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Division IIChapter 17.224

Article IV — HC Zone-Highway Commercial Zone

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

17.224.400 HC zone-Purpose.

The HC zone is for establishments offering accommodations or services to motorists, and for certain other specialized non-merchandising activities. The HC zone is ordinarily located in areas along federal and state freeways or other highways or major streets. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.224.410 HC zone-Permitted uses.

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

Use Limitations
1. Residential Uses
Residential care facility
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Amusement center, indoor
Assembly-cultural, religious, social Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.128
Auto-service, repair
Childcare center Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.113
Commercial service
Communityclinic Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.118 .
Communitymarket Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.124
Drive-through restaurant Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.109
Gas station
Hotel; motel Permitted if the project does not involve the demolition or conversion of multi-unit dwellings that exist or are under
construction
Nonresidential care facility
Retail store Limited to 5,000 square feet
Restaurant
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
tobaccoproducts and tobaccoparaphernalia does not exceed 250 square feet.
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.
Solar energysystem, commercial(city property) Allowed in this zone and exempt from theprovisions of this title

B. Conditional uses. The following uses in the HC 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
Mobilehomepark PDC
Temporaryresidential shelter PDC
2. Commercial and Institutional Uses
Amusement center, outdoor PDC
Bar; nightclub Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.108 PDC
Cardroom Subject to licensingregulations in chapter 5.32;
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
PDC
Cemetery PDC
Cinema PDC
College campus PDC
Correctional facility PDC
Drive-in theater PDC
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
office-site consumption
PDC
Non-profit organization, food storage and
distribution
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
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
Veterinaryclinic; veterinaryhospital ZA
3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses
Airport PDC
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
Solid waste landfill PDC
Solid waste transfer station PDC
Surface miningoperation Subject toprovisions of chapter 17.720 PDC
Well-gas, oil PDC

C. Accessory uses. The following uses in the HC zone are permitted 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
Child care, in-home(familydaycare home)
Common area
Familycare facility
Familydaycare facility
Use Limitations
Privategarden Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 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 a
2021-0024 § 17; Ord. 2020-0025 § 20; Ord. 2020-0021 § 43; Ord. 2019
ccessory uses are prohibited in the HC zone. (Ord. 2026-0001 § 24; Ord. 2025-0007 § 22; Ord. 2024-0017 § 45; Ord.
-0027 § 21; Ord. 2016-0016 § 14; Ord. 2016-0001 § 31; Ord. 2015-0005 § 40; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.224.420 HC zone-Height, density, and floor area ratios.

A. Height. The maximum height is 35 feet.

  • B. Density. Not applicable.

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

17.224.430 HC zone-Setbacks.

  • A. Front-yard setback. The minimum front-yard setback is 15 feet.

  • B. Street side-yard setback. The minimum street side-yard setback is 15 feet.

  • C. Interior side-yard setback. The minimum interior side-yard setback is five feet.

  • D. Rear-yard setback. 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. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

17.224.440 HC 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) 17.224.450 HC 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 § 65; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

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