Sacramento, CA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Chapter 5.114, Article IV governs enforcement actions against short-term rental permits. Under § 5.114.300(A), the city manager may suspend, revoke, or condition a permit if a ground for denial listed in § 5.114.120 exists, including a dwelling under an active nuisance, dangerous-buildings, or housing-code enforcement action, a repeat code violation, or a threat to public health, safety, or welfare, or if the permittee has simply violated any provision of Chapter 5.114. Once that threshold is met, § 5.114.300(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. Separately, § 5.114.300(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. Before any condition is imposed the permittee is entitled to a written notice of hearing under § 5.114.310–.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.