User Guide

Sacramento County Zoning Code
User Guide

Amended June 22, 2017 & August 14, 2018 & September 18, 2020 & August 10, 2021 & December 14, 2021 & June 29, 2023

Purpose

The Zoning Code User Guide was prepared to help property owners and users understand and navigate the County’s Zoning Code (Code) and common planning and entitlement application procedures most likely to be encountered when developing property in Sacramento County. This Guide compiles the requirements for application contents, forms, fees, and submission and review schedule. It is intended to be administratively updated by the Planning Director, from time to time, to ensure efficient review and approval processes and simplify common planning and development application procedures, to the extent possible.

All new development and uses must comply with the County’s Code and Design Guidelines. Both of these documents implement the goals and policies of the Sacramento County General Plan, and address contemporary planning issues, including removing barriers to infill and mixed-use development, minimize regulatory burdens to development and redevelopment in the County, and increase focus on health and the built environment emphasizing active design and sustainability; while continuing to fulfill the County’s obligation to protect the public health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of Sacramento County. References to chapters, sections and tables are specific to the Code, unless otherwise indicated, and the electronic version of this Guide provides users with links to these Code references.

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The SZC User Guide, as amended June 29, 2023, references many outdated versions of the Zoning Code and Design Guidelines. PER staff will be updating the User Guide in the near future to reflect the Land Use Regulation Library and numerous changes to the Code which have occurred since June 2023.

Download the Zoning Code User Guide. This is an archived PDF document.