Sacramento Measure Q Rent Control 2026: Full Guide
Measure Q passed in November 2024. Here is exactly what it means for landlords and tenants in Sacramento right now -- rent caps, just-cause eviction rules, exemptions, relocation pay, and your compliance checklist.
Questions? Call (916) 587-6670Short answer: Sacramento Measure Q limits annual rent increases to 3% (or 60% of CPI, whichever is lower) and requires landlords to show just cause before evicting a tenant. It covers multi-unit buildings first occupied before February 1, 1995. Single-family homes, condos, and newer units remain exempt under Costa-Hawkins. No-fault evictions trigger two months' relocation pay. If your building is covered, you need to act on this now.
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What This Guide Covers
- What Is Sacramento Measure Q?
- The Rent Cap: How Much Can You Raise Rent?
- Properties Exempt from Measure Q
- Just-Cause Eviction: All 8 Categories Explained
- Relocation Assistance Requirements
- How Measure Q Stacks with AB 1482
- Registration Requirements for Sacramento Landlords
- Landlord Compliance Checklist for 2026
- What Tenants Are Protected From
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Sacramento Measure Q?
Sacramento voters passed Measure Q on November 5, 2024, with roughly 58% of the vote. It is a local rent stabilization and just-cause eviction ordinance that goes beyond what state law (AB 1482) already provides. In plain terms: it caps how much a landlord can raise rent each year, and it requires landlords to give tenants a legally recognized reason before forcing them out.
I have been tracking California landlord/tenant law closely for over 13 years, and this is the most significant local rent control measure to pass in Sacramento since the state outlawed stricter rent caps under Costa-Hawkins. Measure Q threads the needle of what is constitutionally permissible -- it targets older housing stock built before 1995 and leaves newer construction and single-family rentals outside its reach.
The ordinance became effective in early 2025. If you own a covered unit in Sacramento, you have been operating under Measure Q for over a year now. If you have not updated your rent increase practices or your eviction procedures, this guide gives you everything you need to get into compliance immediately.
Measure Q is a City of Sacramento ordinance. It applies within the Sacramento city limits. If your rental is in Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, or unincorporated Sacramento County, Measure Q does not apply -- though AB 1482 still does for qualifying units statewide.
The Sacramento rental market has been pricing tenants out for five straight years. Vacancy rates touched historic lows in 2023 and 2024. Measure Q is the political response to that pressure. Whether you think the policy is right or wrong is beside the point -- it is law, and enforcement mechanisms are real.
The Rent Cap: How Much Can You Raise Rent?
Under Measure Q, landlords of covered units may raise rent by the lower of two amounts: 3% of current rent, or 60% of the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom area over the prior 12 months.
In practice, this means the cap will almost always be 3% or below. When CPI is low (say, 2%), 60% of that is 1.2% -- so your allowable increase that year is only 1.2%, not 3%. Only when CPI climbs above 5% does the 3% cap kick in as the binding constraint.
Example Calculations
Only one rent increase is permitted per 12-month period per tenancy. You cannot split an increase across two months to work around the cap.
Do not apply the AB 1482 formula (5% + CPI) to a Measure Q-covered unit. Measure Q is stricter, and it takes precedence. Any increase above the Measure Q cap is invalid and exposes you to tenant complaints and potential civil liability.
Notice Requirements for Rent Increases
California law (Civil Code Section 827) requires:
- 30 days' written notice for increases of 10% or less above the current rent
- 90 days' written notice for increases above 10%
Since Measure Q caps increases at 3%, you will almost always be in the 30-day notice window. But the notice must be in writing, served properly (personal service or first-class mail), and must clearly state the new rent amount and the effective date.
