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Chapter 17.200 — AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE

Article I — A Zone-Agricultural Zone

Sacramento Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-06 · Sacramento

17.200.100 A zone-Purpose.

The purpose of the A zone is to restrict the use of land primarily to agriculture and farming. It is also considered an open space zone. Property in this zone will be considered for reclassification when proposed for urban development that is consistent with the general plan. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.200.110 A zone-Permitted uses.

A. Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted by right in the A zone, subject to the limitations specified:

A. Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted by right in the A zone, subject to the limitations specified:
Use Limitations
1. Residential Uses
Dwelling, single unit
Farm worker housing Appropriate density determined during project review
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Temporary commercial building Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.126
3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Agriculture, general use
Community garden
Produce stand (not exceeding 120 square feet)
Solar energy system, commercial (city property) Allowed in this zone and is exempt from the provisions of
this title

B. Conditional uses. The following uses in the A zone require approval of a conditional use permit, subject to the limitations specified:

Use Limitations Approval Required by:
Planning and Design
Commission (PDC); Zoning
Administrator (ZA); or City
Council (CC)
1. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Amusement center, outdoor PDC
Assembly-cultural, religious, social Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.128
ZA
Cemetery PDC
Golf course; driving range PDC
Kennel ZA
School, K-12 PDC
Transit vehicle-service, repair, storage PDC
Veterinary clinic; veterinary hospital ZA
2. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Animal slaughter PDC
Antenna; telecommunications facility Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.300 et seq.
PDC
Cannabis cultivation Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.900
ZA/PDC
High voltage transmission facility Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.500 et seq.
CC
Produce stand (exceeding 120 square feet) ZA
Recycling facility Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.400 et seq.
ZA/PDC
Riding stable PDC
Solar energy system, commercial (non-city
property)
Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.123
ZA
Surface mining operation PDC
Well-gas, oil PDC

C. Accessory uses. The following uses are permitted in the A zone when accessory to a permitted or conditional use, subject to the limitations specified:

use, subject to the limitations specified:
Use Limitations
Accessory antenna
Childcare, in-home (family day care home)
Dwelling unit, junior accessory Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105
Dwelling unit, accessory Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105
Family day care facility
Home occupation Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.200 et seq.
Watchperson's quarters The structure shall be limited to 1,000 square feet

D. Prohibited uses. All uses not listed as permitted, conditional, or accessory uses are prohibited in the A zone. (Ord. 2024-0017 § 11; Ord. 2021-0023 § 7; Ord. 2020-0021 § 8; Ord. 2017-0056 § 4; Ord. 2016-0050 § 4; Ord. 20160006 § 3; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.200.120 A zone-Height, density, lot coverage, and floor area ratios.

  • A. Height. The maximum height is 50 feet.

  • B. Density. The maximum density is 1 dwelling unit per lot.

  • C. Lot coverage. No requirement.

D. Floor area ratios. The minimum and maximum floor area ratios are established in the general plan. (Ord. 20130020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.200.130 A zone-Lot sizes, width, and depth.

  • A. Lot size. The minimum lot size is five acres.

  • B. Lot width. No requirement.

  • C. Lot depth. No requirement. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.200.140 A zone-Setbacks.

  • A. Front-yard setback.
  1. The minimum front-yard setback is determined as follows by taking into consideration all of the following:
  • a. If there are at least two other buildings with front-yard setbacks on the same side of the street on the same block as the lot for which the setback is being determined, the minimum front-yard setback is the average of the two front-yard setbacks of the nearest two buildings or 25 feet, whichever is less.

b. If there is only one other building with a front-yard setback on the same side of the street on the same block as the lot for which the setback is being determined, the minimum front-yard setback is the front-yard setback of that building or 25 feet, whichever is less.

c. If there is no other building with a front-yard setback on the same side of the street on the same block, the minimum front-yard setback is 20 feet.

  1. If a parcel fronts a right-of-way that has a planter strip between the street pavement and the sidewalk, the width of the planter strip is counted in the front-yard setback.
  • B. Interior side-yard setback. The minimum interior side-yard setback is 10 feet.

