Chapter 8 — COMBINING ZONES
Sacramento County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Sacramento County
(PD) PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (COMBINING ZONE)
408-01. PURPOSE.
To encourage a creative and more efficient approach to the use of the land; to maximize choice in the type of environment available to the people in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County; to encourage more efficient allocation and maintenance of privately controlled common open space through the redistribution of overall density where such rearrangement is desirable and feasible.
408-02. INTENT OF THE (PD) COMBINING ZONE.
To carry out the purpose as set forth above by providing the means of greater creativity and flexibility in design than is provided under the strict application of the zoning and subdivision ordinances while at the same time preserving the public interest, health, safety, welfare and property values. Various land uses may be combined in a Planned Development zone including combinations of residential, commercial, industrial, utility, institutional, educational, cultural, recreational, and other uses provided the combination of uses results in the balanced and stable environment. A (PD) zone may be combined with any other zoning classification except permanent agricultural or agricultural holding zones.
408-03. CRITERIA.
a. SIZE: A planned development, or unit thereof, shall be of sufficient size, composition and arrangement that its composition, marketing, and operation is feasible as a complete unit independent of any subsequent unit.
b. PERMITTED USES. All uses which are authorized in the basic zone(s) with which the (PD) zone is combined including uses which are authorized only with a Conditional Use Permit, provided the uses are approved and made part of the Development Plan as provided in this section. In
residential developments the applicant must show that accessory commercial uses are intended to serve principally the residents of the development.
c. LAND USE INTENSITY. The planned development shall be at a land use intensity which conforms to the General Plan of Sacramento County and complements existing permitted uses in the neighborhood. If the planned development proposed indicates a greater intensity of land use than is permitted by existing zoning regulations, the applicant shall show that the design of the project merits such a change in zoning and will not:
Create traffic congestion in the streets which adjoin or are near the planned development;
Create a burden on parks, schools, and other public facilities and utilities which serve or are proposed to serve the planned development;
Have an undue and adverse impact on the reasonable enjoyment of neighboring property.
An increase in land use intensity shall be compensate for by additional amenities to be achieved by the amount, location and proposed use of open space and the location, design and type of development.
d. DESIGN STANDARDS. The Board of Supervisors after a recommendation by the Planning Commission may permit deviations from the standards in the basic zones with which the (PD) zone is combined provided the developer demonstrates by his design proposal, that the objectives of the General Plan, the Subdivision Ordinance and this Ordinance will be achieved.
e. COMMON OPEN SPACE. The Planning Commission may adopt regulations to govern the amount, use and locate of open space. After development, the common open space may be conveyed to a public agency or private association. The Planning Commissions, prior to any conveyance of common open space, shall approve all agreements and instruments relating to use, maintenance and ownership thereof. The Planning Commission may also require the dedication of development rights or scenic easements to assure that common open space will be maintained. The Planning Commission may further require that instruments of conveyance or covenants or deed restrictions of associations provide that in the event the common open space is not maintained in a condition consistent with the approved development plan, the County may, at its option, cause such maintenance to be performed and assess the costs to the affected property owners or responsible association. If the common open space is dedication, conveyed or designed for use by the general public and so used, any assessment of maintenance costs shall be made by benefit areas which are not necessarily restricted to the subject (PD) zone.
408-04. PRELIMINARY PLAN.
a. PURPOSE. The purpose of the preliminary plan is to require the developer to demonstrate the feasibility and general design concept of a proposed development to the Planning Director or Planning Commission.
b. PROCEDURE. The initial step to be taken by the developer is to submit a preliminary plan to the Planning Director. The plan shall include:
Maps or drawings which may be schematic in form;
Proposed land uses; the approximate number of dwelling units; acres and population density for each area of land; existing uses of surrounding property;
Proposed circulation system, including both public and private streets;
Public uses including schools, parks, recreation areas, and other open spaces;
The use and general description of each different type of structure;
Nature of the applicant's interest in the land proposed to be developed;
Written explanation of the nature of the proposed development and the deviations from regulations otherwise applicable to the property;
Proposed sequence and schedule of development.
c. THE PLANNING DIRECTOR AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. Within 30 days after submission the Planning Director shall review said preliminary development plan and meet with the applicant for the purpose of presenting its comments. The Planning Director shall either grant approval in principle of the plan as submitted, grant approval in principle subject to specified modifications which shall be included in any application for a (PD) District, or deny approval of the plan stating reasons for denial. The Planning Director or the applicant may request that the Planning Commission review the preliminary plan and approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the plan as submitted.
408-05. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND REQUEST FOR (PD) ZONE.
Within one (1) year after approval of the preliminary plan an application may be filed with the Secretary of the Planning Commission for a (PD) zone. The petitioner shall include with the application for zone change his proposed development plan for all or a portion of the property included within the preliminary plan, which shall include all information required for the preliminary plan and the following:
a. Maps showing existing topography, tree cover, buildings, streets, and other existing physical features;
b. Detailed breakdown of the proposed land use showing: lot lines, location of buildings, parking areas, common grounds, recreation improvements and structures, and open spaces around buildings and structures;
c. Elevation drawings of typical proposed structures and improvements for each proposed use except detached single family dwellings;
d. At least one (1) perspective drawing or model which will demonstrate the architectural character of the project;
e. Proposed agreements, deed restrictions, bylaws and Articles of Incorporation which relate to the preservation or maintenance of open space and associations created to preserve and maintain said open space;
f. A schedule and sequence of development for all of the property included in the preliminary development plan even though the applicant elects to include only a portion of the property in the proposed tentative development plan.