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Properties Exempt from Sacramento Measure Q
This is where I see the most confusion among landlords and tenants. Not every rental in Sacramento is covered. The exemptions are defined by a combination of Measure Q's own text and the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act, the 1995 California law that limits which properties cities can control.
| Property Type | Covered by Measure Q? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-unit apartment, built before Feb 1, 1995 | COVERED | Core Measure Q coverage. Both rent cap and just-cause apply. |
| Single-family home (rented) | EXEMPT | Costa-Hawkins prohibits cities from controlling SFR rentals. |
| Condominium (rented) | EXEMPT | Costa-Hawkins also exempts condos from local rent control. |
| Multi-unit building built after Feb 1, 1995 | EXEMPT | Costa-Hawkins prohibits controlling newly constructed units. |
| Subsidized affordable housing | VARIES | Units with existing deed restrictions or HAP contracts may be exempt. Verify case by case. |
| Owner-occupied duplex (2-unit, owner lives in one) | EXEMPT | Under state law, owner-occupied duplexes are carved out from just-cause provisions. |
| Commercial properties | EXEMPT | Measure Q applies to residential rentals only. |
Costa-Hawkins is a state statute that preempts local rent control laws. Cities cannot pass ordinances that regulate rents on single-family homes, condos, or units first offered for rent after February 1, 1995. This is why Measure Q, like every California rent control law post-1995, only targets older multi-unit housing stock.
How to Determine Your Building's Coverage Status
The fastest way is to look up your property's Certificate of Occupancy (CO) date through the Sacramento County Assessor or City of Sacramento building records. The date the unit was first occupied for residential use is what matters -- not the date it was built, sold, or renovated. If your CO predates February 1, 1995, and the property is a multi-unit residential building, assume Measure Q applies unless you have a specific exemption reason.
If you are considering buying a Sacramento multifamily investment property, Measure Q coverage is a material factor in your underwriting. A 12-unit building from 1975 operates under completely different rent economics than a 12-unit built in 2001. I walk through this with buyer clients regularly -- if you have questions about a specific property, call me directly at (916) 587-6670.
Just-Cause Eviction Under Measure Q: All 8 Categories
This is the half of Measure Q that landlords underestimate. The rent cap gets all the attention, but the just-cause eviction requirement is what fundamentally changes the landlord-tenant relationship in Sacramento's covered units. Before Measure Q, you could technically let a lease expire and not renew without explanation. Not anymore.
Measure Q requires that any eviction of a tenant in a covered unit be based on one of the following legally recognized reasons:
Fault-Based Just-Cause Reasons (No Relocation Pay)
Tenant has failed to pay rent after receiving proper written notice. California requires a 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit before filing an unlawful detainer. Document everything -- dated notices, delivery method, amount owed.
Tenant has materially violated a lease term (unauthorized pet, unauthorized occupant, noise complaints) after receiving a written notice to cure the violation. The notice must specify the violation, the cure, and the cure period. California typically allows 3 days to cure or quit on most lease violations.
Tenant is engaging in criminal activity on the premises, or their conduct constitutes a nuisance to other tenants or neighbors. This is a more immediate ground -- you may be able to proceed with a 3-Day Notice to Quit without a cure period depending on severity.
Tenant has repeatedly refused to allow the landlord to enter for legally permitted purposes (repairs, inspections) after proper 24-hour notice. California Civil Code Section 1954 governs landlord entry rights.
Tenant has sublet or assigned the unit without landlord permission, in violation of the lease. Document the unauthorized occupant's presence and the lease prohibition.
No-Fault Just-Cause Reasons (Relocation Pay Required)
The landlord or an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, sibling) intends to occupy the unit as their primary residence. This requires 60 days' notice plus two months' relocation assistance paid to the tenant before they vacate. The owner must actually move in and occupy the unit for at least 12 months, or the tenant has the right to return.
Major capital improvements that require the unit to be vacant during construction. This is not a license for cosmetic upgrades -- the work must be of a scope that makes the unit uninhabitable. Sacramento has documented specific requirements. Tenants are owed relocation assistance and have a right of first refusal to return at the same rent once work is complete.
Owner withdraws all units in the building from the residential rental market entirely (not just one unit). The Ellis Act is a state law that allows landlords to exit the rental business, but Measure Q adds relocation requirements on top of standard Ellis Act procedures. This is rarely used and involves complex procedural requirements -- call an attorney before attempting this path.
What is NOT on this list matters as much as what is. You cannot evict a tenant in a Measure Q-covered unit simply because:
- Their lease expired and you want new tenants
- You want to increase rent above the cap
- You want to sell the property (selling does not terminate a tenancy)
- You do not like the tenant personally
- You want to renovate with cosmetic improvements only
Any eviction that is not grounded in one of these eight categories is unlawful under Measure Q and exposes you to civil penalties and attorney's fees claims from the tenant.
