Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento) Criminal Background Policy: Section 8 & Public Housing

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

• Any household member ever convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing: permanent denial.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, A. Grounds for Denial of Assistance, HUD Standards for Denial, PDF p. 140)

• Any household member subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program: permanent denial.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, A. Grounds for Denial of Assistance, HUD Standards for Denial, PDF p. 140; Ch. 2, A. Factors Affecting Admission, HUD Factors, PDF p. 14)

• Eviction from federally assisted housing for drug-related criminal activity: ineligible for 3 years from the date of eviction. The exception is if the person completed a PHA-approved supervised drug rehabilitation program, or the culpable person is no longer in the household.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, B. Evictions for Drug-Related Criminal Activity, PDF p. 143)

• Illegal drug use. Chapter 2 says SHRA will deny when it has reasonable cause to believe a family member is illegally using a controlled substance (mitigating circumstances considered). Chapter 15 says SHRA may deny for current illegal drug use (including marijuana).

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 2, A. PHA Factors for Denial or Termination of Assistance, PDF p. 15; Ch. 15, A. HUD Standards for Denial, PDF p. 140)

• Alcohol abuse that may interfere with other residents' health, safety or peaceful enjoyment (discretionary). More than one conviction in the previous 18 months counts as a pattern.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 2, A. PHA Factors for Denial or Termination of Assistance, PDF p. 15)

Arrests

An arrest for a disqualifying offense is not enough proof that the applicant engaged in disqualifying criminal activity. An arrest can trigger an investigation: SHRA may get the police report and consider witness statements, whether charges were filed, and whether charges were dropped, dismissed, not prosecuted or ended in acquittal. The Administrative Plan does not state an evidence standard (such as preponderance) for admission decisions.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 2, A. Criminal Screening Criteria, PDF p. 16)

Sealed, expunged and juvenile records

The plan does not mention sealed, expunged or dismissed convictions. Criminal background screening covers household members 18 or older and emancipated minors, subject to California Welfare & Institutions Code §§ 827 and 828.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, B. Screening of Applicants, PDF p. 142)

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

SHRA may weigh how serious the activity is and how likely good conduct is in the future, which evidence of rehabilitation can support. It considers all relevant circumstances: seriousness, each family member's level of participation or fault, and the effect on members who were not involved. It may require the person whose conduct caused the problem to live elsewhere so the rest of the family can be assisted. SHRA's website says an individualized review of mitigating circumstances happens before a decision is made.

Sources: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, B. Standard for Violation, PDF p. 142; Ch. 15, Public Housing Authority Discretion to Deny Admission or Terminate Assistance, PDF p. 140; Ch. 2, A. PHA Factors for Denial or Termination of Assistance, PDF p. 15); SHRA Housing Choice Voucher Program page (HCV FAQ: What if I have a criminal conviction on my record?)

If SHRA plans to deny you because of a record

The denial notice states the reasons, the right to an informal review before assistance is denied, and the deadline for the request. Before acting on a criminal conviction record, SHRA gives the person and the applicant a copy of the record on written request with picture ID; records are not mailed. The applicant can dispute the record's accuracy and relevance. The informal review request must be in writing and received within 15 calendar days of the denial letter; late requests may be accepted for good cause. The review is normally scheduled within 60 days. The reviewer cannot be the person who made or approved the decision, or a subordinate. Both sides may present evidence and witnesses, and the family may bring an attorney or representative at its own expense. The written decision comes within 15 days after the review.

Deadline to ask for a review: 15 calendar days from the date of SHRA's denial letter (written request must be received by then; late requests may be considered for good cause)

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, A. Notice of Denial, PDF p. 141; Ch. 18, B. Informal Review Procedures for Applicants, Procedure for Informal Review, PDF p. 160; Ch. 18, B. Procedure for Informal Review, PDF p. 160)

Also in the plan

Who runs it: SHRA operates the voucher program for the City and County of Sacramento, including all incorporated cities, acting as the Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento. Only the County housing authority manages the HCV program.

Sources: SHRA Housing Choice Voucher Program page (HCV Program page, introduction); Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 21, Project-Based Voucher Program, introduction, PDF p. 193)

Also in the plan

SHRA screens using fingerprinting or other methods. Where fingerprinting is not available, applicants must list all convictions from the last 3 years. The website FAQ says background checks cover household members over 18, and that convictions for drug, fraud or violent activity in the past three years lead to further review.

Sources: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 2, A. Criminal Screening Criteria, PDF p. 15); SHRA Housing Choice Voucher Program page (HCV FAQ: What if I have a criminal conviction on my record?)

Also in the plan

Port-ins: voucher holders moving to Sacramento County from another housing authority get a new criminal background check. If it shows drug or violent criminal activity in the last three years, the move-in may be denied. Per SHRA's website, the file goes to an Admission Review Team, which decides.

