Elk Grove Municipal Code Ch. 22.20 Subdivision Design Standards

The purpose of this chapter is to establish specific design standards and requirements for the subdivision of land in the City, consistent with the goals and policies set forth in the General Plan.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all subdivisions, in addition to other standards of the this code, including EGMC Title 23 (Zoning), the requirements of a specific plan or area plan, and other applicable standard. The design of proposed subdivisions shall be reviewed for consistency with these standards as part of the review and consideration of the tentative map as part of subdivision design review as required by EGMC Section 23.16.080.

When applying these standards, the City shall consider the identifiable effects that any proposed project may have upon other properties in the vicinity, now and in the foreseeable future.

In order to deal with physical features on and off the site, the City may take into consideration unusual topography, environmental preservation, existing and approved streets, historically established traffic patterns, neighboring lot patterns, existing and evolving land use patterns, zoning, and past policy or permit decisions.

All project applications shall include drawings showing the manner in which the requirements and standards in this chapter are complied with. When the applicant decides to apply for an exception, the applicant shall provide documentation and data to support and justify the request for a waiver or modification.

It is recognized that the potential breach of private contracts, such as covenants, codes and restrictions (CC&Rs), is a private judicial matter and cannot constitute a basis of denial for a proposed land division; however, the City does not desire to become a party to such breach by the inference of its actions and may, when reasonable to do so, require a resolution of the private conflict before taking any action, or may pursue such legislative or administrative resolution as may be available.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

To ensure that proposed subdivisions are developed in the best interests of the people of the City of Elk Grove, land subdivided under the provisions of this title shall conform to design standards and improvement standards in this chapter, including the latest version of the City of Elk Grove Improvement Standards, Standard Construction Specifications, and Standard Drawings, as approved and amended periodically by the City Engineer and/or any applicable standards of a specific plan or special planning area, or precise plan. Plans, maps or other drawings for any project which includes the installation of public streets or creation of lots or division of land shall comply with the standards set forth herein.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

A. The City Engineer may authorize conditional exceptions to any of the design and improvement standards in this chapter, unless the standard specifically states that an exception cannot be granted. Such exception may be granted if the City Engineer finds, in writing, that the proposed design or improvement is in substantial compliance with the purpose and intent of the standard to be excepted. The design exception shall be included in any accompanying discretionary approval required by EGMC Title 23.

B. The applicant may separately request that an exception from the standard be granted. If noncompliance with these standards is identified at any stage of review of the proposed project, the application may be considered to include a request for an exception, unless the applicant objects. The City Engineer shall not grant an exception request unless a reasonable justification is made by the applicant to support the action. Noncompliance with these standards without grant of an exception pursuant to this section shall be grounds for denial of a request.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

This section spells out provisions that shall be complied with to create new lots. This section also spells out standards for creating lot patterns that are best suited to the purpose for which the lots are created and, at the same time, create the least potential land use conflicts. In some applications, the standards will conflict with one another or will conflict with the standards for street patterns. When this happens, an exception pursuant to EGMC Section 22.20.040 may be considered, with the most compatible neighborhood development pattern as the ultimate objective. Staff reports, proposed alternatives, and comments will be based on an analysis of the overall impacts of proposed lots as a total concept, as well as any conflict with any single standard.

A. Lot Area and Density. Proposed lots shall comply with the minimum lot area requirements, where applicable, and minimum and maximum allowed residential density for the underlying property as described in the General Plan, EGMC Title 23, and any applicable specific plan or area plan.

B. Lot Orientation.

1. Subdivision design shall provide, to the extent feasible, for future passive or natural heating or cooling opportunities in the subdivision as provided in Section 66473.1 of the Subdivision Map Act as follows:

a. Passive or natural heating opportunities, such as lot size and configuration to permit orientation of a structure in an east-west alignment for southern exposure; and

b. Passive or natural cooling opportunities, such as lot size and configuration to permit orientation of a structure to take advantage of shade or prevailing breezes.

2. New lots shall be arranged to create comparable yard relationships wherever possible. The creation of interior side yards located adjacent to rear yards should be avoided, and in those cases where such arrangements cannot be reasonably avoided, restrictions may be placed on the final map which limit building height or building location.

