Article III — Sound Walls Along Arterial Streets

The purpose of this article is to provide standards for structural stability and design of walls along arterial streets and state highways. All other design options, such as front-on lots with circular driveways, frontage roadways, or side-on lots, shall be considered first in protecting residential areas from adverse environmental impacts and walls shall be required only as a last design option. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

The standards set forth in this article apply to the following:

• A. Walls required by noise studies or conditions of a conditional use permit or other land use permit; and

• B. Walls along arterial streets (as identified in the general plan), freeways, and railroads. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

The standards in this section apply to sound walls required by this article.

A. Design. The wall shall be designed to be in character, scale, and style of the surrounding neighborhood. The wall design and appearance shall be reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator.

B. Materials. Walls shall be constructed of brick, concrete, or masonry material. The wall surface shall be easy to maintain.

• C. Height.

1. Walls shall have a minimum height of 6 feet and a maximum height of 8 feet above the adjacent finish grade along arterial streets. Walls shall have a minimum height of 6 feet and a maximum height of 12 feet above the adjacent finish grade along freeways and railroads.

2. The height of the wall is measured from the highest point of the wall to the adjacent finish grade. Where the finish grades differ on each side of the wall or fence, such as when the wall is also used as a soil retaining structure, the height is measured from the higher adjacent finish grade.

3. If required to conform to environmental mitigation measures or the noise element of the general plan, as documented in a noise study, a wall in excess of the height limit stated in this subsection C is permitted as necessary to attenuate noise to comply with the mitigation measure or the general plan.

4. Walls required to be greater than 8 feet in height shall be constructed utilizing soil mounding to reduce the apparent height.

5. A wall in the front-yard or street side-yard setback area of residential uses must comply with the residential requirements for a wall in section 17.620.110.B.1.a.

D. Landscaped setback. Walls shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the public right-of-way. Setback areas shall be landscaped with ground cover, shrubs, vines, mounds, and trees. An automatic irrigation system shall be installed in the landscaped setback area. The landscape plan for the setback area shall be approved by the city landscape architect.

E. Structural criteria. Walls shall be constructed in accordance with the current Sacramento City Building Code. A building permit shall be required for a wall over 6 feet in height.

1. Walls may be designed to meet CalTrans sound wall design criteria that meet or exceed the base stated standards and are acceptable as an alternative sound wall type.

F. Long-term maintenance funding. A funding method to provide for the long term, ongoing maintenance of the wall and landscaped area shall be submitted and approved by the city prior to the construction of the wall.

G. Walls located adjacent to CalTrans rights-of-way shall utilize the CalTrans sound wall design criteria and the CalTrans standard construction drawings of approved sound wall types.

H. In areas where terrain, grade, and access control allow, walls may be constructed within the state right-of-way under a CalTrans encroachment permit.

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