Sacramento Landlord-Tenant Rules

Rent stabilization: Under the Tenant Protection and Relief Act, the annual rent increase may not exceed 5% plus the change in California CPI, with a combined cap of 10%. From July 1, 2026 the maximum is 8.6% (April 2026 CPI of 3.6%). Rent may be raised only once every 12 months, regardless of how long the tenant has lived there, and the limit cannot be waived. Vacancy reset: the landlord may set a new base rent for a new tenant. Penalties for violations are up to $25,000. Landlords may petition a hearing examiner for a fair-return increase. Exempt: units built after February 1, 1995; single-family homes and condos; units shared with the owner; owner-occupied units; government-subsidized or income-restricted units; and transient and institutional housing.; Just-cause eviction: Once a tenant has lived in the unit for more than 12 months under a rental agreement, the landlord may not demand possession, threaten termination, serve a notice, or sue for possession without one of 7 causes: nonpayment after a 3-day notice; breach after a written notice to cease and a chance to cure; criminal or nuisance activity; refusal of access after 3 offered dates; necessary and substantial repairs requiring 30+ days' vacancy; owner move-in; or withdrawal of all units from the market. The last 3 require 120 days' written notice, permits, and first filing a withdrawal notice with the city where applicable. Owner move-in requires a natural person with at least 51% ownership. Repair vacancies come with a right to return at the prior rent or to move to a comparable vacant unit. The notice must state the cause specifically. A tenant may petition for a pre-eviction hearing, and noncompliance is an affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer.; Required notices/registration: Landlords must register covered units on the city rental housing registry every year and pay the Tenant Protection Program fee of $20 per unit. All rental properties must also register with the Rental Housing Inspection Program (RHIP), which charges $25 per unit per year, plus $180 per unit inspected and a $295 reinspection fee.; Habitability/code enforcement & complaint line: Code Compliance runs RHIP to find substandard rental conditions, and RHIP has a self-certification option. Housing complaints go through Sacramento 311: dial 311 or 916-808-5011 (916-264-5011 from outside city limits), or email 311@cityofsacramento.org.