3. The design of the project, including the location of lot lines, shall be such that, to the degree reasonably possible, existing contours and existing trees will be preserved. To achieve this purpose, grading restrictions or building location restrictions may be placed on the final map. Alternatively, the overall design may be revised such that less grading will be needed, or that existing trees become located in the normal yard areas of proposed lots.

4. Each lot shall maintain a relative consistency with the predominant neighborhood development character. Lots which are found to be significantly out of character, either in area, frontage, shape, or access provisions may be denied if it is found that such character differences may result in detrimental impacts on adjacent properties.

C. Frontage, Width, and Depth.

1. All lots shall have frontage on a public or private street, which is a component of an approved local street pattern.

2. Proposed lots shall comply with the minimum frontage requirements, lot widths, and lot depths, as applicable, described in the General Plan, Zoning Code, and any applicable specific plan or area plan for the property.

3. Double frontage lots shall be avoided.

D. Block Configuration. Blocks shall be designed to allow for adequate building sites for the type of use proposed; to allow for convenient pedestrian and vehicular circulation, access, traffic control and safety; and with regard to limitations created by topography. Block lengths shall conform to any applicable standards in the City’s Improvement Standards or applicable area plan.

E. Lot Lines Relative to Existing Structures.

1. Lot lines shall be located in relation to existing structures so as to maintain required set-backs, yards, and other open space requirements, as set forth in EGMC Title 23, unless a variance, waiver, or modification is obtained, as specified in EGMC Title 23.

2. Lot lines shall be located in relation to existing private septic systems or wells so as to maintain the distance requirements as set forth in the Sacramento County health code. Lots which propose the installation of private septic systems or wells shall be arranged such that there is sufficient area on the proposed lots’ facilities to meet the placement and distance requirements of the Sacramento County health code.

F. Relationship to Watercourses and Wetlands.

1. All lots shall comply with the provisions of EGMC Chapter 16.50 (Flood Damage Prevention); and

2. All lots shall provide for a buildable area which is located at least fifty (50' 0") feet from the centerline of a creek, drainage channel or designated tributary as defined in EGMC Section 22.30.020.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

A. Lot Access.

1. Each local street providing access to lots within a subdivision shall connect directly to or by way of one (1) or more local streets to a collector street or arterial street.

2. Each route of access to collector streets or arterial streets and its point of connection there-with shall be adequate to safely accommodate the composition and volume of vehicular traffic generated by the land uses that it serves as determined by the City Engineer.

3. All subdivisions of forty (40) or more lots shall have at least two (2) points of public access, unless otherwise approved by the City Engineer through an approved design exception from standards pursuant to EGMC Section 22.20.040 and included as part of the required subdivision design review pursuant to EGMC Section 23.16.080.

4. Notwithstanding subsection (A)(3) of this section, all subdivisions shall comply with the requirements of EGMC Chapter 17.04 and the California Fire Code relative to emergency access.

B. Roadway Network Design. The alignment of streets shown on a tentative map shall be consistent with the General Plan (including community plan) and any applicable specific plan or other applicable area, master, or precise plan, and as follows:

1. Streets shall be laid out to conform to the alignment of existing streets in adjoining subdivisions and to the logical continuation of existing streets where the adjoining land is not subdivided.

2. The realignment of streets in contemplation of the development, or use of adjoining property, and the provision of streets or dead-end street extensions to facilitate the subdivision of adjoining property may be required at the City’s discretion.

3. Permanently dead-ended streets (except cul-de-sacs) are prohibited. When a street is temporarily dead-ended, a barricade or temporary turning area (with signage providing notification of the future street connection or extension) or temporary connection to another street may be required at the City’s discretion. Permanent turnarounds may be required at the end of dead-end streets where the timing of the future extension is unknown, at the City’s discretion.

4. Minor residential cul-de-sac streets shall serve a maximum of twenty (20) dwelling units and have a maximum length of six hundred (600' 0") feet. The City Engineer may approve an alternative maximum length standard for lots in the rural area, such that turnarounds for emergency equipment are provided at appropriate locations as determined by the City Engineer. For purposes of this section, the “rural area” shall be defined as the rural area as described and illustrated in the Rural Area Community Plan as contained in the General Plan.

5. Minor residential streets shall serve a maximum of one hundred (100) dwelling units when there are only two (2) public street accesses into the area.

