STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Sacramento, CA (2026)

RestrictedRestricted

Short-term rentals (stays of 30 days or less) are legal citywide in Sacramento, but every operator must hold an annual Short-Term Rental Permit from the city's Revenue Division, maintain a business operations tax account, and collect 12% transient occupancy tax plus tourism district assessments. Units that are not the operator's primary residence are capped at 90 rental days per calendar year unless a conditional use permit is obtained, and no more than six lodgers may stay at any one time. A city proposal debated in March 2026 would tighten rules toward primary-residence-only operation but has not been adopted as of July 2026.

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 9 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 9 official sources. How we verify data

Sacramento STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Sacramento
Legal statusRestricted
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameShort-Term Rental Permit
Permit fee$260
RenewalAnnual
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Night cap per year90 nights
Total occupancy taxes~16.45% of gross revenue
EnforcementEnforced by the city manager/Revenue Division with complaint intake via 311 (or a city-contracted vendor).
Current rules effective2016-02-18

What will guests pay in taxes on a Sacramento stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Sacramento, CA — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Sacramento occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
City of Sacramento Transient Occupancy Tax (City Code 3.28) (12%)· collection varies$54.00
Sacramento Tourism Marketing District (STMD) assessment (3.45%)· collection varies$15.53
Sacramento Tourism Infrastructure District (STID) assessment (1%)· collection varies$4.50
Total tax (16.45%)$74.03
Guest pays$524.03

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Sacramento requires Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $260, renewed annually.

New permit $260.00; renewal $250.00; late renewal assessment fee $50.00 (per the city's official Short-Term Rental Permit Application, form revised 2024-07-01). Operators must also hold a Business Operations Tax account and pay an annual business tax as a hotel of $50. Exceeding 90 rental days/year at a non-primary residence requires a separate conditional use permit from Community Development (separate planning entitlement fees apply).

Zoning & location rules

STRs are allowed citywide as a use of a dwelling unit — the permit application covers main dwellings, ADUs, tri-plex/4-plex/half-plex units, and apartments — with no zone-specific prohibitions or overlay districts in the city's STR rules. The key land-use distinction is primary vs. non-primary residence: a non-primary residence may be rented short-term for only 90 aggregate days per calendar year; exceeding 90 days requires a conditional use permit. Renting more than one structure on a parcel may require additional permits. Occupancy is capped at six lodgers at any one time, exterior 'for rent' signage is prohibited, and special events (conferences, weddings, fundraisers) are prohibited at STRs.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
City of Sacramento Transient Occupancy Tax (City Code 3.28)12% on stays of 30 days or less. Legal duty to collect and remit falls on the operator, but Airbnb collects and remits Sacramento TOT (12% of listing price including cleaning fees) for its bookings; hosts must register and remit for direct or non-collecting-platform bookings. Operators also pay an annual $50 business operations tax as a hotel.12%varies
Sacramento Tourism Marketing District (STMD) assessmentVaries by zone; Airbnb currently collects 1.15%-3.45% of the listing price for Sacramento reservations of 30 nights or less. On 2026-05-20 the STMD Committee voted to raise zone rates to Zone 1: 4.00%, Zone 2: 3.33%, Zone 3: 2.66%, Zone 4: 1.33%, effective 2026-08-01. Submitted monthly by lodging providers along with TOT when not platform-collected.3.45%varies
Sacramento Tourism Infrastructure District (STID) assessment1% of gross room rent for all short-term stays (approved by City Council 2018-10-30). Airbnb collects for its bookings; otherwise submitted monthly by the lodging provider along with TOT. California imposes no state sales tax on lodging.1%varies

Enforcement & penalties

Enforced by the city manager/Revenue Division with complaint intake via 311 (or a city-contracted vendor). The city may deny, suspend, revoke, or condition permits (e.g., require the permittee on-site during certain hours, require a local manager, reduce guest counts or rental days) for code violations, nuisance activity, tax delinquency, or public-safety threats; permits may be immediately suspended to protect public health, safety, or welfare, with hearing and appeal procedures. The city publishes a monthly-updated open-data list of active Short-Term Rental permits, and unpermitted rentals can be reported online or via 311. Violations are also declared a public nuisance subject to civil abatement action by the city attorney, plus criminal sanctions and administrative penalties under chapter 1.28.