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Relocation Assistance Requirements Under Measure Q
For any no-fault eviction -- owner move-in, substantial renovation, or Ellis Act withdrawal -- Sacramento Measure Q requires the landlord to pay relocation assistance equal to two months of the tenant's current rent. This is in addition to the required notice periods, not a substitute for them.
How Relocation Pay Works in Practice
Failure to pay required relocation assistance is a defense to an unlawful detainer action and can expose you to civil liability. Courts take this seriously. If you cannot afford the relocation payment at move-out, you have a planning problem that needs to be resolved before you serve the notice -- not after.
Pay the relocation assistance at the time you provide the notice of termination -- not when the tenant actually leaves. Some landlords make the mistake of waiting until after the tenant moves out. Get it in writing, get a receipt, and document everything.
Owner Move-In Rules: What You Cannot Do
If you use owner or family move-in as your just-cause ground, California and Measure Q together require:
- You (or the qualifying family member) must move in within 90 days of the tenant vacating
- You must occupy the unit as a primary residence for at least 12 continuous months
- If you fail to move in, or move out within 12 months, the tenant has the right to be reinstated at the original rent and to recover relocation assistance paid
- You cannot then rent the unit to a new tenant at market rate -- doing so while the original tenant remains in the area is an eviction fraud violation
How Sacramento Measure Q Stacks with AB 1482
AB 1482, the California Tenant Protection Act of 2019, is the state-level rent control law that applies statewide to qualifying units. Measure Q is Sacramento's local supplement. They are not the same law, and they do not always cover the same properties. Here is how they interact.
AB 1482 (State Law)
- Applies statewide to qualifying units
- Rent cap: 5% + local CPI, maximum 10%
- Just-cause eviction required after 12 months of tenancy
- Covers most apartments 15+ years old
- Single-family homes exempt if properly noticed
Measure Q (Sacramento Local)
- Applies only within Sacramento city limits
- Stricter cap: 3% or 60% of CPI (whichever is lower)
- Just-cause required from start of tenancy (no 12-month wait)
- Only covers pre-1995 multi-unit buildings
- No SFR or condo coverage (Costa-Hawkins)
For a unit covered by Measure Q, the more protective law applies. Since Measure Q has a lower rent cap than AB 1482, Measure Q's 3% cap wins for covered units. For units that fall within AB 1482's coverage but not Measure Q's (for example, an apartment built in 2005 in Sacramento), AB 1482's 5% + CPI cap applies and the Measure Q cap does not.
| Unit Type | Law That Applies | Rent Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1995 multi-unit in Sacramento city | Measure Q (stricter) | 3% or 60% CPI |
| 1995-2010 multi-unit in Sacramento city | AB 1482 | 5% + CPI, max 10% |
| Post-2010 multi-unit in Sacramento city | Neither (AB 1482 exempts buildings <15 yrs) | None -- market rate |
| Single-family home in Sacramento (rented) | AB 1482 (if properly noticed) | 5% + CPI, max 10% |
| Condo in Sacramento (rented) | AB 1482 (if properly noticed) | 5% + CPI, max 10% |
| Multi-unit in unincorporated Sacramento County | AB 1482 only | 5% + CPI, max 10% |
If you are in the city of Sacramento and your building predates 1995, plan around Measure Q's 3% cap -- not AB 1482's 5%+. The higher AB 1482 cap does not apply to your property. Any increase above 3% (or 60% of CPI if lower) on a covered unit is invalid.
Registration Requirements for Sacramento Landlords
Sacramento has long required landlords to register rental units under the city's Rental Housing Inspection Program (RHIP). Measure Q builds on that existing framework. If you own a covered unit, registration is a compliance prerequisite -- not an optional administrative step.
What the Registration Program Requires
- Annual registration of each rental unit with the City of Sacramento
- Payment of the annual registration fee (varies by unit count)
- Passing periodic inspections for habitability and code compliance
- Updating contact information for the property owner or authorized manager
Landlords who have not registered their units may lose the ability to lawfully enforce rent increases or evictions. Courts have discretion to deny unlawful detainer actions for landlords who are out of compliance with registration requirements. Do not let this be the reason your eviction case gets thrown out.
