Chapter 17.216 — COMMERCIAL, OFFICE, AND MIXED USE

Article I — OB Zone-Office Business Low-Rise Mixed-Use Zone

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

17.216.100 OB zone-Purpose. ¶

The purpose of the OB zone is to provide for a low-rise mixed-use employment zone that is intended to permit business, office, institutional, or professional buildings; the sale of goods and services; and lodging and dwellings. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.216.110 OB zone-Permitted uses. ¶

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

Use	Limitations
1. Residential Uses
Dormitory	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.111
Dwelling, multi-unit	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.117
Low barrier navigation center
Residential care facility
Residential hotel	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.112
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Amusement center, indoor	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Assembly-cultural, religious, social	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use; Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.128
Athletic club; fitness studio	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Bed and breakfast inn
Childcare center	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.113
College extension	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Commercial service	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Community clinic	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.118 .
Community market	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.124
Hotel; motel	Permitted if the project does not involve the demolition or conversion of multi-unit dwellings that exist or are under construction
Laundromat, self-service	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Library; archive

Mortuary; crematory	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Museum
Non-profit organization, food preparation for off-site consumption	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use; Entire business, including storage and display, shall be conducted within a building
Non-profit organization, food storage and distribution	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use; Entire business, including storage and display, shall be conducted within a building
Nonresidential care facility	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Office
Restaurant	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Retail store	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use; This use is limited to 40,000 gross square feet; if use exceeds this limitation, a conditional use permit is required
School-dance, music, art, martial arts	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
School, vocational	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Theater	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use
Tobacco retailing	Permitted in a store that has greater than 15,000 square feet of gross floor area if the total area of shelving allocated to tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia does not exceed 250 square feet.
Wholesale store	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use; this use is limited to 6,400 gross square feet
3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Aquaculture	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Community garden, private (not exceeding 3.0 acres)	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Laboratory, research
Manufacturing, service, and repair	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use; This use is limited to 6,400 gross square feet. Use may include incidental, non-nuisance producing processing, packaging, and fabricating entirely within a building
Market garden (not exceeding 3.0 acres)	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Solar energy system, commercial (city property)	Allowed in this zone and exempt from the provisions of this title

B. Conditional uses. The following uses in the OB 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. Residential Uses
Temporary residential shelter	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.600 et seq.	ZA
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Alcoholic beverage sales, off- premises consumption	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use;
	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108	PDC
Amusement center, outdoor		PDC
Bar; nightclub	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use;
	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108	PDC
Cinema (inside arts and entertainment district)	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use	PDC
College campus		PDC
Hotel; motel	Allowed with a conditional use permit if the project involves the demolition or conversion of multi-unit dwellings that exist or are under construction	PDC
Kennel	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use	ZA
Major medical facility		PDC
Non-profit organization, meal service facility	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use	PDC
Outdoor market	In granting a conditional use permit, the zoning administrator may consider the traffic, safety of vehicular and non-vehicular access, adequacy of bicycle parking, noise, hours of operation, and any applicable development standards related to the proposed outdoor market	ZA
Retail store	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use;
	Permitted with a conditional use permit if use exceeds 40,000 gross square feet; permitted by right if use does not exceed 40,000 gross square feet	PDC
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
Tobacco retailing	Permitted with a conditional use permit in a store that has 15,000 square feet or less of gross floor area or allocates more than 250 square feet of shelving to tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia.	ZA

Transit vehicle-service, repair, storage		PDC
Veterinary clinic; veterinary hospital	Permitted in a building in which at least 50% of the gross floor area is devoted to office or dwelling use	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 3.0 acres)	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 3.0 acres)	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.	ZA
Passenger terminal		PDC
Surface mining operation	Subject to chapter 17.720	PDC
Well-gas, oil		PDC

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

use, subject to the limitations specified:
Use	Limitations
Accessory antenna
Accessory drive-through facility	Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.110
Child care, 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.
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 OB zone. (Ord. 2026-0001 § 8; Ord. 2025-0007 § 5; Ord. 2024-0017 § 27; Ord. 2021-0023 § 23; Ord. 2020-0025 § 7; Ord. 2020-0021 § 24; Ord. 2019-0027 § 7; Ord. 2016-0001 § 16; Ord. 2015-0005 § 24; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 20130007 § 1)

17.216.120 OB zone-Height, density, and floor area ratios.

A. Height. The maximum height is 35 feet.
B. Density. The maximum density is 36 dwelling units per net acre.
C. Floor area ratios. The minimum and maximum floor area ratios are established in the general plan. (Ord. 20130020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.216.130 OB zone-Setbacks. ¶

A. Front-yard setback. There is no minimum or maximum front-yard setback.
B. Street side-yard setback. There is no minimum or maximum street side-yard setback.
C. Interior side-yard setback.

Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, the minimum interior side-yard setback is five feet.
If the interior side-yard lot line abuts a public alley, no minimum interior side-yard setback is required.

D. Rear-yard setback.

Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, the minimum rear-yard setback is 15 feet.
If the rear-yard 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 § 29; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.216.140 OB 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)

17.216.150 OB zone-Site plan and design review. ¶

A. General.

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.
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.

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.
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 § 30; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

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