Short-term rental permit rules in Sacramento, CA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Sacramento City Code §5.114 requires all STRs to obtain a Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit plus a Business Operations Tax certificate. Application fee is $452.66. Primary residence rentals are permitted year-round; non-primary residences are capped at 90 rental days per year. ADUs built after January 1, 2020 cannot be used as STRs.
Sacramento City Code Chapter 5.114 (effective February 18, 2016) governs all short-term rentals. Applications are handled through RentalScape (sacramento-ca-str.deckard.com). Both hosted and unhosted rentals are allowed with a permit. The property must be the operator's primary residence (minimum 6 months/year) or be capped at 90 rental days annually. Maximum occupancy: 6 guests per parcel or 2 adults per bedroom. A local responsible party must be reachable within 30 minutes. A 3-year rental registry must be maintained.
First violation: up to $1,500. Second violation within one year: up to $3,000. Each additional violation within one year: up to $5,000. Permit revocation possible.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle permit requirements.
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