How to Register
The City of Sacramento's Rental Housing Inspection Program has an online portal at the city's official website. You will need your property's APN (Assessor's Parcel Number), the number of units, and your contact information. If you have questions about whether a specific property requires registration, call the city directly or consult a local property manager.
If you are buying a Sacramento rental property, verify registration status is current before closing. A seller who has not maintained registration may have pending fees or inspection requirements that transfer with the property. I flag this in every Sacramento investment property transaction I am involved in -- it is part of the due diligence checklist.
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Sacramento Landlord Compliance Checklist for 2026
If you own a pre-1995 multi-unit residential property within Sacramento city limits, here is what you need to have done -- or do right now:
Pull the Certificate of Occupancy date. If first occupied before February 1, 1995, and the property is a multi-unit residential building (not a SFR or condo), you are almost certainly covered by Measure Q.
Log into Sacramento's RHIP portal. Confirm your registration is current for 2026. If you have not registered, do it now before you take any rent increase or eviction action.
Pull the most recent 12-month CPI change for the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom metro from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Multiply by 60%. Compare to 3%. Use whichever is lower as your maximum allowable increase for any rent increases served this year.
Review every lease in your portfolio. Flag any tenants who received rent increases this year. If any increase exceeded the Measure Q cap, you have a potential compliance issue that needs to be corrected -- talk to an attorney about how to remediate this.
Make sure your property management team or attorney knows that every termination of tenancy on a covered unit requires a documented just-cause reason from the eight allowed categories. Revise any standard "no-renewal" or "end of lease" notices you had been using -- those are not valid grounds on covered units.
If you anticipate any owner move-in or renovation-related vacancy in the next 12-24 months, factor two months' current rent per unit into your cash flow projections. This is a real cash outlay that cannot be avoided on no-fault evictions of covered units.
Measure Q is new. Enforcement interpretations will evolve in 2025 and 2026 as cases are heard. If you have any complicated situation -- tenant who has been there 20+ years, renovation planned, family move-in, long-term vacancy -- talk to a Sacramento landlord-tenant attorney before you act.
What Tenants Are Protected From Under Sacramento Measure Q
If you are a tenant renting a covered unit in Sacramento, Measure Q gives you meaningful protections that did not exist before November 2024. Here is the plain-English version of what the law does for you.
You Are Protected From
- Rent increases above 3% per year (or 60% CPI if lower)
- Eviction without a legally recognized reason
- Retaliation for requesting repairs or complaining about conditions
- Being displaced for renovations without relocation pay
- Losing your unit to owner move-in without proper notice and pay
- Being locked into an above-cap increase agreed to under pressure
You Are Not Protected If
- You live in a single-family home or condo
- Your unit was built after February 1, 1995
- You fail to pay rent (fault-based just cause)
- You violate your lease terms repeatedly
- You engage in nuisance behavior or criminal activity
- Your property is outside Sacramento city limits
How Tenants Can Enforce Their Rights
If your landlord raises rent above the Measure Q cap, you have several options:
- File a complaint with the City of Sacramento's Code Enforcement and Rental Housing Inspection Program
- Raise the illegal rent increase as a defense if your landlord attempts to evict you for nonpayment of an above-cap amount
- Contact a Sacramento tenant rights organization or housing clinic for free legal advice
- Consult a private tenant's attorney -- many take rent control cases on contingency
As a tenant, save every written notice you receive from your landlord, including rent increase notices, lease renewals, and any termination notices. Note the dates you received them. If a dispute arises, documentation is your strongest asset.
For tenants considering their Sacramento housing options -- whether to stay, negotiate, or find a new place -- I am happy to talk through what the market looks like and what your realistic options are. Call or text me at (916) 587-6670. I have worked with tenants transitioning into homeownership in markets just like this one.
