Elk Grove — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Overview

Elk Grove’s zoning rules are contained in the Elk Grove Municipal Code, Title 23 (Zoning). The code establishes the City’s official zoning map, a set of base zoning districts (agricultural, residential, commercial, office, industrial, public/quasi-public, mixed‑use, and special purpose) and a set of overlay/combining districts that modify or supplement base standards. The allowed uses are found in EGMC Chapter 23.27 and dimensional standards in Table 23.29‑1 / EGMC Chapter 23.29; the zoning map is the legal district boundary map and is interpreted by the Community Development Director.

Note: the City uses the “RD‑#” format for residential density bands (not the older R‑1, R‑2 labels some other cities use). See the City’s Elk Grove Land Use and Elk Grove Development Standards pages for related guidance.

Division: district descriptions below follow the ordinance text; each subsection gives the ordinance purpose, typical permitted uses (broad categories), the key numeric standards where the code supplies them, and where that district is typically applied.

Agricultural — AG‑80, AG‑20

• Purpose: Preserve viable agricultural uses and permit very low‑density residential uses; the numeric suffix corresponds to minimum gross parcel area. AG‑80 is for parcels with a minimum of 80 acres; AG‑20 for 20 acres. § 23.24.020.
• Typical permitted uses: crop production, commercial stables/riding academies, animal keeping, agricultural labor housing, accessory agricultural structures. § 23.24.020.
• Key standards: minimum lot size tied to district name (see above); other standards and any exceptions are applied via Table 23.29‑1 and specific plan or overlay where applicable. § 23.24.020; § 23.29.020.
• Where it applies: on large holdings and locations consistent with the General Plan agricultural land use. § 23.24.020.

Agricultural Residential — AR‑1

• Purpose: Estate / rural residential with accessory agricultural uses; minimum lot size corresponds to the AR‑1 numeric designation. § 23.24.020.
• Typical permitted uses: very low‑density single‑family dwellings, accessory agriculture, accessory structures. § 23.24.020.
• Key standards: minimum lot size set by the district; setback and coverage standards appear in Table 23.29‑1. § 23.24.020; § 23.29.020.
• Where it applies: edge of the City, transition to agricultural areas, consistent with General Plan estate residential designations. § 23.24.020.

Low/Medium/High Density Residential — RD‑8, RD‑10, RD‑12, RD‑15, RD‑18, RD‑20 through RD‑40

• Purpose: Implement the General Plan’s range of residential densities; each RD‑# corresponds to a maximum (and in some districts a typical) dwelling units per acre. § 23.24.020.
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family detached and attached, duplexes, townhomes, condominiums, garden apartments depending on the RD band. § 23.24.020.
• Key standards (density callouts in ordinance text):
  • RD‑8 — up to 8 dwelling units/acre.
  • RD‑10 — up to 10 dwelling units/acre.
  • RD‑12 — up to 12 dwelling units/acre.
  • RD‑15 — up to 15 dwelling units/acre.
  • RD‑18 — up to 18 dwelling units/acre.
  • RD‑20 through RD‑40 — 15.1 to 40 dwelling units/acre (high‑density range).
• Where it applies: near arterials, transit corridors, and as transitions between lower‑density neighborhoods and higher‑intensity commercial/office uses per the RD descriptions. § 23.24.020.
• Note: specific setbacks, lot widths, and lot coverage are given in Table 23.29‑1 (Development Standards for Base Zoning Districts). § 23.29.020.

Commercial and Industrial — GC, LC, CN, LI, (industrial bands)

• Purpose: Provide locations for retail, service, and industrial activity; the code groups commercial districts into categories (general, limited, neighborhood) and industrial into light/heavy where applicable. § 23.24.020.
• Typical permitted uses: retail stores, restaurants, offices, vehicle‑oriented uses in GC/LC/CN; manufacturing, warehousing, distribution in LI and industrial districts. The ordinance’s use classification system (Chapter 23.26) plus Chapter 23.27 identifies exact permitted/conditional uses. § 23.26.020; § 23.27 (see ordinance).
• Key standards: lot coverage, building heights, and setbacks for these base zones are in Table 23.29‑1. § 23.29.020.
• Where it applies: corridors, activity centers, and nodes identified by the General Plan and on the City zoning map. § 23.24.030.

Office and Mixed‑Use districts (base categories)

• Purpose: Support employment, professional services, and mixed residential/commercial development where appropriate. § 23.24.020.
• Typical permitted uses: professional offices, business services, and mixed residential uses where allowed; allowed uses and entitlements listed in Chapter 23.27. § 23.24.020; § 23.27.
• Key standards: consult Table 23.29‑1 for setbacks, height, lot coverage; site‑specific standards may be imposed by design review. § 23.29.020; § 23.16.080.

Public / Quasi‑Public and Special Purpose — P/QP, SP (Specific Plan), SPA (Special Planning Area)

• Purpose: Accommodate schools, government uses, utilities, and sites governed by a specific plan or SPA with custom standards. § 23.40.010; § 23.16.100.
• Typical permitted uses: public buildings, hospitals, parks, utilities, and the uses enumerated in each specific plan or SPA ordinance. § 23.40.010; § 23.16.100.
• Key standards: where a specific plan contains zoning regulations they are adopted by ordinance and control; SPA ordinances must list permitted/conditional/prohibited uses and development requirements. § 23.40.010; § 23.16.100(D).
• Where it applies: mapped on the zoning map with SP or SPA labels (examples: Laguna Ridge SP; Elk Grove Old Town SPA). § 23.40.010; § 23.40.020.