Sources: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 13, Incoming Portability and Criminal Background Checks, PDF p. 134); SHRA Housing Choice Voucher Program page (HCV page, Porting in to Sacramento County)

Also in the plan

Adding a household member: SHRA may deny adding a person who is on formal probation or parole, case by case, if that person has a qualifying conviction (drug-related, violent or other threatening criminal activity) within the last three years.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 15, B. Denial of Additions to the Household for Criminal Activity, PDF p. 142)

Also in the plan

Emergency Housing Vouchers: HUD waived the usual denial rules. EHV applicants are denied only for the two mandatory prohibitions: methamphetamine production in federally assisted housing and lifetime sex-offender registration.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento HCV Administrative Plan (cover: '2026 Draft') (Ch. 2, A. Emergency Housing Voucher Restrictions, PDF p. 16; Ch. 2, A. Emergency Housing Voucher Restrictions, PDF p. 17)

Mandatory denials listed in the plan

• Any household member subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, A. (eligibility criteria), PDF p. 16)

• Anyone convicted of manufacturing or producing methamphetamine on the premises of federally assisted housing: permanent denial.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, A. (eligibility criteria), PDF p. 16)

• Eviction from public housing for drug-related criminal activity: denied for 3 years from the eviction date. SHRA may admit if the person completed an approved supervised drug rehabilitation program, the circumstances no longer exist, or there are other mitigating circumstances.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, G. Standard for Violation, PDF p. 38)

• Reasonable cause to believe the person is illegally using a controlled substance or engages in drug-related or other criminal activity.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, G. Standard for Violation, PDF p. 38)

• Alcohol abuse that may interfere with others' health, safety or peaceful enjoyment. More than one incident in the previous 18 months counts as a pattern.

  Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, G. Standard for Violation, PDF p. 38)

Arrests

An arrest alone is not a sufficient basis for denial. However, evidence behind the arrest, such as police reports or witness statements, can be enough to deny. SHRA must have 'credible evidence' of the violation (e.g., police or court records, proof of conviction). It also checks for pending criminal charges, and admission can be delayed until any current warrant is cleared.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, G. Evidence, PDF p. 39; Ch. 2, G. Security and Criminal Background Check, PDF p. 37; Ch. 2, A. Criminal Screening Criteria, PDF p. 19)

Evidence of rehabilitation and other mitigating factors

Every conviction in the screening categories goes through an individualized review that considers mitigating circumstances before a proposed denial. Examples of mitigating evidence: successful rehabilitation, completing social services or counseling, and sustained change in the behavior that caused the problem. SHRA considers the time, nature and extent of the conduct and signs of likely good conduct in the future. Claimed mitigating circumstances must be verifiable. For drug or alcohol issues, SHRA may consider completion of a supervised rehabilitation program plus at least 12 months 'clean and sober'. The ACOP says that without substantial evidence of mitigating circumstances (including serving jail time and rehabilitation), SHRA may not admit people engaging in criminal activity. Mitigation does not guarantee admission.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, A. Criminal Screening Criteria, PDF p. 18; Ch. 2, F. Screening Applicants Who Claim Mitigating Circumstances, PDF p. 33; Ch. 2, F. Consideration of Rehabilitation, PDF p. 34; Ch. 2, G. Security and Criminal Background Check, PDF p. 38)

If SHRA plans to deny you because of a record

Before acting on a criminal conviction record, SHRA gives the person and the applicant a copy of the record on written request with picture ID (records are not mailed), and the applicant can dispute it. Chapter 2 says the applicant must request an informal review within 10 days of receiving the denial notice. Chapter 13 says the written request must be received within 15 days of the denial notice, by close of business on the 15th day, with good-cause exceptions. The review is held within 60 days, by someone other than the person who made or approved the decision. The family must give at least 5 business days' notice if an attorney will attend. The written decision comes within 15 days. Difficult or complex cases may go to the Eligibility Supervisor.

Deadline to ask for a review: Conflicting in the ACOP: Ch. 2 says 'no later than ten (10) days following receipt of the notification of denial'; Ch. 13 says the request must be received 'no later than fifteen (15) days' from the date of the denial notice. Applicants should use the earlier 10-day deadline to be safe.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, G. Disclosure of Criminal Records to Family, PDF p. 40; Ch. 2, G. Supervisory Review and Hearings, PDF p. 40; Ch. 13, B. Informal Review Procedures for Applicants, Procedure for Review for Applicants, PDF p. 177; Ch. 13, B. Procedure for Review for Applicants, PDF p. 177)

Also in the plan

Applicants are told at intake that criminal behavior will jeopardize admission. Criminal activity while on the waiting list can lead to rejection. Applicants are asked to list all convictions from the past three years. SHRA uses a third-party service and, citing California Penal Code § 11105.03, reviews felony controlled-substance offenses within the last three years.

Source: Housing Authority of the County of Sacramento 2026 Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) (Ch. 2, G. Security and Criminal Background Check, PDF p. 37; Ch. 2, A. Criminal Screening Criteria, PDF p. 18; Ch. 2, G. Screening for Drug Abuse and Other Criminal Activity, PDF p. 37)