Chapter 17.216 — COMMERCIAL, OFFICE, AND MIXED USE
Article IX — C-4 Zone-Heavy Commercial Zone
Sacramento Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Sacramento
17.216.900 C-4 zone-Purpose. ¶
The purpose of the C-4 zone is to provide for warehousing, distribution activities, and commercial uses that have minimal undesirable impact upon nearby residential areas. Minimal light manufacturing and processing are permitted. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)
17.216.910 C-4 zone-Permitted uses. ¶
A. Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted by right in the C-4 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 | Permitted in the central city, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.117 |
| Low barrier navigation center | Permitted in the central city |
| Residential care facility | |
| Residential hotel | Permitted in the central city, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.112 |
| Temporary residential shelter (100 or fewer individuals) |
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.600 et seq. |
| 2. Commercial and Institutional Uses | |
| Adult entertainment business | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.102 |
| --- | --- |
| Amusement center, indoor | |
| Assembly-cultural, religious, social | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.128 |
| Athletic club; fitness studio | |
| Auto-sales, storage, rental | Permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform |
| Auto-service, repair | Permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform |
| Bed and breakfast inn | |
| Childcare center | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.113 |
| Cinema (inside the arts and entertainment district) |
|
| College extension | |
| Commercial service | This use is limited to 40,000 gross square feet; if use exceeds this limitation, a conditional use permit is required; Area calculation does not include areas that are not publicly accessible |
| Community clinic | Permitted if use is limited to 10,000 gross square feet per parcel, or up to 25% of gross floor area of a building(s) per parcel, whichever is greater; Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.118 . |
| Community market | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.124 |
| Equipment-rental, sales yard | Permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform; |
| Repair work is permitted if confined to a building | |
| Gas station | Gas stations capable of simultaneously fueling not more than 10 vehicles are permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform; |
| Repair work is permitted if confined to a building | |
| 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 | |
| Library; archive | |
| Mini storage; locker building | Permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform; Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.106 |
| Mobilehome-sales, storage | Repair work is permitted if confined to a building |
| Mortuary; crematory | |
| Museum | |
| Non-profit organization, food preparation for off-site consumption |
Entire business, including storage and display, shall be conducted within a building |
| Non-profit organization, food storage and distribution |
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 |
| Nonresidential care facility | |
| Office | Permitted if use is limited to 10,000 gross square feet per parcel, or up to 25% of gross floor area of a building(s) per parcel, whichever is greater; |
| --- | --- |
| Permitted with a conditional use permit if use exceeds 10,000 gross square feet per parcel, or over 25% of gross floor area of a building(s) per parcel, whichever is greater |
|
| Plant nursery | Permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform |
| Restaurant | |
| Retail store | This use is limited to 40,000 gross square feet; if use exceeds this limitation, a conditional use permit is required; |
| Area calculation does not include areas that are not publicly accessible | |
| School-dance, music, art, martial arts | |
| School, vocational | |
| Theater | |
| 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. |
| Towing service; vehicle storage yard | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.107 |
| Veterinary clinic; veterinary hospital | Entire business to be conducted within a building, and no outdoor boarding of animals is allowed; a conditional use permit is required if animals are boarded outside, or entire business is not conducted within a building |
| Wholesale store | 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 |
| 3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses | |
| Aquaculture | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. |
| Cannabis manufacturing | Allowed if exempt from the conditional use permit requirement pursuant to section 17.228.900.C. |
| Cannabis testing | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.910 |
| Community garden, private (not exceeding 3.0 acres) |
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. |
| Manufacturing, service, and repair | Permitted if use is limited to 6,400 gross square feet; |
| Use may include incidental, non-nuisance producing processing, packaging, fabricating entirely within a building |
|
| Market garden (not exceeding 3.0 acres) | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. |
| Passenger terminal | |
| Solar energy system, commercial (city property) |
Allowed in this zone and exempt from the provisions of this title |
| Warehouse; distribution center | Permitted if use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform |
B. Conditional uses. The following uses in the C-4 zone require approval of a conditional use permit, subject to the limitations specified: Allowed if exempt from the conditional use permit requirement pursuant to section
17.228.900.C.
