LANDSCAPING AND PAVING REGULATIONS

Sacramento City Code tit. 17, div. VI, ch. 17.612

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 17.612.010 Landscaping requirements.

17.612.010 Landscaping requirements. A. Landscaping requirements in setback areas. 1. Single-unit and duplex dwellings-Front-yard and street side-yard setbacks. a. Setback area paving restrictions. A maximum of 50% of each of the required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks may be paved for off-street parking, driveways, walkways, uncovered patios, and other forms of hardscape. However, this maximum limitation does not apply to that portion of the street side-yard located behind a fence that complies with the street side fence requirements set forth in chapter 17.620. b. Landscape and maintenance requirements. The unpaved portion of the required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks shall be landscaped and maintained. The landscape shall primarily consist of grass, annuals, perennials, groundcover, shrubs, trees, or other living vegetation provided that artificial turf may be used if it and its substrate is permeable, has a minimum pile height of 1.25 inches, and is not located within the dripline of any trees. Design elements like planters, rocks, mulch, wood chips, bark, or similar elements are permitted when integrated as part of the landscape. All landscaping materials shall be mowed, trimmed, and maintained as often as necessary to prevent overgrowth and blight. No junk, debris, or other similar materials shall be stored in the landscaped setback area. c. Height restrictions for landscaping located in the clear zone. All landscaping located within the clear zone for driveways and corner lots, as described in section 17.620.100, shall not exceed 3.5 feet in height, except trees that are maintained free of branches 5 feet above the finish grade, as defined in section 15.88.050, are allowed. d. Vehicle parking requirements-all yard areas. Vehicles, including automobiles, boats, campers, trailers, and other recreational vehicles must be parked on a paved surface, as provided for in section 10.44.010. 2. Multi-unit dwellings (three or more units)-Front-yard and street side-yard setbacks. All minimum required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks shall be landscaped and maintained. The landscape shall primarily consist of grass, annuals, perennials, groundcover, shrubs, trees, or other living vegetation, provided that artificial turf may be used if it and its substrate is permeable, has a minimum pile height of 1.25 inches, and is not located within the dripline of any trees. Design elements like planters, rocks, mulch, wood chips, bark, or similar elements are permitted when integrated as part of the landscape. Driveways and uncovered walkways are permitted to cross over the required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks. The required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks may not be paved for parking or patio areas. 3. Nonresidential-Front-yard and street side-yard setbacks. All minimum required front-yard and street side-yard setbacks shall be landscaped and maintained. The landscape shall primarily consist of grass, annuals, perennials, groundcover, shrubs, trees, or other living vegetation, provided that artificial turf may be used if it and its substrate is permeable, has a minimum pile height of 1.25 inches, and is not located within the dripline of any trees. Design elements like planters, rocks, mulch, wood chips, bark, or similar elements are permitted when integrated as part of the landscape. 4. Residential and nonresidential-Interior side-yard and rear-yard setbacks. There is no minimum landscape requirement for interior side-yard and rear-yard setbacks. B. Planter required. 1. Except for single-unit and duplex dwellings and where driveways and walkways enter and exit a lot, a landscaped planter is required as follows: a. A landscaped planter is required to separate all surfaced areas from the adjacent public street; and b. A landscaped planter is required along the entire perimeter of surface parking lots of more than 30 spaces. 2. The planter shall be surrounded with six-inch raised concrete curbing. The minimum width of the planter, excluding curbing, is six feet, except that front-yard and street side-yard setbacks shall have planters at least as wide as the minimum setback or six feet, whichever is greater. An irrigation system shall be installed in each separate planter area. The landscape shall primarily consist of grass, annuals, perennials, groundcover, shrubs, trees, or other living vegetation, provided that artificial turf may be used if it and its substrate is permeable, has a minimum pile height of 1.25 inches, and is not located within the dripline of any trees. Design elements like planters, rocks, mulch, woodchips, bark, or similar elements are permitted when integrated as part of the landscape. (Ord. 2024-0017 § 60; Ord. 2017-0061 § 81; Ord. 2016-0056 § 1; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.612.020 Paving requirements.

17.612.020 Paving requirements. A. Paving required. Paving is required for all storage and service areas, outdoor merchandise and equipment sales and rental areas, as well as off-street parking, driveways, maneuvering, and loading areas for vehicles, including gas stations and auto sales. Unpaved areas shall not be used for storage, vehicle parking, driving, or maneuvering. Except for single-unit and duplex dwellings, unpaved areas adjacent to paved areas shall be made inaccessible by a barrier, such as concrete curbs, bollards, or fencing. Paved areas that do not comply with this code must be made inaccessible to vehicles by a barrier, such as a concrete curb, bollards, or fencing. B. Paving materials. Paving materials shall consist of decorative pavers, asphaltic concrete or Portland cement, concrete paving, or alternative treatments providing comparable strength and performance for vehicles intended to use the facility and approved by the planning director in consultation with the public works and fire departments. C. Curbs, decorative bollards, or other barriers required. Except at approved driveways, every off-street parking facility; off-street loading or unloading area; and storage, sale, rental, or service area shall be improved with curbs or other barriers that prevent parked vehicles, equipment, or other objects from projecting into the public right-of-way and landscaped planters. The curb or other barrier shall be at least six inches in height and thickness, and shall be constructed of concrete or other suitable material. D. Drainage. Drainage for all surfaced areas shall comply with all applicable storm water drainage standards, regulations, and requirements. (Ord. 2017-0061 § 82; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.612.030 Other site requirements.

