DRIVEWAYS

Sacramento City Code tit. 17, div. V, ch. 17.508

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.010 Permit required-Definitions.

17.508.010 Permit required-Definitions. A. No person shall establish or maintain vehicular access from that portion of a street used for vehicular travel to property without constructing a driveway. B. No person shall construct, repair, relocate or otherwise establish a driveway, nor shall any person cause to be constructed, repaired, relocated or otherwise establish a driveway without first obtaining a permit from the director of public works and paying the fee required by this chapter for plan check and inspection. Prior to issuance of a driveway permit by the director of public works, the city traffic engineer shall approve the location and design of the driveway upon the basis of traffic engineering principles and standards. C. For the purposes of this chapter, "driveway" means the improved means of vehicular access from that portion of a street used for vehicular travel to the fronting property including the portion of the sidewalk lying within said way or means of access. A "driveway" including the flared portion shall be completely within the boundaries of the subject property. D. No permit shall be required for standard single unit dwellings or duplex dwellings driveways abutting roll curbs where no construction in the public right-of-way is necessary; provided that such exempt driveways may not be constructed in violation of section 17.508.040, section 17.508.050, section 17.508.060, and section 17.508.070. E. No permit shall be required for a driveway constructed as part of, or along with, other improvements for which public improvement plans showing the driveway are submitted to the city for approval. The permit and permit fees for such driveway shall be considered to be included with the fees collected for plan check and inspection of other public improvements. The construction of such driveway shall remain subject to all other requirements of this chapter. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.020 Permit fees.

17.508.020 Permit fees. Permit fees shall be established by resolution of the city council. Permit fees may be waived by the public works director where the driveway is reconstructed as part of a street construction project initiated by the city or other government agency. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.030 Plans required.

17.508.030 Plans required. A. In order to facilitate reasonable control of size and location of access to the public right-of-way and to protect the public safety, the director of public works shall require complete plot plans for all driveways serving a development other than single unit dwellings and duplex dwellings. All plot plans shall be to scale and shall additionally include the complete parking layout, buildings, doors, planters and other physical features; all pertinent off-site features such as existing and proposed paved streets, gutters, sidewalks, ditches, fences, poles, hydrants, valves, signals, trees, signs; other street furniture which may be near driveways or affect such driveways; and all existing driveways to remain or be removed. B. The city traffic engineer may require a traffic engineering report and analysis if the city traffic engineer determines it is necessary to evaluate access to the public right-of-way. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.040 Prohibition.

17.508.040 Prohibition. The director of public works shall not issue permits for driveways and no person shall construct a driveway: A. For a vacant lot where no immediate construction is expected to take place, except when the lot is used for agricultural purposes and the construction of a driveway is reasonably required for such usage; B. Within the radius of the corner at an intersection; C. In a turn lane if a hazardous condition would be created; D. Within the taper area or next to an on-ramp or off-ramp; E. Within 10 feet of a pedestrian ramp; F. On any frontage where the abutting lot has no right of access; G. Across a lot to serve another lot, unless there are established access rights; H. Within 20 feet of another driveway, measured from the beginning of the driveway flair at the top of the curb, except for single unit dwellings and duplex dwellings or to create a one-way pair of driveways; I. Within 10 feet of a property line between two contiguous lots that do not include dwelling units, measured from the beginning of the driveway flair at the top of the curb or future curb; J. Within five feet of a property line between two contiguous residential properties measured from the ending of the driveway flair at the edge of walk; K. At a location that would create hardships for the installation of public utilities; L. At a T intersection where construction of a driveway will interfere with the establishment of crosswalks; and M. At a location where the city traffic engineer determines, by established engineering standards, that a hazard would be created if a driveway is installed. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.050 Maximum and minimum width and length.