  • C. Street side-yard. The minimum street side-yard setback is 12.5 feet.

  • D. Rear-yard setback. The minimum rear-yard setback is 15 feet.

E. Levee setback. A minimum 20-foot setback from the landside toe of any flood control levee is required for development less than five acres in size. A minimum 50-foot setback is required from the landside toe of any flood control levee for development five acres or greater in size. No primary or accessory structures may encroach into the levee setback. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.200.150 A zone-Generally applicable development standards.

  • A. For architectural design guidelines and exceptions to the height and area standards, see chapter 17.600.

  • B. For parking requirements, see chapter 17.608.

  • C. For landscaping and paving requirements, see chapter 17.612.

  • D. For recycling and solid waste disposal regulations, see chapter 17.616.

  • E. For wall, fence, and gate regulations, see chapter 17.620.

  • F. For residential accessory structure and use regulations, see chapter 17.624.

  • G. For sign standards and regulations, see chapter 15.148.

  • H. For historic preservation program generally, see chapter 17.604. For preservation design review of development projects, see section 17.808.100 et seq. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.200.160 A zone-Site plan and design review.

A. General.

  1. For development projects not located in a historic district or involving a landmark, a final subdivision map shall not be approved and a permit shall not be issued unless and until an application for site plan and design review of the proposed project is approved in accordance with chapter 17.808 or the project is exempt under section 17.808.160.

  2. As used in this subsection A, "permit" means a building permit, a demolition permit, a sign permit, a grading permit, a paving permit, an encroachment permit, and a certificate of occupancy.

  • B. Historic districts and landmarks.
  1. For development projects located in a historic district or involving a landmark, a person shall not commence construction or otherwise undertake, and a final subdivision map shall not be approved and a permit shall not be issued unless and until an application for site plan and design review of the proposed project is approved in accordance with chapter 17.808 or the project is exempt under section 17.808.160.

  2. As used in this subsection B, "permit" means a building permit, a demolition permit, a sewer or water connection or disconnection, a sign permit, a grading permit, a paving permit, an encroachment permit, and a certificate of occupancy. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

