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Division IIChapter 17.216

Article V — SC Zone-Shopping Center Zone

Sacramento Zoning Code · 2026-07 edition · updated 2026-09-09 · Sacramento

17.216.500 SC zone-Purpose.

The purpose of the SC zone is to provide a wide range of goods and services to the community. However, general commercial uses that are incompatible with a retail shopping center are prohibited. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.216.510 SC zone-Permitted uses.

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

Use Use Limitations 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
Assembly-cultural, religious, social Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.128
Athletic club; fitness studio
Childcare center Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.113
College extension
Commercial service
Communityclinic Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.118 .
Communitymarket 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
Library; archive
Museum
Nonresidential care facility
Office
Plant nursery Permitted if use is locatedgreater than ½ mile from the center of an existingorproposed light rail stationplatform
Restaurant
Retail store This use is limited to 60,000gross square feet; if use exceeds this limitation, a c onditional usepermit is required
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
tobaccoproducts and tobaccoparaphernalia does not exceed 250 square feet.
if the total area of shelving allocated to
Veterinaryclinic; veterinaryhospital Entire business to be conducted within a buildingand no outdoor boardingof ani mals is allowed
3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Aquaculture Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Community garden,private(not exceeding3.0 acres) Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Marketgarden(not exceeding3.0 acres) Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Solar energysystem, commercial(city property) Allowed in this zone and is exempt from theprovisions of this title
B. Conditional uses. The following uses in the S C 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
Dwelling, duplex PDC
Dwelling, single-unit PDC
Fraternityhouse; sororityhouse Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.111 PDC
Mobilehomepark PDC
Temporaryresidential 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
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108 PDC
Amusement center, outdoor PDC
Bar; nightclub Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108 PDC
Cannabis dispensary Limited to storefront cannabis dispensary (delivery-only cannabis dispensary not allowed)
Subject to special use regulations in article IX of chapter 17.228
ZA/PDC
Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.920 ZA/PDC
Cardroom Subject to licensingregulations in chapter 5.32; PDC
A cardroom may not be located within 1,000 feet, measured from the nearest property lines of the
affectedparcels, 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
Check-cashingcenter Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.121 PDC
Cinema PDC
College campus PDC
Correctional facility PDC
Drive-in theater PDC
Drive-through restaurant Permitted with a conditional usepermit if- PDC
1. Use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing
orproposed light rail stationplatform, 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 17.228.109
Firearms business PDC
Gas station Gas stations capable of simultaneously fueling not more than 10 vehicles are permitted with a
conditional usepermit if-
PDC
1. Use is located greater than ¼ mile but less than or equal to ½ mile from the center of an existing
orproposed light rail stationplatform, 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.
Gas stations capable of simultaneously fueling more than 10 vehicles are permitted with a
conditional usepermit if-
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 freewayright-of-wayor roadwaywith six or more lanes.
Golf course; drivingrange 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
Non-profit organization, food preparation for off-
site consumption
PDC
Non-profit organization, food storage and
distribution
This use is limited to 6,400 gross square feet PDC
Non-profit organization, meal service facility 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
anyapplicable development standards related to theproposed outdoor market
ZA
Plant nursery Permitted with a conditional use permit if use is located within ½ mile from the center of an existing
orproposed light rail stationplatform, subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.127
PDC
Retail store Permitted with a conditional use permit if use exceeds 60,000 gross square feet; permitted by right
if use does not exceed 60,000gross 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
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 Allowed 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
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
Marketgarden(exceeding3.0 acres) Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. ZA
Passenger terminal PDC
Surface miningoperation Subject toprovisions of chapter 17.720 PDC
Well-gas, oil PDC

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

Use Limitations
Accessoryantenna
Accessorydrive-through facility Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.110
Childcare, in-home(familydaycare home)
Common area
Dwellingunit, accessory Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105
Dwellingunit,junior accessory Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105
Familycare facility
Familydaycare facility
Home occupation Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.200 et seq.
Privategarden Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq.
Recyclingfacility, convenience Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.400 et seq.
Urban beekeeping Subject to section 9.44.330
Watchperson'squarters 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 SC zone.

  • E. Outdoor storage. Outdoor storage of any inventory or supplies in view of any public right-of-way is prohibited, except for auto and mobile home sales, rental, and storage uses. Outdoor storage or parking of vehicles overnight for auto service or repair uses is prohibited.

F. Auto service and repair near residential. Auto service or repair work performed within 300 feet of property used or zoned for residential purposes shall not be conducted before 6:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. All such work shall be performed within a building. (Ord. 2026-0010 § 5; Ord. 2026-0001 § 12; Ord. 2025-0007 § 8; Ord. 2024-0054 § 25; Ord. 2024-0017 § 31; Ord. 2021-0023 § 27; Ord. 2020-0025 § 10; Ord. 2020-0023 § 2; Ord. 2020-0021 § 28; Ord. 2019-0027 § 10; Ord. 2019-0006 § 3; Ord. 2018-0055 § 4; Ord. 2017-0061 § 37; Ord. 2016-0016 § 6; Ord. 2016-0001 § 19; Ord. 2015-0005 § 27; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0018 § 14; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.216.520 SC zone-Height, density, and floor area ratios.

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

  • B. Density. The maximum density is 30 dwelling units per net acre.

  • C. Floor area ratios. The minimum and maximum floor area ratios are established in the general plan. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.216.530 SC zone-Setbacks.

  • A. Front and street side-yard setbacks. The minimum front and street side-yard setbacks are 20 feet.

  • B. Rear-yard setback.

  1. Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, there is no minimum rear-yard setback.

  2. If the rear-yard lot line is adjacent to an R- or OB-zoned lot and is not separated by an alley, the minimum rear-yard setback is 15 feet.

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

  2. If the interior side-yard lot line is adjacent to an R- or OB-zoned lot and is not separated by an alley, the minimum interior side-yard setback is five feet.

D. 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)

17.216.540 SC 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. 20130007 § 1)

17.216.550 SC 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 § 38; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

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