; a convent or monastery owned and operated by a religious organization; a fraternity or sorority house affiliated with a college or university; and a dormitory owned and operated by an accredited institution of higher education. C. A rental unit that is either owned, operated, or subsidized by a government entity or subject to a covenant imposed by a government entity restricting the occupancy to families with income of 120% of the area median income or below, and the rent amount paid by a tenant is restricted based on the tenant's income. D. A rental unit in which the tenant shares a bathroom or kitchen with the property owner. E. A rental unit that was built after February 1, 1995, based on the date the certificate of occupancy was issued, or, if a certificate was not issued, the date of the final inspection. F. Single dwelling units and rental units in a condominium or stock cooperative. G. A rental unit that the landlord or the landlord's immediate family occupy as their primary residence. (Ord. 2019-0025 § 2)
Allowed no-fault reasons
  • necessary and substantial repairs requiring temporary vacancy
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Good-faith necessary health/safety repairs, all permits and 120-day written notice; unit uninhabitable at least 30 days. Before vacancy, offer return at otherwise applicable rent or a comparable vacant landlord-owned unit at the same rent.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    5.156.090 Tenant eviction protections. A. Once a tenant has resided in a rental unit for more than 12 months pursuant to the terms of a rental housing agreement, the landlord is prohibited from taking action including, without limitation, making a demand for possession; threatening to terminate the tenancy of that tenant, whether orally or in writing; serving any notice to quit or other eviction notice; or bringing any action to recover possession of the rental unit unless at least one of the following conditions exists: 1. Failure to pay rent. The tenant has failed, after three days from the date of receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent as provided by law, to pay rent to which the landlord is legally entitled under the rental housing agreement in compliance with this chapter and any other state or local law. 2. Breach of rental housing agreement. After the landlord has served the tenant with a written notice to cease, provided a reasonable period to cure the alleged violation of the rental housing agreement, and informed the tenant that failure to cure may result in the initiation of eviction proceedings, the tenant continues to violate any of the material terms of the rental housing agreement. 3. Criminal and nuisance activity. The tenant engages in criminal activity in the rental unit, including any common areas, in violation of a local, state, or federal criminal law; or after the landlord has served the tenant with a notice to cease, the tenant continues to engage in conduct that is so disorderly as to destroy the peace, quiet, comfort, or safety of the other tenants in violation of a local or state nuisance law. 4. Failure to give access. After the landlord has served the tenant with notice, the tenant, after receiving three dates for access, continues to refuse to allow landlord access to the rental unit pursuant to a request consistent with California Civil Code section 1954. 5. Necessary and substantial repairs requiring temporary vacancy. The landlord, after having obtained all necessary permits from the city and having provided 120 days' advance written notice to the tenant, seeks in good faith to make substantial repairs to the rental unit that are necessary to bring the rental unit into compliance with applicable local and state codes and laws affecting the health and safety of tenants of the building where the rental unit is located, provided that: a. The repairs necessitate that the tenant vacate the rental unit because the work will make the rental unit uninhabitable for a period of not less than 30 days. b. Before the tenant is required to vacate the rental unit, the landlord is required to offer the tenant the right to elect to: (i) reoccupy the vacated rental unit upon completion of the repairs at the rental rate that would have been in effect under the rental housing agreement if it had not been terminated; or (ii) if the landlord owns a comparable vacant rental unit, to occupy the comparable rental unit at the same rental rate as the vacated rental unit. 6. Owner move-in. After providing at least 120 days' advance written notice to the tenant, the landlord seeks to recover possession of the rental unit for use and occupancy as landlord's primary residence or the primary residence of a member of landlord's immediate family for at least 12 months. In this case, landlord must be a natural person with at least 51% ownership of the rental unit. 7. Withdrawal of rental unit from rental market. After providing at least 120 days' advance written notice to tenant, the landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the rental unit to withdraw the unit and all of the rental units in the building and on the same parcel from the rental market for at least 12 months, including landlord's intent to demolish the rental units. The landlord must first file a rental unit withdrawal notice with the city in accordance with the administrative procedures and state law. B. A tenant who is aggrieved by the action of a landlord in violation of this chapter may file a petition to seek review by a hearing examiner. C. The notice to terminate a tenancy for any of the authorized conditions must state with specificity the subject matter and basis which justifies the landlord's action to terminate the tenant's right to occupy the rental unit. (Ord. 2019-0025 § 2)