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Contents — Sacramento Zoning Code
Sacramento Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 17.100 — TITLE, PURPOSE, AND AUTHORITY
  2. Chapter 17.104 — HOW TO USE THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CODE
  3. Chapter 17.108 — DEFINITIONS
  4. Chapter 17.112 — ENFORCEMENT
  5. Chapter 17.200 — AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE
  6. Chapter 17.204 — SINGLE-UNIT AND DUPLEX DWELLINGS
  7. Chapter 17.208 — MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS
  8. Chapter 17.212 — RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE
  9. Chapter 17.216 — COMMERCIAL, OFFICE, AND MIXED USE
  10. Chapter 17.220 — INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING
  11. Chapter 17.224 — MISCELLANEOUS
  12. Chapter 17.228 — SPECIAL USE REGULATIONS
  13. Chapter 17.232 — NONCONFORMING USES
  14. Chapter 17.300 — OVERLAY ZONES GENERALLY
  15. Chapter 17.312 — EXECUTIVE AIRPORT OVERLAY ZONE (EA-1 THROUGH …
  16. Chapter 17.332 — PARKWAY CORRIDOR (PC) OVERLAY ZONE
  17. Chapter 17.336 — SOLID WASTE RESTRICTED (SWR) OVERLAY ZONE
  18. Chapter 17.340 — TO ZONE-TRANSIT OVERLAY
  19. Chapter 17.400 — SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICTS GENERALLY
  20. Chapter 17.404 — BROADWAY-STOCKTON SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  21. Chapter 17.408 — FOLSOM BOULEVARD WEST SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  22. Chapter 17.409 — FOLSOM BOULEVARD EAST SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  23. Chapter 17.412 — MCCLELLAN HEIGHTS AND PARKER HOMES SPECIAL PL…
  24. Chapter 17.416 — NORTHGATE SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  25. Chapter 17.420 — ALHAMBRA CORRIDOR SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  26. Chapter 17.424 — DEL PASO BOULEVARD/ARDEN WAY SPECIAL PLANNING…
  27. Chapter 17.428 — DEL PASO NUEVO SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  28. Chapter 17.432 — SACRAMENTO ARMY DEPOT SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  29. Chapter 17.436 — RIVER DISTRICT SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  30. Chapter 17.440 — RAILYARDS SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  31. Chapter 17.442 — ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS CENTER SPECIAL PLANN…
  32. Chapter 17.444 — CENTRAL CITY SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  33. Chapter 17.448 — FREEPORT SPECIAL PLANNING DISTRICT
  34. Chapter 17.452 — PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
  35. Chapter 17.500 — DESIGN STANDARDS FOR SUBDIVISIONS
  36. Chapter 17.504 — IMPROVEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBDIVISIONS
  37. Chapter 17.512 — PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES
  38. Chapter 17.516 — BRIDGES AND MAJOR THOROUGHFARES
  39. Chapter 17.604 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
  40. Chapter 17.608 — PARKING REGULATIONS
  41. Chapter 17.612 — LANDSCAPING AND PAVING REGULATIONS
  42. Chapter 17.616 — RECYCLING AND SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL REGULATIONS
  43. Chapter 17.620 — WALL, FENCE AND GATE REGULATIONS
  44. Chapter 17.624 — RESIDENTIAL ACCESSORY STRUCTURE AND USE REGUL…
  45. Chapter 17.700 — TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
  46. Chapter 17.704 — DENSITY BONUSES
  47. Chapter 17.706 — GREEN BUILDING BONUSES FOR NONRESIDENTIAL BUI…
  48. Chapter 17.712 — MIXED INCOME HOUSING
  49. Chapter 17.716 — RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM CONVERSION AND NEW CO…
  50. Chapter 17.718 — COMMERCIAL CONDOMINIUM PROGRAM
  51. Chapter 17.720 — SURFACE MINING AND RECLAMATION
  52. Chapter 17.722 — URBAN AGRICULTURE INCENTIVE ZONE
  53. Chapter 17.800 — APPLICATIONS AND FEES
  54. Chapter 17.804 — REQUESTS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION UNDER T…
  55. Chapter 17.808 — PERMITS AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGE REQUESTS
  56. Chapter 17.810 — FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT FINDINGS
  57. Chapter 17.812 — REVIEW PROCEDURES
  58. Chapter 17.816 — MAPS GENERALLY
  59. Chapter 17.820 — LOT LINE ADJUSTMENTS
  60. Chapter 17.824 — MERGER OF PARCELS
  61. Chapter 17.828 — TENTATIVE MAPS
  62. Chapter 17.832 — FINAL AND PARCEL MAPS
  63. Chapter 17.836 — MASTER PARCEL MAPS
  64. Chapter 17.840 — VESTING TENTATIVE MAPS
  65. Chapter 17.842 — TENTATIVE MAP DESIGN DEVIATION
  66. Chapter 17.844 — POST-TENTATIVE MAP DESIGN DEVIATION
  67. Chapter 17.848 — SURVEYS AND MONUMENTS
  68. Chapter 17.852 — IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND PERMITS
  69. Chapter 17.856 — REVERSION TO ACREAGE
  70. Chapter 17.860 — MINISTERIAL APPROVAL FOR INFILL HOUSING PROJE…
  71. Chapter 17.864 — MINISTERIAL APPROVAL OF TWO DWELLING UNITS ON…
  72. Chapter 17.868 — Ministerial Approval of Development Projects …
  73. Chapter 17.876 — LOW BARRIER NAVIGATION CENTERS
  74. Chapter 17.880 — SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
  75. Chapter 17.900 — GENERAL PLAN ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT
  76. Chapter 17.904 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  77. Chapter 17.908 — TRANSIT VILLAGE PLANS
  78. Chapter 17.912 — GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY REVIEWS
  79. Chapter 17.916 — PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENTS

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