Citrus Heights is a suburban city in Sacramento County with no local rent control ordinance. California's AB 1482 is the sole rent protection available to most qualifying renters here.·Updated May 2026
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Key Takeaways
Most pre-2011 multi-unit rentals; single-family homes and condos are exempt under Costa-Hawkins
5% + Sacramento CPI, max 10% per year (approximately 8.8% for 2025)
Required after 12 months of tenancy under AB 1482; no local ordinance adds additional protections
Citrus Heights sits in the eastern Sacramento Valley, bordered by Roseville, Orangevale, and the city of Sacramento. Incorporated in 1997, it is one of Sacramento County's more populous suburbs, with roughly 90,000 residents. The city's housing stock skews toward single-family homes and garden-style apartment complexes built during the postwar suburban expansion of the 1960s through 1990s — a profile that shapes exactly which units qualify for state rent protections.
Citrus Heights has no local rent control ordinance. California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 — commonly called AB 1482 — provides the only statutory rent cap and just-cause eviction protections available to renters here. For eligible tenants, AB 1482 limits annual rent increases and requires landlords to show a legally recognized reason before ending a tenancy, but enforcement is entirely self-directed: there is no local rent board, no city registration system, and no municipal agency to file a complaint with.
This article covers which Citrus Heights rentals qualify for AB 1482 protections, how the rent cap is calculated using the Sacramento-area Consumer Price Index, what just-cause eviction means in practice, and where to find legal help if a dispute arises.
2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Citrus Heights?
AB 1482 applies to residential rental units in Citrus Heights whose certificate of occupancy was issued at least 15 years before the current calendar year. As of 2026, that generally means units built before 2011. The 15-year threshold rolls forward each year, so units built in 2011 will become covered in 2027. A tenant must also have lived in the unit for at least 12 months before the rent cap and just-cause eviction rules take effect.
The following categories are exempt from AB 1482:
Single-family homes and condominiums — excluded by the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), unless the owner is a real estate investment trust (REIT), a corporation, or an LLC in which at least one member is a corporation. Owners of exempt SFH and condos must provide written notice of the exemption in the lease.
Units built within the last 15 years — any apartment or rental unit with a certificate of occupancy issued in 2011 or later (as of 2026) is not subject to the rent cap.
Owner-occupied duplexes — where the owner lives in one of the two units, the other unit is exempt.
Government-subsidized affordable housing — units with deed restrictions or rental assistance contracts that already impose stricter rent limitations (e.g., Section 8 project-based voucher properties).
Transient occupancy — hotels, motels, and other accommodations rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days.
Commercial properties — retail, office, and industrial spaces are outside AB 1482's scope entirely.
If you are unsure whether your Citrus Heights apartment qualifies, the address lookup tool at RentCheckMe can help identify coverage based on building age and unit type.
3. Maximum Allowable Rent Increases
For covered units, AB 1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus the percentage change in the local Consumer Price Index, with an absolute ceiling of 10%. Citrus Heights falls within the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville metropolitan area CPI, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For most California regions in 2025, that CPI figure has been approximately 3.8%, putting the effective cap near 8.8% — though landlords and tenants should verify the current Sacramento CPI at the time of any increase, as it changes annually.
Key rules governing rent increases in Citrus Heights under AB 1482:
12-month waiting period: A landlord cannot impose any AB 1482-governed increase until a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 consecutive months.
Two increases per year: Landlords may raise rent up to twice within a 12-month period, but the combined total cannot exceed the annual cap.
No banking of unused increases: If a landlord skips a rent increase in one year, that unused percentage cannot be carried forward and added to a future year's cap.
Proper notice required: A rent increase of 10% or less requires at least 30 days' written notice; any increase greater than 10% (which would be unlawful under AB 1482 for covered units) would require 90 days' notice under general California law.
Because there is no local rent board in Citrus Heights, tenants who believe a rent increase violates AB 1482 must raise the issue directly — either by notifying the landlord in writing, filing a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, or seeking assistance from a legal aid organization.
4. Just Cause Eviction Protections
Once a tenant has lived in a covered Citrus Heights rental for 12 months, the landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate the tenancy or decline to renew the lease. AB 1482 divides just-cause grounds into two categories: at-fault and no-fault.
At-Fault Just Cause
These allow eviction without relocation assistance because the tenant has done something that justifies termination:
Nonpayment of rent
Material breach of the lease after written notice to cure
Maintaining a nuisance or causing substantial damage to the property
Committing criminal activity on the premises or against other residents
Subletting without the landlord's permission when the lease prohibits it
Refusing to sign a written lease renewal with similar terms
Employee, agent, or licensee tenancy where the termination is tied to ending the employment relationship
No-Fault Just Cause
These allow eviction even when the tenant has done nothing wrong, but the landlord must pay relocation assistance equal to one month's rent:
Owner move-in: The owner, or a qualifying family member, intends to occupy the unit as a primary residence
Ellis Act withdrawal: The landlord is permanently taking the property off the rental market
Substantial remodel: Renovations requiring permits that cannot safely be completed while the unit is occupied (the work must be substantial, not cosmetic)
Demolition: The landlord has obtained all required permits to demolish the building
Relocation assistance under no-fault evictions must be paid to the tenant within 15 days of the notice to quit, or the landlord may credit it against the final month's rent with written consent. If a landlord in Citrus Heights issues a no-fault eviction notice without paying the required relocation assistance, the tenant can use that as a defense in an unlawful detainer proceeding.
