Rental Property Rules in Sacramento, CA (2026)
10 verified rental property rules for Sacramento, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Sacramento is subject to California's Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482) which caps annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI or 10%, whichever is lower. Additionally, Sacramento adopted a local Tenant Protection Program (City Code Chapter 5.156) providing additional protections. The statewide law applies to most residential rental properties built more than 15 years ago that are not exempt (such as single-family homes not owned by corporations).
Sacramento Rent Control & Stabilization
Heavy RestrictionsJust Cause Eviction
Sacramento tenants are protected by both California's statewide just-cause eviction law (AB 1482) and the City's local Tenant Protection Program (Chapter 5.156). After 12 months of tenancy, landlords may only terminate a lease for specified at-fault causes (non-payment, lease violations, criminal activity) or no-fault causes (owner move-in, substantial renovation, withdrawal from rental market). No-fault evictions require relocation assistance equal to one month's rent.
Sacramento Just Cause Eviction Protections
Heavy RestrictionsRental Registration
Sacramento requires all residential rental property owners to register their rental units with the City under the Tenant Protection Program (City Code Chapter 5.156). Registration must be completed within 60 days of first renting a unit. Landlords pay an annual per-unit fee to fund program administration, inspections, and tenant services. The registration system helps enforce rent control, just-cause eviction protections, and habitability standards.
Sacramento Rental Property Registration
Heavy RestrictionsRelocation Assistance
Sacramento requires landlords to pay relocation assistance equal to roughly two months of rent when terminating a tenancy for no-fault reasons such as owner move-in, withdrawal, or substantial remodel under the Tenant Protection Act.
No-fault eviction relocation payments
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act / AB 1482)
(vi) (I) If the intended occupant fails to occupy the rental unit within 90 days after the tenant vacates or fails to occupy the rental unit as their primary residence for at least 12 consecutive months, the owner shall offer the unit to the tenant who vacated it at the same rent and lease terms in effect at the time the tenant vacated and shall reimburse the tenant for reasonable moving expens...
Security Deposit Rules
California Civil Code 1950.5 caps Sacramento security deposits at one month's rent for most tenancies and requires itemized return within 21 days, with strict deductions and tenant inspection rights.
Security deposit caps and accounting
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1950.5
1950.5. (a) This section applies to security for a rental agreement for residential property that is used as the dwelling of the tenant. (b) As used in this section, “security” means any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, including, but not limited to, any payment, fee, deposit, or charge, except as provided in Section 1950.6, that is imposed at the beginning of the tenancy to be used to reimbur...
No-Fault Evictions
Sacramento limits no-fault evictions to four narrow grounds under Title 5 Chapter 5.156: owner or relative move-in, substantial remodel, removal from the rental market, and compliance with a government order requiring vacancy.
No-fault eviction grounds in Sacramento
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1946.2 (Tenant Protection Act / AB 1482)
No-fault just cause, which means any of the following: (A) (i) Intent to occupy the residential real property by the owner or the owner’s spouse, domestic partner, children, grandchildren, parents, or grandparents for a minimum of 12 continuous months as that person’s primary residence. (ii) For leases entered into on or after July 1, 2020, or July 1, 2022, if the lease is for a tenancy in a mo...
Tenant Anti-Harassment
Sacramento prohibits landlord conduct intended to force tenants out, including utility shut-offs, lock changes, threats, and constructive eviction tactics, with civil penalties under the Tenant Protection & Relief Act.
Tenant harassment prohibitions
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1940.2
1940.2. (a) It is unlawful for a landlord to do any of the following for the purpose of influencing a tenant to vacate a dwelling: (1) Engage in conduct that violates subdivision (a) of Section 484 of the Penal Code. (2) Engage in conduct that violates Section 518 of the Penal Code. (3) Use, or threaten to use, force, willful threats, or menacing conduct constituting a course of conduct that in...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
California Government Code 12955 bars Sacramento landlords from refusing applicants because they pay rent with Section 8 vouchers, VASH, or other lawful housing assistance, treating source of income as a protected category.
Section 8 voucher non-discrimination
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code § 12955 (Fair Employment and Housing Act)
It shall be unlawful: (a) For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of that person. (b) For the owner o...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
The Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency administers Housing Choice Vouchers locally, performing initial unit inspections, approving rent reasonableness, and executing HAP contracts before move-in for participating landlords.
Sacramento Housing Authority voucher process
Few RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code § 12955 (Fair Employment and Housing Act)
It shall be unlawful: (a) For the owner of any housing accommodation to discriminate against or harass any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, disability, veteran or military status, or genetic information of that person. (b) For the owner o...
AB-1482 Notice Disclosure
California AB 1482, the Tenant Protection Act, caps annual rent increases on most Sacramento rentals at 5 percent plus regional CPI, capped at 10 percent total, and requires landlords to give tenants written notice of coverage.
AB 1482 Statewide Rent Cap and Notice
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 1947.12 (AB 1482 — Tenant Protection Act of 2019)
1947.12. (a) (1) Subject to subdivision (b), an owner of residential real property shall not, over the course of any 12-month period, increase the gross rental rate for a dwelling or a unit more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months pri...
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sacramento city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Sacramento County →