  • owner move-in for landlord's or immediate family member's primary residence
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Natural-person landlord with at least 51% ownership; 120-day written notice; landlord or immediate family uses unit as primary residence for at least 12 months.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    5.156.090 Tenant eviction protections. A. Once a tenant has resided in a rental unit for more than 12 months pursuant to the terms of a rental housing agreement, the landlord is prohibited from taking action including, without limitation, making a demand for possession; threatening to terminate the tenancy of that tenant, whether orally or in writing; serving any notice to quit or other eviction notice; or bringing any action to recover possession of the rental unit unless at least one of the following conditions exists: 1. Failure to pay rent. The tenant has failed, after three days from the date of receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent as provided by law, to pay rent to which the landlord is legally entitled under the rental housing agreement in compliance with this chapter and any other state or local law. 2. Breach of rental housing agreement. After the landlord has served the tenant with a written notice to cease, provided a reasonable period to cure the alleged violation of the rental housing agreement, and informed the tenant that failure to cure may result in the initiation of eviction proceedings, the tenant continues to violate any of the material terms of the rental housing agreement. 3. Criminal and nuisance activity. The tenant engages in criminal activity in the rental unit, including any common areas, in violation of a local, state, or federal criminal law; or after the landlord has served the tenant with a notice to cease, the tenant continues to engage in conduct that is so disorderly as to destroy the peace, quiet, comfort, or safety of the other tenants in violation of a local or state nuisance law. 4. Failure to give access. After the landlord has served the tenant with notice, the tenant, after receiving three dates for access, continues to refuse to allow landlord access to the rental unit pursuant to a request consistent with California Civil Code section 1954. 5. Necessary and substantial repairs requiring temporary vacancy. The landlord, after having obtained all necessary permits from the city and having provided 120 days' advance written notice to the tenant, seeks in good faith to make substantial repairs to the rental unit that are necessary to bring the rental unit into compliance with applicable local and state codes and laws affecting the health and safety of tenants of the building where the rental unit is located, provided that: a. The repairs necessitate that the tenant vacate the rental unit because the work will make the rental unit uninhabitable for a period of not less than 30 days. b. Before the tenant is required to vacate the rental unit, the landlord is required to offer the tenant the right to elect to: (i) reoccupy the vacated rental unit upon completion of the repairs at the rental rate that would have been in effect under the rental housing agreement if it had not been terminated; or (ii) if the landlord owns a comparable vacant rental unit, to occupy the comparable rental unit at the same rental rate as the vacated rental unit. 6. Owner move-in. After providing at least 120 days' advance written notice to the tenant, the landlord seeks to recover possession of the rental unit for use and occupancy as landlord's primary residence or the primary residence of a member of landlord's immediate family for at least 12 months. In this case, landlord must be a natural person with at least 51% ownership of the rental unit. 7. Withdrawal of rental unit from rental market. After providing at least 120 days' advance written notice to tenant, the landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the rental unit to withdraw the unit and all of the rental units in the building and on the same parcel from the rental market for at least 12 months, including landlord's intent to demolish the rental units. The landlord must first file a rental unit withdrawal notice with the city in accordance with the administrative procedures and state law. B. A tenant who is aggrieved by the action of a landlord in violation of this chapter may file a petition to seek review by a hearing examiner. C. The notice to terminate a tenancy for any of the authorized conditions must state with specificity the subject matter and basis which justifies the landlord's action to terminate the tenant's right to occupy the rental unit. (Ord. 2019-0025 § 2)
  • withdrawal of the rental unit and all rental units in the building and on the same parcel from the rental market, including intent to demolish
    Applies: Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Good faith, 120-day written notice, withdrawal of all units in building/on same parcel for at least 12 months, and city withdrawal notice.
    § 5.156.090 · code text