408-06. ACTION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE PROPSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND REQUEST FOR (PD) ZONE.
a. The Planning Commission shall hold a public hearing on the proposed plan and request for change in zoning. The Commission may recommend approval, disapproval, or conditional approval of the proposed plan and request for (PD) Zoning.
b. The Planning Commission shall not recommend approval of the proposed plan nor recommend (PD) Zoning unless there is evidence that:
The proposed development will carry out the intent of the General Plan;
The proposed development is of sufficient size and is designed so as to provide a desirable environment within its own boundaries;
The proposed development is compatible with existing and proposed land uses in the surrounding area;
Any exceptions to the standard requirements of the Basic Zoning Ordinance are justified by the design of the development. In the case of residential areas the rearrangement of dwellings and the mixing of dwelling types shall be justified by larger and more useable open spaces;
There is adequate assurance that all public improvements will be installed at the scheduled times as required by the County Engineering Division;
There is adequate assurance that the development schedule will be met;
The existing or proposed utility services are adequate for the uses and population densities proposed.
- c. The County Counsel shall prepare a draft of the proposed Ordinance prior to the hearing before the Board of Supervisors.
408-07. ACTION BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
a. The Board of Supervisors shall hold a public hearing on the proposed plan and Planning Commission's recommendations for (PD) Zoning in the same manner as other applications for zone changes. The Board may approve, disapprove or approve with modification the proposed development plan and request for (PD) Zoning. The Board shall not approve the proposed plan or request for a (PD) zone unless the evidence supporting the Planning Commission's recommendations is presented to the Board.
b. Approval of the proposed development plan shall be by amendment to the Basic Zoning Ordinance. The amendment shall include all of the information which comprises the approved development plan. The Comprehensive Zoning Plan shall indicate the property is in a (PD) zone by the Symbol (PD) in combination with other zone symbols. The Board may delegate to the Planning Commission or the Zoning Administrator the authority to approve insubstantial revisions to an approved plan. All other revisions shall be made pursuant to the procedure for an amendment to the Basic Zoning Ordinance.
c. The Board shall also designate and include as part of the ordinance what additional information is required before construction is authorized. Typical information required includes, but is not limited to:
Preliminary building plans, including floor plans and exterior elevations required to obtain a building permit;
Landscaping plans;
Engineering plans and reports as required by law or regulations;
Bonds, deposits of money or securities required as part of the tentative development plan.
408-08. ACTION BY PLANNING DIRECTOR ON FINAL PLAN.
The Planning Director shall have thirty (30) days to review the drawings, landscaping plans and other information specified in the Ordinance and shall approve same if the information substantially conforms to the approved development plan.
408-09. BUILDING PERMITS.
No building permit shall be issued for the development or any part thereof until the Planning staff has completed the review as provided above.
408-10. SUBDIVISION MAPS, COVENANTS.
Any part of the approved development plan for which a subdivision map is required and any covenants or restriction required as part of the approved development plan shall be recorded by the County Recorder.
408-11. ANNUAL REVIEW.
If construction of the project has not commenced within one (1) year after the adoption of the (PD) zone or as otherwise provided in the approved development plan, the Planning Commission shall review the project to determine if an amendment to the Ordinance should be initiated to rezone the property to another zoning classification.
(PDC) PLANNED DEVELOPMENT COMBINING ZONE COUNTY INITIATED
408-20. PURPOSE.
This Article establishes the procedure whereby the Board or the Commission may initiate proceedings to regulate certain property through the process of a County initiated Planned Development Combining zone. The Board recognizes that there are areas throughout the County that have unique environmental, economic, historic, or architectural features and that too little attention has been given through the application of standard zone regulations to these special characteristics. It is the purpose of this Article to provide the method for the County to guide the regulation of such areas so as to preserve such unique characteristics.
408-21. DESIGNATION.
The abbreviation (PDC) appearing after a zone abbreviation on the comprehensive zone plans indicates that the property so classified is subject to the provisions of this Article and any Ordinance adopted pursuant to this Article.
408-22. INITIATION OF ZONE.
The Board or Commission may initiate proceedings to place parcels within the (PDC) zone. The procedure for zoning property to the (PDC) zone shall be the same as for changing the zone as provided in section 6.2., ‘Zoning Amendments’, of this Code.
408-23. CONTENT OF COUNTY INITIATED PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE.
a. The following provisions are mandatory and shall be included in each County initiated planned development Ordinance:
A list of permitted uses.
Performance and development requirements relating to yards, lot area, intensity of development on each lot, parking, landscaping, and signs.
Other design standards appropriate for the specific planned development.
Legal description of property covered by the Ordinance.
Reasons for establishment of a (PDC) zone on the particular property.
b. The following provisions are permissive and are not intended to be an exclusive list of the provisions that could be part of a planned development Ordinance.
Procedures for review of proposed development. The procedures could include:
a. Types of projects that require review.
b. Documents required from developers.
c. Hearing procedures, if any.
Regulations relating to nonconforming lots, uses, structures and signs.
Time phasing and sequence of development projects.
408-24. APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT TO THE (PDC) ZONE.
The procedures for filing and amendment to the (PDC) zone adopted pursuant to this Article shall be the same as for any amendment to the Zoning Code.