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Sacramento, CA Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Annual cap
90 aggregate days per permit term
Applies only to
Non-primary-residence short-term rentals
Primary residences
No annual day cap under this section
Governing law
Sacramento City Code § 5.114.210
Tracked via
Quarterly register filings, §5.114.220(C)

Summary

Non-primary-residence short-term rentals in Sacramento are capped at 90 aggregate rented days per permit term. City Code § 5.114.210 imposes the cap only on permittees whose rental is not their primary residence; owner-occupied primary residences carry no such annual limit.

If the short-term rental dwelling unit is not the primary residence of the permittee, no permittee shall, for compensation, provide lodging for more than an aggregate of 90 days during the term of the short-term rental permit.

Source: SMC 5.114View official code

Full Breakdown

210 sets Sacramento's annual night cap: if the short-term rental dwelling unit is not the primary residence of the permittee, no permittee shall, for compensation, provide lodging for more than an aggregate of 90 days during the term of the short-term rental permit. 010 as the unit occupied at least 184 days a year, faces no equivalent day limit under this section. 220(C), giving code enforcement a running quarterly tally to check against the 90-day ceiling rather than waiting until the end of the permit year to discover an overage.

300(B)(4) also lets the city manager reduce the number of days in a year a permittee is allowed to provide lodging as a condition imposed on the permit after any violation, meaning a host who breaches the 90-day cap once can end up operating under an even tighter day limit going forward.

Violations & Fines

Providing paid lodging beyond the 90-day aggregate at a non-primary-residence short-term rental violates § 5.114.210 and is enforceable under § 5.114.040 with civil penalties of $250 to $25,000 per day the violation continues; the city manager may also reduce the permittee's allowed rental days going forward as a condition under § 5.114.300(B)(4).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent out my Sacramento property?
Yes, if it is not your primary residence. Section 5.114.210 caps non-primary-residence short-term rentals at an aggregate of 90 days during the one-year term of the permit. A primary residence, defined as a unit occupied at least 184 days a year, has no equivalent cap under this section.
How does Sacramento track the 90-day short-term rental cap?
Through the mandatory register under § 5.114.220. Non-primary-residence permittees must send an updated copy of their register, showing every date lodging was provided, to the city each January, April, July, and October under § 5.114.220(C), letting the city check the running total against the 90-day ceiling quarterly.
What happens if I rent my non-primary Sacramento property more than 90 days a year?
It is a violation of § 5.114.210 enforceable under § 5.114.040, carrying civil penalties of $250 to $25,000 per day the violation continues. The city manager can also respond under § 5.114.300(B)(4) by conditioning the permit to reduce the number of rental days allowed going forward.

Sources & Official References

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