    5.156.090 Tenant eviction protections. A. Once a tenant has resided in a rental unit for more than 12 months pursuant to the terms of a rental housing agreement, the landlord is prohibited from taking action including, without limitation, making a demand for possession; threatening to terminate the tenancy of that tenant, whether orally or in writing; serving any notice to quit or other eviction notice; or bringing any action to recover possession of the rental unit unless at least one of the following conditions exists: 1. Failure to pay rent. The tenant has failed, after three days from the date of receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent as provided by law, to pay rent to which the landlord is legally entitled under the rental housing agreement in compliance with this chapter and any other state or local law. 2. Breach of rental housing agreement. After the landlord has served the tenant with a written notice to cease, provided a reasonable period to cure the alleged violation of the rental housing agreement, and informed the tenant that failure to cure may result in the initiation of eviction proceedings, the tenant continues to violate any of the material terms of the rental housing agreement. 3. Criminal and nuisance activity. The tenant engages in criminal activity in the rental unit, including any common areas, in violation of a local, state, or federal criminal law; or after the landlord has served the tenant with a notice to cease, the tenant continues to engage in conduct that is so disorderly as to destroy the peace, quiet, comfort, or safety of the other tenants in violation of a local or state nuisance law. 4. Failure to give access. After the landlord has served the tenant with notice, the tenant, after receiving three dates for access, continues to refuse to allow landlord access to the rental unit pursuant to a request consistent with California Civil Code section 1954. 5. Necessary and substantial repairs requiring temporary vacancy. The landlord, after having obtained all necessary permits from the city and having provided 120 days' advance written notice to the tenant, seeks in good faith to make substantial repairs to the rental unit that are necessary to bring the rental unit into compliance with applicable local and state codes and laws affecting the health and safety of tenants of the building where the rental unit is located, provided that: a. The repairs necessitate that the tenant vacate the rental unit because the work will make the rental unit uninhabitable for a period of not less than 30 days. b. Before the tenant is required to vacate the rental unit, the landlord is required to offer the tenant the right to elect to: (i) reoccupy the vacated rental unit upon completion of the repairs at the rental rate that would have been in effect under the rental housing agreement if it had not been terminated; or (ii) if the landlord owns a comparable vacant rental unit, to occupy the comparable rental unit at the same rental rate as the vacated rental unit. 6. Owner move-in. After providing at least 120 days' advance written notice to the tenant, the landlord seeks to recover possession of the rental unit for use and occupancy as landlord's primary residence or the primary residence of a member of landlord's immediate family for at least 12 months. In this case, landlord must be a natural person with at least 51% ownership of the rental unit. 7. Withdrawal of rental unit from rental market. After providing at least 120 days' advance written notice to tenant, the landlord seeks in good faith to recover possession of the rental unit to withdraw the unit and all of the rental units in the building and on the same parcel from the rental market for at least 12 months, including landlord's intent to demolish the rental units. The landlord must first file a rental unit withdrawal notice with the city in accordance with the administrative procedures and state law. B. A tenant who is aggrieved by the action of a landlord in violation of this chapter may file a petition to seek review by a hearing examiner. C. The notice to terminate a tenancy for any of the authorized conditions must state with specificity the subject matter and basis which justifies the landlord's action to terminate the tenant's right to occupy the rental unit. (Ord. 2019-0025 § 2)

The California rule underneath

Where Sacramento's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Just-cause eviction in California.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
Just cause required
After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice
Applies: Covered units only (§ 1946.2(e) exempts, among others, housing built in the last 15 years and single-family homes or condos not owned by a corporation or REIT when the tenant got the required notice). If new adult tenants joined before anyone reached 24 months, all tenants need 12 months or one needs 24.
Chance to cure first
For a curable lease violation, the owner must first serve a notice to cure before a 3-day notice to quit
Just cause — new construction exemption
Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling)
Applies: Mobilehomes excepted.
Just cause law sunset
§ 1946.2 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Sacramento need a reason to evict?

Sacramento's code: more than 12 months (Chapter 5.156 rental units, excluding 5.156.030 exempt transient/institutional and restricted government housing, owner-shared units, units built after February 1, 1995, single dwellings, condos/cooperatives and owner/family primary residences.) (§ 5.156.090); failure to pay rent after three days from receipt of a notice to quit or pay rent (Chapter 5.156 covered rental units after more than 12 months of tenancy; exemptions in 5.156.030 apply. Rent must be legally owed under the agreement and applicable law.) (§ 5.156.090). State law: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)).

General information, not legal advice.

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