5. Local Rules and Special Protections
Citrus Heights has no local rent control ordinance. The city has never adopted municipal rent stabilization rules, and AB 1482 — the state law — represents the entirety of statutory rent and eviction protections available to renters here. There is no Citrus Heights rent board, no local registration requirement for landlords, and no city agency empowered to adjudicate rent disputes.
Part of the reason cities in California are limited in what they can enact is the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §§ 1954.50–1954.535), a state preemption law that prohibits local governments from imposing rent control on single-family homes, condominiums, and any unit built after February 1, 1995. Because much of Citrus Heights's multifamily rental stock was built after that date, the practical scope for a local ordinance — even if the city council wanted one — would be quite narrow.
Citrus Heights does participate in several regional housing programs administered through Sacramento County and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA). SHRA administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program for the Sacramento region, including Citrus Heights residents. The city's own housing page at citrusheights.net/housing provides information on community development block grant programs and fair housing referrals. For emergency rental assistance, Sacramento County's Department of Human Assistance operates benefit programs that may be available to qualifying low-income renters.
Because there is no local enforcement mechanism for AB 1482, tenants who believe their rights have been violated must act proactively: document rent increase notices, keep copies of all written communications with the landlord, and contact a legal aid organization if a dispute escalates.
6. Using RentCheckMe with Official Resources
Use the RentCheckMe address lookup to check whether your specific Citrus Heights rental unit is likely covered by AB 1482. Enter your address to see the estimated year of construction and a coverage determination based on the 15-year rolling rule.
Additional resources for Citrus Heights renters:
Legal Services of Northern California — lsnc.net — Free civil legal services for income-qualifying Northern California residents, including tenant representation and advice on AB 1482 rights.
Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) — shra.org — Administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and connects Sacramento County renters to affordable housing resources.
Tenants Together — tenantstogether.org — California's statewide renter advocacy organization; provides tenant education, a hotline, and organizing support.
Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance — dha.saccounty.net — Emergency rental assistance and social services for eligible Sacramento County residents, including those in Citrus Heights.
Housing Is Key — housingiskey.com — California's state rental assistance and eviction prevention portal; call 833-430-2122 for live assistance.
Citrus Heights Housing Information — citrusheights.net/housing — City-administered housing programs, fair housing referrals, and community development resources.
7. Resources for Citrus Heights Tenants
Legal Services of Northern California — Free civil legal services for income-qualifying residents of Northern California, including tenant rights advice and AB 1482 assistance.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control and tenant protection laws change frequently, and the application of AB 1482 depends on the specific facts of your tenancy, including your unit's age, ownership structure, and lease terms. If you have a dispute with your landlord or need guidance about your rights, consult a licensed California attorney or contact a legal aid organization in your area.
Check Your Address
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
No. Citrus Heights has never enacted a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. The only rent protections available to Citrus Heights renters come from California's statewide AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019), which applies to qualifying units regardless of city. Because there is no local rent board, tenants must self-enforce AB 1482 rights, typically through written dispute with the landlord or with the help of a legal aid organization.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Citrus Heights?
For units covered by AB 1482, your landlord can raise your rent by a maximum of 5% plus the Sacramento-area Consumer Price Index percentage, with an absolute ceiling of 10% per year. For 2025, that cap works out to approximately 8.8% based on a Sacramento CPI of roughly 3.8%. Single-family homes, condos, and units built after 2010 are generally not subject to this cap, so landlords of exempt units can raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
Does AB 1482 apply to my rental in Citrus Heights?
AB 1482 applies to your unit if it received its certificate of occupancy at least 15 years ago (generally before 2011 as of 2026), is not a single-family home or condo owned by an individual (rather than a corporation or REIT), and is not an owner-occupied duplex. You must also have lived in the unit for at least 12 months for the rent cap and just-cause eviction protections to kick in. Use the RentCheckMe address lookup at rentcheckme.com to check your specific unit.
Can my landlord evict me without cause in Citrus Heights?
If your unit is covered by AB 1482 and you have lived there for at least 12 months, your landlord must provide a legally recognized just-cause reason to terminate your tenancy. Just-cause reasons include at-fault grounds (nonpayment, lease violations, nuisance) and no-fault grounds (owner move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, substantial remodel). For no-fault evictions, the landlord must pay you relocation assistance equal to one month's rent. Tenants in exempt units — such as single-family homes or newer construction — do not have just-cause protections under state law.
Where can I get help with a rent dispute in Citrus Heights?
Start with Legal Services of Northern California (lsnc.net), which provides free legal help to income-qualifying renters throughout the Sacramento region. Tenants Together (tenantstogether.org) offers a statewide hotline and tenant education resources. For emergency rental assistance, contact the Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance at dha.saccounty.net or call Housing Is Key at 833-430-2122. Because Citrus Heights has no local rent board, these external organizations are your primary avenue for dispute resolution.
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