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Is Airbnb legal in Sacramento, California?

Legal with permit, 90-day cap for non-primary homes. Sacramento currently lets investors run a whole-home short-term rental with a city permit, but non-primary-residence homes are capped at 90 rental days a year. The city is also drafting an ordinance that could limit all short-term rentals to owners' primary residences, so buy with that risk priced in.

Showing the researched rules for Sacramento, CA below. Type your Sacramento address to jump to the verdict.

Legal with permit

Legal with permit, 90-day cap for non-primary homes

Sacramento currently lets investors run a whole-home short-term rental with a city permit, but non-primary-residence homes are capped at 90 rental days a year. The city is also drafting an ordinance that could limit all short-term rentals to owners' primary residences, so buy with that risk priced in.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Rental Permit
Issued by
City of Sacramento Revenue Division
Cost
$260 new, $250 renewal / year
Renewal
Annual

Key limits

Non-primary residence cap
90 rental days per year
Primary residence
No night cap (184+ nights/yr occupancy)
Permit
Required before listing
Pending change
Primary-residence-only ordinance drafted

Taxes

Transient occupancy tax
12%
Business operations tax
$50 to $54 / year

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Apply for the STR permit
    File the short-term rental permit application with the Revenue Division and pay the $260 fee.
  2. 2
    Open a business operations tax account
    Set up the annual business operations tax account, which must be active for the permit to stand.
  3. 3
    Add your permit number to listings
    Display the permit number on every Airbnb or Vrbo listing to finalize city registration.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
HOA and condo rules can prohibit short-term rentals regardless of the city permit, so read the CC&Rs first.
The 90-day cap could vanish
The planning commission recommended requiring primary residence for all STRs, which would end the investor path entirely.

Sources

BNBCalc Sacramento 2026 guide · Airbnb Sacramento registration guide

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

Want this verified for your exact address?

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  • Permit name, fee, and renewal schedule
  • Night caps, occupancy rules, and key limits
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Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.