Rent Cap Ready Independent site
General information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm and are not affiliated with the State of California. Rules change and local laws vary. For advice about your property, talk to a California landlord-tenant attorney.

City guide · Sacramento

Sacramento rent increase rules (2026)

The city of Sacramento has its own rent cap, the Tenant Protection Program. For covered units, the maximum increase is 8.6% for July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. Units outside the city program may still be covered by the state AB 1482 cap, also 8.6% this year. Here's which rule applies, plus registration, just cause, and owner move-in rules.

Last reviewed October 18, 2026

Sacramento at a glance

8.6% city cap (Jul 2026 to Jun 2027)
1 increase per 12 months
$20 per unit yearly registration
120 days for no-fault notices

On this page Which rule applies Rent cap Registration Just cause Owner move-in

Which units are under Sacramento rent control?

  • City Tenant Protection Program: generally apartments and duplexes in the city built before February 1, 1995. The city's landlord page lists other covered types. Sac. City Code ch. 5.156
  • Not covered by the city program: units built on or after February 1, 1995, single-family homes, condos, units the owner or immediate family lives in, rooms sharing a kitchen or bath with the owner, and subsidized housing. § 5.156.030
  • State law may still apply to units the city program doesn't cover. A single-family home or condo is exempt from the state cap only if it's owned by individuals and the tenant received the exact exemption notice. Housing with a certificate of occupancy from the past 15 years is exempt from the state cap. Use the exemption checker.

Outside the city limits, in places like Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, or unincorporated Sacramento County, the city program doesn't apply and state law does.

How much can rent go up in Sacramento?

Under the city program, rent can rise by no more than 5% plus the change in the California CPI, up to 10%, and only once every 12 months. §§ 5.156.040, 5.156.050

  • July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027: 8.6%. The year before, it was 7.7%. Source: City of Sacramento 2026 maximum increase notice.
  • The city year runs July to June. The state cap year runs August to July. City-covered units can also be subject to the state cap: in any month when the state cap is lower than the city rate (often July), use the lower figure. Civ. Code § 1947.12(d)(3) From August 2026 both are 8.6%. In July 2026 the state cap was still 7.7%.
  • When a unit becomes vacant, the owner can set the new tenant's starting rent. § 5.156.040(C)
  • Above-cap increases require a fair-return petition to the city. § 5.156.060
  • The written notice must state the dollar amount of the increase and follow state notice timing: 30 days for 10% or less, 90 days for more, plus 5 days if mailed. § 5.156.050(D); Civ. Code § 827

Calculate your maximum increase

Registration and fees

  • Tenant Protection Program registration: every year, for covered units and units claiming an exemption. The fee is $20 per unit, due within 30 days of the city's packet. Penalties start at $500. §§ 5.156.070–.080
  • Rental Housing Inspection Program: a separate annual registration for most rental units, with its own per-unit fee and possible inspections. Owners outside the area must name a local contact. Sac. City Code ch. 8.120

Current forms and fees are on the city's Tenant Protection Program page.

Just cause in Sacramento

For units in the city program, once a tenant has lived there more than 12 months, the landlord needs a stated just cause to end the tenancy and must offer a renewal. § 5.156.090

  • At-fault: not paying rent after a 3-day notice, an uncured lease violation, criminal or nuisance activity, or repeatedly refusing access.
  • No-fault: substantial repairs, owner move-in, or taking the units off the rental market. Each requires 120 days' notice.

Owner move-in in Sacramento

  • The owner must be a natural person who owns at least 51% of the property.
  • The owner or an immediate family member must live there at least 12 months.
  • Give 120 days' notice and file the city's Notice of Intent and Owner Move-In Declaration of Occupancy.

The city chapter doesn't set a cash relocation payment. Because Sacramento's ordinance dates from 2019, the city rules generally apply instead of the state just cause rules for city-covered units, so the state's one-month payment generally doesn't apply to them. Civ. Code § 1946.2(i) Later amendments leave some doubt, so confirm with an attorney. Units outside the city program that are covered by state just cause get the state rules, including one month's rent. See owner move-in in California.

Substantial repairs and withdrawal

  • Repairs: the work needs permits and must make the unit uninhabitable for 30 days or more. The tenant has a right to return at the prior rent or to a comparable unit.
  • Withdrawal from the market: requires 120 days' notice and a notice filed with the city. § 5.156.090(A)(7)

The city program is scheduled to end December 31, 2029. § 5.156.150 Rules and forms change, so confirm with the city or a landlord-tenant attorney before acting.

Other city guides: Los Angeles, San Diego. Moving back in yourself? See owner move-in in California.

Common questions

How much can I raise rent in Sacramento in 2026?

For units covered by the city's Tenant Protection Program, up to 8.6% for increases between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, once every 12 months. Units outside the city program may be covered by the state AB 1482 cap, which is also 8.6% for August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. If the state cap is lower than the city rate in a given month (often July), the lower figure applies.

Does Sacramento rent control apply to single-family homes?

The city program doesn't cover single-family homes or condos. The state cap can still apply unless the home is owned by individuals and the tenant received the exact exemption notice, or the home's certificate of occupancy is from the past 15 years.

Do I have to register my rental in Sacramento?

Yes, for most rentals. Units in the Tenant Protection Program, and units claiming an exemption, must register every year for $20 per unit. Most rentals must also register with the separate Rental Housing Inspection Program.

How much notice for owner move-in in Sacramento?

For units in the city program, 120 days, plus the city's Notice of Intent and Owner Move-In Declaration. The owner must be a natural person with at least 51% ownership, and the owner or immediate family must live there at least 12 months.