| 17.228.900.C. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Use | Limitations | Approval Required by: Planning and Design Commission (PDC); Zoning Administrator (ZA); or City Council (CC) |
| 1. Residential Uses | ||
| Dwelling, duplex | Permitted where less than ¼ mile from the center of a light rail station platform |
ZA |
| Dwelling, multi-unit | Permitted outside the central city if use is located less than ¼ mile from the center of a light rail station platform; Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.117 |
ZA |
| Low barrier navigation centers | Permitted outside the central city if use is located less than ¼ mile from the center of a light rail station platform |
ZA |
| Mobilehome park | PDC | |
| Residential hotel | Permitted outside the central city if use is located less than ¼ mile from the center of a light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.112 |
ZA |
| Temporary residential shelter (more than 100 individuals) |
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.600 et seq. | ZA |
| 2. Commercial and Institutional Uses |
||
| Adult-related establishment | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.103 | PDC |
| Alcoholic beverage sales, off- premises consumption |
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108 | PDC |
| Amusement center, outdoor | PDC | |
| Auto-sales, storage, rental | Permitted with a conditional use permit, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127, if- |
PDC |
| 1. Use is located within ¼ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform and the entire business, including storage and display, is conducted within a building; or |
||
| 2. Use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform. |
||
| Auto-service, repair | Permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127 |
PDC |
| Bar; nightclub | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108 | PDC |
| Cannabis dispensary | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.920 | ZA/PDC |
| Cardroom | Subject to licensing regulations in chapter 5.32; | PDC |
| A cardroom may not be located within 1,000 feet, measured from the nearest property lines of the affected parcels, from another cardroom; |
||
| Notwithstanding section 17.232.050, a conditional use permit is not required to enlarge a cardroom on a greater portion of the building or lot on which it is located or to relocate the cardroom to another location on the same lot |
||
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cemetery | PDC | |
| Check-cashing center | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.121 | PDC |
| Cinema (outside arts and entertainment district) |
PDC | |
| College campus | PDC | |
| Commercial service | 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; |
ZA |
| Area calculation does not include areas that are not publicly accessible |
||
| Correctional facility | PDC | |
| Drive-in theater | PDC | |
| Drive-through restaurant | Permitted with a conditional use permit if- | PDC |
| 1. Use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; or |
||
| 2. Use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform. |
||
| Prohibited in the Central City unless the drive-through facility is within 500 feet of freeway right-of-way. |
||
| Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.109 | ||
| Equipment-rental, sales yard | Permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located within ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; |
PDC |
| Repair work is permitted if confined to a building | ||
| Firearms business | PDC | |
| Gas station | Gas stations capable of simultaneously fueling not more than 10 vehicles are permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127. |
|
| Gas stations capable of simultaneously fueling more than 10 vehicles are permitted with a conditional use permit if- |
PDC | |
| 1. Use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform and within 500 feet of a freeway right-of-way or roadway with six or more lanes, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; or |
||
| 2. Use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform and within 500 feet of a freeway right-of-way or roadway with six or more lanes. |
||
| Repair work is permitted if confined to a building | ||
| --- | --- | --- |
| Golf course; driving range | PDC | |
| Gun range; rifle range | Shall, at a minimum, meet the requirements established by the National Rifle Association for ranges |
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 | ZA | |
| Mini storage; locker building | Permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; |
|
| Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.106 | PDC | |
| Non-profit organization, meal service facility |
PDC |
| 17.228.900.C. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Permitted with a conditional use permit if use exceeds 10,000 gross square feet per parcel, or over 25% of gross floor area of a building(s) per parcel, whichever is greater; |
|
| Permitted by right if use is limited to 10,000 gross square feet per parcel, or up to 25% of gross floor area of a building(s) per parcel, whichever is greater |
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 |
