Program protections

The Tenant Protection and Relief Act ordinance protects most City of Sacramento residential tenants renting in multifamily rental units (e.g., duplexes, apartments) against unfair rent increases and unlawful evictions. It enforces limits on annual rent increases and requires “just cause” reasons to terminate a lease. Rent increases cannot:

  • Occur more than once every 12 months.
  • Exceed the maximum annual rent adjustment.

For a tenant who has lived in a unit for 12 months and has a lease, “just cause” actions to terminate include:

  • Failure to pay rent.
  • Breach of rental housing agreement.
  • Criminal or nuisance activity.
  • Failure to give access.
  • Necessary and substantial repairs requiring temporary vacancy.
  • Owner move-in.
  • Withdrawal of rental unit from rental market.

Download the Tenant Questionnaire.

Tenant petition pre-eviction hearing

Only tenants who live within the Sacramento City limits and who have lived in the rental unit for more than 12 months (i.e., 12 months and one day) with the landlord’s consent are eligible for protection from eviction unless the landlord has what is known as “just cause.”

For detailed information regarding the Pre-Eviction Hearing Process, please review the Administrative Procedures.

To request a hearing, please visit the forms page to download the Petition for Pre-Eviction Hearing.

Request to withdraw a tenant petition for pre-eviction hearing

If you submitted a Petition for Pre-Eviction Hearing but have resolved your issue prior to the hearing, please visit the forms page to download the Request to Withdraw Tenant Petition for Pre-Eviction Hearing form.

Filing a complaint (rent increase and/or eviction)

Please complete the Tenant Questionnaire so that our staff can assist you with your complaint. Please be sure to include the following information.

  • Name and contact information (email, phone)
  • Rental unit address
  • Rental housing agreement and/or date of tenancy
  • Reason for the request (e.g., rent increase, eviction)
  • Any documentation received (e.g., rent increase letter, eviction notice)
  • Landlord/Property Manager name and contact information

Contact us

If you have questions, please contact our office at 916-808-8121 or email tpp@cityofsacramento.org.

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