Sacramento County, CA Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- Denial trigger
- prior revocation/suspension in 12 months
- Repeat penalty
- doubles each subsequent violation
- Base penalty
- $250–$25,000 per day
- Window
- 12-month lookback period
Summary
A Sacramento County STR license can be denied if the applicant had a license revoked or suspended in the past 12 months, and the civil penalty for violating the STR chapter doubles for each repeat violation within a year.
This penalty shall double for each and every subsequent violation of this Chapter that occurs within a twelve (12) month period.
D. Violations of this chapter are hereby declared to be a public nuisance under Chapter 16.18 of the Sacramento County Code and are subject to abatement by the County.
E. The holder of the license shall be liable for all costs incurred by the County for the enforcement of this Chapter, including but not limited to, attorney fees, staff cost, abatement cost, and court or hearing costs. (SCC 1756, 4/22/2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Under § 4.08.060(B)(5), the Director may deny a short-term rental license if the applicant or licensee had a prior STR license revocation or suspension within the last 12 months. Separately, § 4.08.170(C) sets a base civil penalty of $250 to $25,000 per day for violating Chapter 4.08, and subsection (C)(1) doubles that penalty for every subsequent violation occurring within a 12-month period, stacking on top of the misdemeanor and public-nuisance abatement remedies in the same section.
Violations & Fines
A second STR violation within 12 months doubles the civil penalty on top of the $250–$25,000 daily fine, and a prior revocation or suspension in that window is independent grounds to deny a new license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sacramento County deny an STR license for past violations?
Does the fine increase for a second short-term rental violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California short-term rentals overview
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