Chapter 17.204 — SINGLE-UNIT AND DUPLEX DWELLINGS

Article V — R-2 Zone-Duplex Dwelling Zone

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

17.204.500 R-2 zone-Purpose.

The purpose of the R-2 zone is to provide a low density buffer between the R-1 zone and more intense land uses. This zone is intended to permit duplexes and single-unit attached or detached units. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.204.510 R-2 zone-Permitted uses.

A. Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted by right in the R-2 zone, subject to the limitations specified:

Use Limitations
1. Residential Uses
Dwelling, duplex
Dwelling, single-unit
Model home temporary sales office Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.125
--- ---
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Community market Permitted if the primary use of the property is not a single-unit or
duplex dwelling;
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.124
3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Community garden, private (not exceeding 1.0 acre) Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Market garden (not exceeding 1.0 acre) Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
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 R-2 zone require approval of a conditional use permit, subject to the limitations specified:

limitations specified:
Use Limitations Approval Required by: Planning
and Design Commission (PDC);
Zoning Administrator (ZA); or City
Council (CC)
1. Residential Uses
Dormitory Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.111
ZA
Fraternity house; sorority house Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.111
PDC
Mobilhome park Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.115
PDC
Residential care facility ZA
Temporary residential shelter Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.600 et seq.
ZA
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Amusement center, outdoor PDC
Assembly-cultural, religious, social Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.128
ZA
Bed and breakfast inn Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.104
ZA
Cemetery PDC
Childcare center Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.113
ZA
Golf course; driving range PDC
Kennel ZA
Library; archive PDC
Museum PDC
Non-profit organization, food preparation
for off-site consumption
PDC
Non-profit organization, food storage and
distribution
PDC
--- --- ---
Non-profit organization, meal service
facility
PDC
Nonresidential care facility ZA
School, K-12 PDC
Stand-alone parking facility The zoning administrator may waive the
development standards stated in sections
17.608.040 and 17.612.020
ZA
3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Antenna; telecommunications facility Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.300 et seq.
PDC
Community garden, private (exceeding 1.0
acre)
Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.810 et seq.
ZA
Heliport; helistop Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.114
PDC
High voltage transmission facility Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.500 et seq.
CC
Market garden (exceeding 1.0 acre) Subject to special use regulations in section
17.228.810 et seq.
ZA
Passenger terminal PDC
Well-gas, oil PDC

C. Accessory uses. The following uses are permitted in the R-2 zone when accessory to a permitted or conditional use, subject to the limitations specified:

use, subject to the limitations specified:
Use Limitations
Accessory antenna
Aquaculture Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Childcare center Permitted if accessory to assembly-cultural, religious, social;
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.113
Childcare, in-home (family day care home)
Common area
Dwelling unit, accessory Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105
Dwelling unit, junior accessory Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105
Family care facility
Family day care facility
Home occupation Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.200 et seq.
Personal auto storage Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.101
Private garden Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Urban beekeeping Subject to section 9.44.330

D. Prohibited uses. All uses not listed as permitted, conditional, or accessory uses are prohibited in the R-2 zone. (Ord. 2024-0054 § 11; Ord. 2024-0017 § 17; Ord. 2021-0023 § 13; Ord. 2020-0021 § 14; Ord. 2016-0001 § 6; Ord. 2015-0005 § 14; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.204.520 R-2 zone-Height, density, lot coverage, and floor area ratios.

  • A. Height. The maximum height is 35 feet.

  • B. Density. A maximum of 2 dwelling units is allowed per lot.

  • C. Lot coverage. The maximum lot coverage is 40 percent or 2,500 square feet, whichever is greater; provided, in no event shall lot coverage exceed 50 percent.

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

17.204.530 R-2 zone-Lot sizes, width, and depth.

A. Lot size. The minimum lot size is 5,200 square feet for interior lots and 6,200 square feet for corner lots. The minimum lot area per duplex unit is 2,600 square feet on interior lots and 3,100 square feet on corner lots.

B. Lot width. The minimum lot width is 52 feet, except for a corner lot or a lot containing two duplex units (one duplex dwelling), in which case the minimum lot width is 62 feet.

C. Lot depth. The minimum lot depth is 100 feet. The maximum lot depth is 160 feet. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.204.540 R-2 zone-Setbacks.

A. Front-yard setback. The minimum front-yard setback is determined as follows:

  1. 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 front-yard setback must be equal to either of the two nearest buildings' setbacks or in between the two nearest buildings' setbacks.

  2. 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.

  3. If there is no 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 20 feet.

  • B. Interior side-yard setback.
  1. Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, no minimum interior side-yard setback is required.

  2. The minimum interior side-yard setback is five feet if the interior side-yard lot line abuts a lot in the R-1 or R- 1B zone, or abuts a lot containing a detached single-unit dwelling.

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

  • D. Rear-yard setback.

  1. Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, the minimum rear-yard setback is 15 feet.

  2. If the rear lot line abuts a public alley, the minimum rear-yard setback is five 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. 2017-0061 § 15; Ord. 2015-0031 § 5; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.204.550 R-2 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)

17.204.560 R-2 zone-Site plan and design review.

A. General.

  1. For development projects not located in a historic district and not involving a landmark, no tentative map, parcel map, or permit shall be approved or issued unless 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, no person shall commence construction or otherwise undertake a development project, and no tentative map, parcel map, or permit shall be approved or issued, unless 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. 2017-0061 § 16; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)