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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Title 18 — ZONING ORDINANCE

Sutter Creek Municipal Code Ch. 18.38 Dtc Zone—downtown Commercial

Sutter Creek Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Sutter Creek

Cite as: Sutter Creek Municipal Code Chapter 18.38 · Text as of 2026-10-04

18.38.010 - Regulations designated.

The following regulations apply in the DTC downtown commercial zone unless otherwise provided in this title.

Exceptions & meaning →

18.38.015 - Purpose.

The downtown commercial district is designed to protect and enhance the district's attractive and historic quality as a living example of Mother Lode architecture.

Exceptions & meaning →

18.38.020 - Permitted uses.

Uses permitted in the DTC zone shall be:

A. Retail commercial uses which are pedestrian-oriented and conducive to the historic vitality of the downtown area, including the following:

  1. Antiques and collectibles;

  2. Arts and handmade crafts, ceramics, furniture, glass, and textiles;

  3. Assembly, large events;

  4. Bakeries, employing not more than ten persons on the premises

  5. Banks/Automated teller machines;

  6. Barber shops;

  7. Bars and cocktail lounges;

  8. Beauty shops;

  9. Books and media shops

  10. Brewpubs;

  11. Cafes and coffee shops;

  12. Candy and confectioneries;

  13. Clothing, apparel, hats, and shoes;

  14. Delicatessens and meat and food markets;

  15. Department stores;

  16. Event venues;

  17. Fabric and craft supply stores;

  18. Fine art and photography;

19

Fitness/Health studios;

  1. Florist shops;

  2. Gifts, precious metals, and jewelry;

  3. Grocery, fruit, and vegetable stores;

  4. Hardware stores;

  5. Hotel, motel, motor inns, lodges, time share units, short-term rental units, and vacation rentals;

  6. Housewares and home decorating shops;

  7. Live-work units;

  8. Meeting and gathering halls and rooms;

  9. Music and musical entertainment;

  10. Music and vocal instruction;

  11. Outdoor retail sales;

  12. Parking garages and lots, public and private;

  13. Restaurants;

  14. Shoe stores or shoe repair shops;

  15. Specialty foods, beer, wine, and spirits;

  16. Sports equipment sales and rentals;

  17. Stationery stores;

  18. Studios;

  19. Tailoring;

  20. Tea rooms; and

  21. Theaters or auditoriums (excluding drive-in theaters).

B. Professional governmental and similar offices;

C. Trailhead parking and preserve entrances, hiking trails, information booths, riding stables, public parks, and accessory recreational facilities;

D. First and second-story residential uses, as allowed in section 18.28.020(A)(1)—(10), including studio apartments, and excluding boarding houses and transitional housing;

E. Low barrier navigation centers;

F. Conversion of residential dwellings to commercial uses upon securing a site plan permit pursuant to chapter 18.50;

G. Any use conducted within the DTC zone shall comply with the provisions of chapter 18.50, site plans; and

H. The above uses in conjunction with historic displays and exhibits.

(Ord. 373, §18(a), 2023)

Exceptions & meaning →

18.38.030 - Special provisions.

The following special provisions apply within the DTC zone:

A. All structures shall conform to the provisions of Chapter 3.0 of the City's Design Standards, Historic Districts Design Standards;

B. All signage shall conform to the requirements of chapter 15.16, signs;

C. Use of sidewalks and other public spaces shall conform to the requirements of chapter 13.13, obstructions to public ways;

D. Required vehicle parking requirements shall conform to the provisions of chapter 18.48, off-street parking; and

E. In compliance with section 18.48.030, a change in use requires the appropriate minimum requirement for off-street parking.

(Ord. 373, §18(b), 2023)

Exceptions & meaning →

18.38.040 - Buildings—Height limitations.

Maximum building height in the DTC zone shall be limited to three stories and shall not exceed forty feet.

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18.38.050 - Yard—Front.

All buildings shall be located at least ten feet from the front lot line; provided, that where existing buildings on streets within a block average less than the required setback, the provisions of section 18.10.110 shall apply.

Exceptions & meaning →

18.38.060 - Yard—Side.

Five feet or in conformance with the California Building Code.

(Ord. 373, §2, 2023)

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18.38.070 - Yard—Rear.

There shall be behind every building a rear yard having a minimum depth of ten feet. Where there is an alley at the rear of the lot, such rear yard may be measured to the center of said alley.

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18.38.080 - Area requirements.

18.38.090 - Buildings—Required distance between.

18.38.100 - Lot coverage.

Building lot coverage shall not exceed ninety-five percent of the lot area.

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18.38.110 - Residential density.

Maximum development density shall be sixteen to twenty-nine units per acre, as established in City of Sutter Creek General Plan Land Use Element Table 4-3, and dependent upon site conditions and constraints. See chapter 18.62 regarding density bonus allocations.

(Ord. 373, §18(c), 2023)

Exceptions & meaning →

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