| Plant nursery | Permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located within ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127 |
PDC |
| Retail store | 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; |
|
| Area calculation does not include areas that are not publicly accessible |
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 |
| Superstore | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.119 | PDC |
| 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 with a conditional use permit if animals are boarded outside, or entire business is not conducted within a building |
ZA |
| 3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses |
||
| --- | --- | --- |
| Antenna; telecommunications facility |
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.300 et seq. | PDC |
| Boat dock; marina | PDC | |
| Cannabis cultivation | Permitted with a conditional use permit if- | ZA/PDC |
| 1. Use is located within ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; or |
||
| 2. Use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform. |
||
| Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.900 | ||
| Cannabis distribution | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.900 | ZA/PDC |
| Cannabis manufacturing | Permitted with a conditional use permit if - | ZA/PDC |
| 1. Use is located within ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; or |
||
| 2. Use is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform. |
||
| Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.900 | ||
| 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 |
| Manufacturing, service, and repair |
Permitted with a conditional use permit if- | PDC |
| 1. Use exceeds 6,400 square feet and is located within ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127; or |
||
| 2. Use exceeds 6,400 square feet and is located greater than ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform. |
||
| Use may include incidental, non-nuisance producing processing, packaging, fabricating entirely within a building |
||
| Market garden (exceeding 3.0 acres) |
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. | ZA |
| Recycling facility | Subject to special use regulation in section 17.228.400 et seq. | ZA/PDC |
| Solar energy system, commercial (non-city property) |
Subject to special use regulation in section 17.228.123 | ZA |
| Surface mining operation | Subject to provisions of chapter 17.720 | PDC |
| Warehouse; distribution center | Permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing or proposed light rail station platform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127 |
PDC |
Well-gas, oil PDC
C. Accessory uses. The following uses are permitted in the C-4 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. |
| Recycling facility, convenience | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.400 et seq. |
| Tasting room, on-site | Limited to on-site consumption and off-site sales of malt beverages or wine produced on the premises |
| Urban beekeeping | Subject to section 9.44.330 |
| 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 C-4 zone. (Ord. 2026-0001 § 16; Ord. 2025-0007 § 13; Ord. 2024-0054 § 29; Ord. 2024-0017 § 35; Ord. 2021-0023 § 31; Ord. 2020-0025 § 13; Ord. 2020-0021 § 32; Ord. 2020-0012 § 7; Ord. 2019-0027 § 14; Ord. 2018-0055 § 7; Ord. 20170061 § 48; Ord. 2017-0059 § 6; Ord. 2017-0056 § 6; Ord. 2017-0029 § 4; Ord. 2017-0028 § 5; Ord. 2016-0050 § 6; Ord. 2016-0016 § 9; Ord. 2016-0006 § 5; Ord. 2016-0003 § 5; Ord. 2016-0001 § 23; Ord. 2015-0005 § 31; Ord. 20130020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0018 § 17; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)
17.216.920 C-4 zone-Office development. ¶
Notwithstanding the limitation stated in section 17.216.910, office use is allowed by right when all of the following requirements are met:
A. The office use does not exceed 40,000 gross square feet per parcel;
B. The office use is in a building with an FAR of 0.4 or greater; and
C. The office use is located within ¼ mile of the center of a light rail station platform. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)
17.216.930 C-4 zone-Height, density, and floor area ratios. ¶
A. Height. The maximum height is 75 feet.
B. Density. The maximum density is 60 dwelling units per net acre.
C. Floor area ratios. Minimum and maximum floor area ratios are established in the general plan. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)
17.216.940 C-4 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, there is no minimum interior side-yard setback.
If the interior side-yard lot line abuts the side of a R-zoned or OB-zoned lot and is not separated by an alley, the minimum side-yard setback is five feet.
- D. Rear-yard setback.
Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, no rear-yard is required.
If the rear-yard lot line abuts the side of an R- or OB-zoned lot and is not separated by an alley, 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. 2017-0061 § 49; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)
17.216.950 C-4 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)
17.216.960 C-4 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 § 50; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)