Linking Measure Q to Your Bigger Real Estate Picture
Sacramento's rent stabilization story connects directly to the broader California landlord landscape. If you want to understand how AB 1482 affects landlords statewide, or how multifamily investing in California works under rent control, those guides give you the broader context. This is also related to why RSO compliance in Los Angeles is so critical for LA landlords -- the compliance logic is similar even if the specific rules differ city by city.
Quick Reference: Sacramento Measure Q Cheat Sheet
| If You Are... | Key Rule | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord with pre-1995 multi-unit in Sacramento city | 3% max rent increase (or 60% CPI). Just-cause required for all evictions. | Register, audit leases, update eviction procedures. |
| Landlord with post-1995 multi-unit in Sacramento city | AB 1482 applies (5% + CPI, max 10%). Measure Q does not. | Use AB 1482 cap formula. Still need just-cause after 12 months. |
| Landlord planning owner move-in eviction | 60 days' notice + 2 months' relocation pay. Must actually move in within 90 days. | Budget relocation pay, document intent, occupy 12+ months. |
| Landlord planning renovation eviction | Must show work requires vacancy. Tenant gets relocation pay + right to return. | Get scope of work documented before serving notice. |
| Tenant in pre-1995 Sacramento apartment | Landlord cannot raise rent more than 3% (or 60% CPI). Cannot evict without just cause. | Save all notices. Challenge any above-cap increase. |
| Tenant in SFR or condo in Sacramento | Measure Q does not apply. AB 1482 may apply (5% + CPI, max 10%). | Check if you received an AB 1482 exemption notice at move-in. |
| Investor buying Sacramento multifamily | Coverage status determines your rent growth potential and exit cap rate. | Verify CO date, current rents vs. market, and registration status before offer. |
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Frequently Asked Questions: Sacramento Measure Q
What is Sacramento Measure Q?
Sacramento Measure Q is a rent stabilization and just-cause eviction ordinance passed by Sacramento voters in November 2024. It limits annual rent increases for covered units to 3% (or 60% of CPI, whichever is lower) and requires landlords to provide a legally recognized reason before evicting any tenant from a covered unit.
How much can a landlord raise rent under Measure Q in Sacramento?
The Measure Q rent cap is the lower of 3% or 60% of the Sacramento area Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase over the prior 12 months. When inflation is low, the allowable increase can be well below 3%. Only one increase is permitted per 12-month period per tenancy.
Which properties are exempt from Measure Q?
Exempt properties include: single-family homes, condominiums, any unit first occupied after February 1, 1995 (the Costa-Hawkins cutoff), owner-occupied duplexes, and most subsidized affordable housing with existing deed restrictions. Costa-Hawkins is a state law that prevents Sacramento from controlling these property types.
What counts as just cause for eviction under Measure Q?
Fault-based just causes: nonpayment of rent, lease violation after cure notice, nuisance or criminal activity, refusal to allow legal entry, unauthorized subletting. No-fault just causes (relocation pay required): owner or qualifying family member move-in, substantial renovation requiring vacancy, Ellis Act withdrawal of all units from the rental market.
Does Measure Q override AB 1482?
No -- they operate in parallel. For units covered by Measure Q (pre-1995 multi-unit in Sacramento city), Measure Q is stricter and takes precedence on rent cap. For units covered only by AB 1482 but not Measure Q (post-1995 Sacramento apartments, or Sacramento SFRs), AB 1482's 5% + CPI cap applies instead.
Is relocation assistance required for all evictions under Measure Q?
No -- relocation assistance is only required for no-fault evictions: owner or family member move-in, substantial renovation requiring vacancy, and Ellis Act withdrawal. Fault-based evictions (nonpayment, lease violation, nuisance) do not trigger relocation pay. The required amount is two months of the tenant's current rent.
When did Sacramento Measure Q take effect?
Measure Q was approved by Sacramento voters on November 5, 2024. The ordinance was codified and became effective in early 2025. Landlords with covered units should treat it as fully in force for all rent increases and eviction actions in 2026.
Do landlords need to register units under Measure Q?
Yes. Sacramento's Rental Housing Inspection Program requires registration of most rental units, and Measure Q compliance starts with that registration. Landlords who are not registered may have difficulty enforcing rent increases or eviction proceedings in court.
Related Resources for California Landlords and Tenants
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