Rental registration and inspections in Sacramento County

Each rule below links to the section of the Sacramento County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sacramento County's code says

Sacramento County code What Sacramento County's code adds
Exemptions	Properties are exempt from the annual rental housing inspection for 5 years after initial construction. Applies: Becomes subject again if a violation notice is issued. § 16.20.420 · code text Any property during the five years after its initial construction; Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency public housing is exempt if its inspection frequency and scope satisfy the Director. Applies: Exempt from the annual rental housing inspection; becomes subject again if a violation notice is issued. § 16.20.420 · code text Public housing owned or operated by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, provided the frequency and scope of the inspections are to the satisfaction of the Director; Units or properties in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program are exempt if inspection frequency and scope satisfy the Director. Applies: Exempt from the annual rental housing inspection; becomes subject again if a violation notice is issued. § 16.20.420 · code text Any unit or property subject to the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, provided the frequency and scope of the inspections are to the satisfaction of the Director; Affordable housing units or properties already inspected for habitability by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency are exempt. Applies: Exempt from the annual rental housing inspection if inspection frequency and scope satisfy the Director; subject again if a violation notice is issued. § 16.20.420 · code text Any affordable housing unit or property, pursuant to Chapter 22.35, already subject to inspection for habitability by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, provided the frequency and scope of the inspections are to the satisfaction of the Director. Exemption returns after violations are absent or abated within 30 calendar days, if owner is not delinquent on property payments. Applies: Applies after a previously exempt unit becomes subject to inspection because a violation notice was issued. § 16.20.420 · code text After the last inspection conducted pursuant to this chapter, the inspector determines either no violations exist on the property or the violations identified were abated within 30 calendar days;
Fee	An annual Rental Housing Code Compliance fee applies per rental dwelling unit, paid before a tenant occupies it. § 16.20.400 · code text No rental dwelling unit shall be occupied by a tenant unless there has been paid to the Director the annual Rental Housing Code Compliance (RHCC) fee for such rental dwelling unit and the information required by Section 16.20.405(A) of this article has been provided.
Inspections	Annual inspection of each rental dwelling by the County and owner; owner may self-inspect annually when paying the fee. Applies: Only persons with a certificate of completion may self-inspect. § 16.20.410 · code text Subject to the provisions of Section 16.20.210 of this chapter, the County and the owner, or the owner's authorized representatives shall, at a minimum, conduct annual inspections of each rental dwelling. County inspection may occur without the original report when violations are visible from the exterior or a complaint is received. Applies: Visible exterior code violations or a complaint about code violations. § 16.20.410 · code text An inspection by the County may be conducted without reference to the original inspection report if code violations are visible from the exterior of the property or if the County receives a complaint concerning code violations at a property.

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Must landlords register or inspect rental units in Sacramento County?

Sacramento County's code: Properties are exempt from the annual rental housing inspection for 5 years after initial construction. (Becomes subject again if a violation notice is issued.) (§ 16.20.420); Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency public housing is exempt if its inspection frequency and scope satisfy the Director. (Exempt from the annual rental housing inspection; becomes subject again if a violation notice is issued.) (§ 16.20.420).

Rental registration and inspections in Sacramento County

What Sacramento County's code says

Who this affects

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