Sacramento, CA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 5.114.300(B)(1)
- Trigger
- Permit suspension/revocation/conditioning proceeding
- Grounds cross-reference
- § 5.114.120 denial grounds
- Mandatory for absentee hosts
- Local property manager, § 5.114.300(C)
- Civil penalty
- $250–$25,000 per day, § 5.114.040(C)
- Notice period
- 10 calendar days before hearing
Summary
Sacramento does not force every short-term rental host to stay on-site. Instead, City Code § 5.114.300(B)(1) lets the city manager impose an on-site presence requirement as a condition on a permit that is being suspended, revoked, or conditioned: a discretionary enforcement tool, not a baseline rule for all rentals.
B. The conditions that the city manager may impose on the short-term rental permit include, but are not limited to: 1. Requiring the permittee to remain at the dwelling unit during certain hours while guests are present; ... C. For rentals that are not the primary residence of the permittee, the city manager shall impose a condition on the short-term permit that the permittee identify - by name, address, and contact information, including phone number and email address - a property manager who resides within a 30-mile radius of the short-term rental and who will quickly respond to complaints.
Full Breakdown
114, Article IV governs enforcement actions against short-term rental permits. 114. 300(B) authorizes several possible conditions, and the first listed is requiring the permittee to remain at the dwelling unit during certain hours while guests are present. Other available conditions include requiring a locally-based property manager for primary-residence rentals, cutting the allowed guest count, or shrinking the number of rentable days per year. 300(C) makes an on-call condition mandatory (not discretionary) for hosts whose rental is not their primary residence: they must identify, by name, address, phone and email, a property manager who resides within a 30-mile radius of the rental and will promptly respond to complaints, and must notify the city of any change.
320 at least ten calendar days ahead, unless the city manager finds immediate action necessary to protect public health or safety, in which case notice and a hearing follow after the fact.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 5.114, including defying an imposed presence condition, exposes the permittee to criminal sanctions and administrative penalties under Chapter 1.28, plus civil penalties under § 5.114.040(C) of not less than $250 nor more than $25,000 for each day the violation continues, and the conduct is separately declared a public nuisance subject to civil abatement by the city attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sacramento require hosts to be present during every short-term rental stay?
When would the city order a host to remain on-site?
Is there any presence-related requirement that applies automatically?
What happens if a host ignores a presence condition on their permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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