Overlay / Combining Districts — MF, EEG, EF, CR‑99, BCS, RUC, SM, flood, mobile home park**

• Purpose: Overlay districts supplement or modify the underlying base zone to allow flexibility, protect unique features, or impose area‑specific standards. In a conflict, the overlay controls. § 23.42.010.
• Examples:
  • MF (Multifamily overlay) — allows multifamily where applied and sets a permitted density range 15.1 – 40 du/acre; multifamily projects require a district development plan and design review. § 23.42.030.
  • EEG (East Elk Grove overlay) and EF (East Franklin overlay) — area‑specific development standards (tables in chapter). § 23.42.100; § 23.42.090.
  • RUC (Rural Commercial combining zone) — applies to parcels near Grant Line/Wilton and combines with GC/LC/LI zones. § 23.42.060.
• Key standards: overlay chapters include tables and text with unique setbacks, lot sizes, and other controls; where a standard is silent, the underlying base zone applies. § 23.42.010; § 23.42.030.

Quick table — decision‑relevant summaries

How to use this ordinance in practice (plain‑English guidance)

• Confirm the parcel’s base zone on the City’s official zoning map — the zoning map is the legal map and is adopted by the City Council; where boundaries are uncertain the Community Development Director makes the formal interpretation. § 23.24.030.
• Check allowed uses in EGMC Chapter 23.27 (use classification) and whether the proposed use is permitted, conditionally permitted, or prohibited. § 23.26; § 23.27.
• Apply development standards in Table 23.29‑1 for setbacks, heights, lot coverage, and lot area; overlays or specific plans can change those numbers. § 23.29.020; § 23.42.010.
• Expect design review where the code or overlay requires it (for example, the MF overlay requires design review). See the City’s Elk Grove Design Review page for procedural expectations. § 23.42.030; § 23.16.080.
• Consult related pages early: Elk Grove Parking for parking ratios and reductions, Elk Grove ADUs for accessory dwelling unit rules, and the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) for building code compliance—zoning tells you what you can build where, not the construction standards. § 23.29.020; § 23.04.080.

Checklist

• Verify the parcel’s base zoning on the City’s official zoning map (zoning map is the legal map). § 23.24.030.
• Confirm whether any overlay, SP, or SPA applies to the parcel. § 23.42.020; § 23.40.020.
• Review allowed uses in Chapter 23.27 and the use classification rules in Chapter 23.26. § 23.26.020; § 23.27.
• Pull development standards from Table 23.29‑1 (setbacks, heights, coverage, lot area). § 23.29.020.
• Determine if design review or a district development plan is required (overlays like MF require it). § 23.42.030; § 23.16.080.
• Check parking requirements and any possible reductions (see City parking rules). § 23.17.630 & Ch. 23.50 (density bonus/parking reductions where applicable).
• If boundary ambiguity exists, request a map interpretation from the Community Development Director. § 23.24.030(D).

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain‑English Summary

Elk Grove’s zoning rules (Title 23) assign every parcel a base zone (AG, AR, RD‑#, GC/LC/LI, etc.) and may add overlays or specific plans that change or refine allowed uses and numeric standards; allowed uses are in Chapter 23.27 and setbacks/heights/lot sizes are in Table 23.29‑1 — always verify the official zoning map and any applicable overlay or specific plan because those control if there’s a conflict. § 23.24.020; § 23.24.030; § 23.29.020.

Source References

• EGMC Chapter 23.24 (Establishment of Zoning Districts) — purpose, base & overlay district framework: § 23.24.010; § 23.24.020; § 23.24.030.
• EGMC Chapter 23.29 (Development Standards by Zoning District) — Table 23.29‑1; development standards: § 23.29.010; § 23.29.020.
• EGMC Chapter 23.26–23.27 (Use classification and Allowed Uses) — use categories and allowed/conditional lists: Ch. 23.26; Ch. 23.27.
• EGMC Chapter 23.42 (Overlay/Combining Districts) — § 23.42.010–.030, MF overlay density and review requirements.
• EGMC Chapter 23.40 and 23.16 (Specific Plan / SPA) — content and adoption requirements for SP and SPA areas. § 23.40.010; § 23.16.100.
• EGMC Title 23 applicability & conformance rules — § 23.04.110 (conformance), § 23.04.070 (conflicting requirements).

Additional in‑document mentions used above (map interpretation, RD zone densities, etc.) are contained in the same Elk Grove Zoning Code excerpts.

Retrieved passages

• Elk Grove Zoning Code (chapter establishes) High relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code (article shall) High relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code (Section 23.14.040) High relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code (title shall) High relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code Medium relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code (Chapter 23.40) Medium relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code (Chapter 23.42) Medium relevance show source text
• Elk Grove Zoning Code (§3) Medium relevance show source text

Cited sections

• EGMC Chapter 23.24 (Establishment of Zoning Districts) — purpose, base & overlay district framework: **§ 23.24.010; § 23.24.020; § 23.24.030.** (Chapter 23.24)
• EGMC Chapter 23.29 (Development Standards by Zoning District) — Table 23.29‑1; development standards: **§ 23.29.010; § 23.29.020.** (Chapter 23.29)
• EGMC Chapter 23.26–23.27 (Use classification and Allowed Uses) — use categories and allowed/conditional lists: **Ch. 23.26; Ch. 23.27.** (Chapter 23.26)
• EGMC Chapter 23.42 (Overlay/Combining Districts) — **§ 23.42.010–.030**, MF overlay density and review requirements. (Chapter 23.42)
• EGMC Chapter 23.40 and 23.16 (Specific Plan / SPA) — content and adoption requirements for **SP** and **SPA** areas. **§ 23.40.010; § 23.16.100.** (Chapter 23.40)
• EGMC Title 23 applicability & conformance rules — **§ 23.04.110** (conformance), **§ 23.04.070** (conflicting requirements). (Title 23)
• ElkGrove_ZoningCode.md