17.612.030 Other site requirements. A. Walkways. The minimum width of a walkway is four feet. Two feet shall be added to the minimum width of a walkway for each side that vehicles overhang the walkway. B. Exterior lighting. Lighting, if provided, shall reflect away from residential areas and public streets. C. Private street conditions. Approval of any private street shall be based on compliance with the following conditions to the city's satisfaction: 1. The private street is constructed to city street standards; 2. Adequate access shall be provided to accommodate public service and emergency vehicles; 3. Easements shall be provided as deemed necessary; 4. The entrances to the private street shall be constructed in a manner to clearly identify that the street is private; 5. Private streets, including any landscaping located in common area in or adjacent to a private street, shall be maintained by a homeowners' association. Landscape plans shall be approved by the city landscape architect. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.612.040 Tree shading requirements for parking lots.

17.612.040 Tree shading requirements for parking lots. A. Surface parking facilities. Except as provided below, the shading requirement set forth in subsection B applies to all surface parking facilities, including all surfacing on which a vehicle can drive and all parking stalls; all drives and drive-through lanes within the property regardless of length; and all maneuvering areas regardless of depth. 1. Expansion of existing nonconforming parking facilities. When a parking facility that does not comply with the shading requirement is expanded by an amount, in area or number of spaces, equal to or greater than 50% within any continuous three-year period, the entire parking facility, including the existing area and the expansion, shall comply with the shading requirement. When a parking facility that does not comply with the shading requirement is expanded by an amount, in area or number of spaces, less than 50%, only the expansion must comply with the shading requirement. 2. Exceptions. The following surfaced areas are exempt from the shading requirement set forth in subsection B: single unit and duplex dwelling parking areas; model home temporary sales office parking areas; temporary commercial building parking areas; parking structures; carports; enclosed parking spaces; truck loading areas in front of overhead doors; truck maneuvering and parking areas unconnected to and exclusive of any vehicle parking; surfaced areas not to be used for vehicle parking, driving or maneuvering, provided they are made inaccessible to vehicles by a barrier such as bollards or fencing; and vehicle display, sales, service, and storage areas, provided that the surface parking area of the use shall comply with the shading requirements. B. Tree shading requirement. Trees shall be planted and maintained throughout the surface parking facility to ensure that, within 15 years after establishment of the parking facility, at least 50% of the parking facility will be shaded. All planting, soil volumes, and maintenance shall comply with the parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines. C. Parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines. Parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines shall be adopted by resolution of the city council. The guidelines may be adopted following at least one public hearing before the planning and design commission and one public hearing before the city council. Each hearing shall be noticed in the same manner as hearings on text amendments pursuant to chapter 17.916. D. Shading calculation. Shading is calculated by using the expected diameter of the tree crown at 15 years. Each planting area shall be of adequate size for the landscaping approved and shall have adequate irrigation for that landscaping. The planning director, in consultation with the city landscape architect, shall establish a list of species appropriate for providing shade in parking facilities, and trees to be planted in accordance with the regulations of this section shall be selected from this list. Landscape and shading plans shall be submitted to the building division at the time of application for building permit, and the plans shall be referred to the planning director for review for compliance with the requirements of this section. As part of this review, the planning director has discretion to modify tree shading requirements under power lines and other obstructions that prohibit strict compliance with shading requirements and to give shading credit for photovoltaic arrays, off-site trees and structures, sidewalk canopies, and other structures, where appropriate. E. Installation. Upon completion of the installation of shade trees, the landscape designer shall certify that the shading complies with all requirements of this section. Certification shall be accomplished by the completion of the landscape certificate, pursuant to section 15.92.090. F. Maintenance. All trees and associated landscaping, such as shrubs and turf, planted or installed pursuant to this section shall be properly maintained for the life of the facility pursuant to the surface parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines established by resolution of the city council as provided in this section. The maintenance obligation provided herein applies to all parking facilities subject to the shading requirement, whether approved prior to, contemporaneously with, or after the effective date of the parking facility tree shading design and maintenance guidelines. Any required trees or other plantings that die or are improperly maintained shall be replaced with healthy specimens of similar species and size, provided that replacement trees shall not be required to exceed 48 inch box size. Removal and replacement of trees that have caused damage to sidewalks or other infrastructure shall be reviewed and approved by the city arborist prior to tree removal. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-39346Fetched: 10/24/2026