Civil penalties of not less than $250 and not more than $25,000 for each day a violation continues, plus criminal sanctions and administrative penalties under City Code chapter 1.28; violations are declared a public nuisance subject to abatement. Late permit renewal carries a $50 assessment fee.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Sacramento: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: STRs are allowed citywide as a use of a dwelling unit — the permit application covers main dwellings, ADUs, tri-plex/4-plex/half-plex units, and apartments — with no zone-specific prohibitions or overlay districts in the city's STR rules. The key land-use distinction is primary vs. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying — the full zoning rules are detailed above.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Short-Term Rental Permit

    Budget $260, renewed annually. 00 (per the city's official Short-Term Rental Permit Application, form revised 2024-07-01). Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: City of Sacramento Transient Occupancy Tax (City Code 3.28) (12%), Sacramento Tourism Marketing District (STMD) assessment (3.45%), Sacramento Tourism Infrastructure District (STID) assessment (1%) are remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  5. 5

    Configure your listing to the operating limits

    Set your calendar and listing rules to respect the 90-night annual cap — platform delisting and fines in this market typically start with listings that visibly violate these limits.

  6. 6

    Calendar the renewal before you forget it

    This permit renews annually (budget $260 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.

  7. 7

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    28; violations are declared a public nuisance subject to abatement. Late permit renewal carries a $50 assessment fee. Full enforcement details and penalties are covered above.

Recent rule changes in Sacramento

  1. May 20, 2026material

    Sacramento Tourism Marketing District assessment rates increased effective 2026-08-01

    The STMD Committee voted to raise the zone-based assessment (collected on short-term stays along with TOT) to Zone 1: 4.00%, Zone 2: 3.33%, Zone 3: 2.66%, Zone 4: 1.33%, effective August 1, 2026, increasing the total lodging-tax load on STR guests.

    Official source →

  2. March 12, 2026material

    City Planning Commission advances STR overhaul toward primary-residence-only rules

    Sacramento's Planning and Design Commission debated a staff proposal that would require all short-term rentals to be at the owner's primary residence and eliminate multiple rental units per property. After debate, commissioners voted to loosen the staff draft (allowing up to four short-term units on a property and no owner-occupancy requirement for new construction) and sent it to the full City Council. As of 2026-07-20 no council vote has occurred and current Chapter 5.114 rules remain in effect.

    Official source →

  3. July 1, 2024

    Updated Short-Term Rental Permit Application and fee schedule

    The city's current application form (revised July 1, 2024) lists permit fees of $260 new, $250 renewal, and a $50 late renewal assessment fee, and adds screening questions on CC&Rs/HOA rules and Tenant Protection Program evictions.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Sacramento?

Airbnb is legal in Sacramento, CA, but with significant restrictions — check the zoning and eligibility rules on this page before listing. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Sacramento?

Yes. Sacramento requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental, which costs $260 and must be renewed annually. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a Sacramento short-term rental permit cost?

The Short-Term Rental Permit costs $260 (annual renewal). New permit $260.00; renewal $250.00; late renewal assessment fee $50.00 (per the city's official Short-Term Rental Permit Application, form revised 2024-07-01). Operators must also hold a Business Operations Tax account and pay an annual business tax as a hotel of $50. Exceeding 90 rental days/year at a non-primary residence requires a separate conditional use permit from Community Development (separate planning entitlement fees apply).

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Sacramento?

Yes — Sacramento does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Sacramento?

Hosts in Sacramento are subject to: City of Sacramento Transient Occupancy Tax (City Code 3.28) (12%), Sacramento Tourism Marketing District (STMD) assessment (3.45%), Sacramento Tourism Infrastructure District (STID) assessment (1%) — roughly 16.45% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›How many nights per year can I rent out my home in Sacramento?

Sacramento caps short-term rentals at 90 nights per year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Sacramento?

No — in Sacramento hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Sacramento?

28; violations are declared a public nuisance subject to abatement. Late permit renewal carries a $50 assessment fee. See the enforcement section on this page for full details.

›When did Sacramento's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on February 18, 2016. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

Sacramento's STR rules changed 2 times recently.

Get an email the moment Sacramento changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Sacramento and a qualified professional before operating.

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