Sacramento’s New Rent Cap Law Goes Into Effect Today. Here’s How California’s Renter Bill Might Impact It.

Starting Thursday, tenants in Sacramento have new protections when it comes to rent increases and evictions.

But these new city laws could be affected by a rent cap bill sitting on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, which he plans to sign.

Sacramento protections will limit annual rent increases to 6 percent, plus the rate of inflation, with a 10 percent maximum. The new rules also say tenants evicted without cause need at least 120 days notice if they've been at the property for a year or more.

David Garcia with the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley says enforcement is one of the main distinctions between the local laws and the state bill, AB 1482, as Sacramento will have tools to help tenants.

"The difference with AB 1482 is that there is no central registry or mechanism for a tenant to know if their rent has been increased more than is allowed per the rent cap," he said.

Sacramento's rules only apply to units built before February 1995. Single-family homes are exempt.

But the state version awaiting the governor's signature would expand that to include homes owned by investment firms, and exempts properties built within a 15 year window to encourage development.