6. The creation of pass-through, shortcut, or sneak street situations shall be limited. In those instances where pass-through traffic is unavoidable and of probable high volume, the specific street shall be designed to primary residential or collector street standards, as applicable.

7. The intersections of minor residential streets with collector streets, or with major arterial streets, shall be designed to align with existing street(s) or previously approved street(s) on the opposite side of the street wherever possible. If such alignment is not feasible, as determined by the City, the street shall be offset in accordance with the City’s Improvement Standards.

8. Private roads, to the extent approved by the City, shall comply with the following:

a. The standards of the Fire Code as provided in EGMC Chapter 17.04;

b. The City’s Improvement Standards, Standard Drawings and Standard Construction Specifications; and

c. Provide private maintenance agreements between the parties using and responsible for the upkeep of the private road prior to approval of additional development on the road.

C. Roadway Design. The design of public roads within subdivisions (e.g., roadway cross sections) shall conform to the City’s Improvement Standards and any applicable community plan, specific plan, or other applicable area, master, or precise plan and to the satisfaction of the City, unless expressly deviated (as provided in EGMC Section 22.20.040) at the time of approval of the tentative map.

D. Sidewalks, Trails, and other Active Transportation Facilities. All new subdivisions shall include sidewalks, trails, and other active transportation facilities as provided in the City’s Improvement Standards; Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Master Plan; and any applicable community plan, specific plan, or area, master, or precise plan. The design and dimensions of these facilities shall conform to the applicable specifications unless an exception is approved pursuant to EGMC Section 22.20.040 (Exceptions).

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

A. Availability of Service. All public utilities, including water, sewer, storm drainage, telecommu-nication, power, and gas, shall be of adequate capacity to meet the demand of the subdivision.

B. Location of Utilities. All public utilities shall be located either in the public right-of-way or in public utility easements of sufficient width as determined by the City Engineer.

C. Utilities to Be Undergrounded. All proposed utilities within or adjacent to the subdivision shall be provided underground. Any existing utility located within or adjacent to the site which is to be relocated because of the subdivision shall also be made underground except transmission lines of sixty-nine kilovolts-ampere (69 kVA) or larger.

D. Water and Sewer Services. Water and sewer service shall be provided as set forth below:

1. Wells and septic tanks shall be constructed in compliance with the standards and codes of Sacramento County.

2. For subdivisions with lots less than two (2) gross acres in size, domestic water shall be provided to all lots from a public water supply source and distribution system conforming to the standards of the Sacramento County or a water purveyor acceptable to the Director.

3. The water purveyor shall not be a homeowners’ association or mutual water company or corporation. Exceptions to this restriction may be granted by the City if it is determined that the proposed subdivision lies within the existing franchise area of a mutual water company or corporation, or if the designated approving authority makes a finding in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

4. For subdivisions with lots less than two (2) gross acres in size, a water meter setter shall be installed at each service connection conforming to the standards of Sacramento County or the water purveyor which will operate the system after completion.

5. Request for exception to the requirements of this section shall be made in writing by the applicant. Such request shall be made when the application is submitted, and any such request shall state the reasons for the request and any claim of economic hardship shall be substantiated. The approving authority may authorize exceptions to any of the requirements of this subsection, unless a requirement specifically states that an exception cannot be granted. Such exception may be granted if the approving authority finds that the requirement imposes an unreasonable economic hardship and that granting the exception will not be detrimental to the health, safety, comfort, or general welfare of persons residing or working in the subdivision. The approving authority may designate such conditions in connection with the granting of an exception as it deems necessary to protect the purposes of this subsection.

E. Centralized Mail Service. Where necessary, easements shall be provided for centralized postal service facilities within subdivisions.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)

A. Grading. Grades of all streets shall be consistent with adequate surface drainage requirements and the approved grading plan for the proposed subdivision.

B. Drainage. All lots shall be graded to provide adequate, positive drainage in accordance with EGMC Chapter 16.44 (Land Grading and Erosion Control) and the City’s Improvement Standards. Drainage across property lines will not be allowed unless the Director determines that there is no practical alternative and appropriate easements are provided to the satisfaction of the Director. Provisions shall be made during construction for proper erosion control, including the prevention of sedimentation or damage to off-site property.

(Ord. 13-2025 § 3 (Exh. D), eff. 7-25-2025)