17.508.050 Maximum and minimum width and length. A. Residential Driveways. For residential driveways, the minimum driveway width shall be 10 feet; the maximum driveway width to serve a single-car parking area shall be 12 feet; and the maximum width serving a two-car parking area shall be 20 feet. Except as provided below, the parking area served by a residential driveway shall be a minimum of 20 feet in length measured from the right-of-way line. Exception: For residential driveways serving one or two dwelling units on lots of 3,200 square feet or less located in the central city, the minimum length of the parking area served by the driveway shall be 18 feet measured from the right-of-way line, provided that if the driveway accesses an enclosed garage, the garage shall be equipped with a roll-up garage door. B. Commercial Driveways. Commercial driveways shall be as follows: 1. One-way entrance: minimum width 16 feet, maximum width 25 feet; 2. One-way exit: minimum width 16 feet, maximum width 25 feet; 3. A one-way pair of driveways must be separated by 10 feet of full height curb; 4. Two-way driveways: minimum width 24 feet, maximum width 35 feet. C. Industrial Driveways. The requirements for industrial driveways are the same as the requirements for commercial driveways, except the maximum width for a one-way entrance is 40 feet; the maximum width for a one-way exit is 35 feet; and the maximum width for two-way driveways is 45 feet. D. Dimensions. All dimensions in this section shall be based on the bottom width (or the flat portion) of the driveway, measures at the curb where curbs are in place. Where curbs are not in place, dimensions will be measured at the ditch or flow line, or seven feet from the right-of-way line on the street side of the right-of-way line if no ditch and no curbs are in place. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.060 Number of driveways.

17.508.060 Number of driveways. A lot will be permitted only the smallest number of driveways necessary to serve that lot. The city traffic engineer shall establish reasonable limitations concerning the number of driveways necessary to serve a lot subject to the following limits: A. For lots with less than 100 feet of frontage, the total driveway width, including the flared portion, shall not exceed 60% of the frontage; B. For lots that have between 100 and 200 feet of frontage, the total driveway width shall not exceed 60 feet or 50% of the frontage, whichever is greater; and C. For lots with frontage that exceeds 200 feet, the number of driveways will be determined by established engineering standards. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.070 On-site requirements.

17.508.070 On-site requirements. A. Except on minor local streets where the size or shape of the lot is such that development would be otherwise precluded, no commercial driveway, industrial driveway, or parking area shall be designed to require a vehicle to back into or out of the public right-of-way. B. All driveways shall have an approach grade of at least 2% and no greater than 10% within 20 feet of the public right-of-way. C. If required by the city traffic engineer, acceleration or deceleration lanes may be required on narrow or high speed roads or for large shopping centers, industrial developments, or other large developments. D. Unless approved by the city traffic engineer, no gates or other obstructions may be placed within 20 feet of the public right-of-way on entrance driveways. E. Site access via alleys. 1. Site access via an alley does not require a driveway permit. 2. Sections 17.508.040 and 17.508.060 and subsections A through D of this section do not apply to alley access. 3. Unless the design is approved by the city traffic engineer, if residential access to a garage is provided via an alley, the garage shall be set back four feet from the right-of-way line. (Ord. 2019-0006 § 10; Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.075 Driveway spacing and distance to intersections.

17.508.075 Driveway spacing and distance to intersections. The spacing between driveways and the distance from a driveway to an intersection must be approved by the city traffic engineer and shall be based on the City of Sacramento Department of Public Works design and procedures manual, consistent with traffic engineering principles and standards. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.080 Variance.

17.508.080 Variance. A. A variance is a waiver or modification of a requirement contained in section 17.508.040 through section 17.508.070. The following criteria must be satisfied before a variance will be approved: 1. A variance may be approved if justified by special conditions that prevent strict compliance with the requirements of this chapter. 2. A variance is not a special privilege available to only one property owner. The circumstances must be such that the same variance would be appropriate for any property owner facing similar circumstances. 3. A variance will only be approved if granting the variance would not create a potential hazard or a threat to public health or safety. B. An application for a variance shall be filed with the city traffic engineer, who shall have authority to grant or deny the variance. A variance, if approved, may be made subject to conditions as are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. Upon approval of a variance, written notice of the approval shall be sent, by mail, to owners of property abutting the property where the variance has been granted. This written notice shall include the name of the applicant, location of the subject property, nature of the variance and shall provide notice of the right to appeal the approval of the variance in accordance with section 17.508.140. C. For a driveway permit that requires a variance, no permit shall be issued and no public improvement plans shall be approved: 1. until the traffic engineer grants the variance and the period to appeal has expired; or 2. until the director of public works approves the variance on appeal. D. If an application for a variance is denied by the city traffic engineer or by the director of public works on appeal no new application for the same or substantially the same variance shall be filed within one year after the date of denial unless the director of public works authorizes the filing of the new application. E. An application for variance shall be accompanied by a filing and investigation fee established by resolution of the city council. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.090 Modification of existing facilities.

17.508.090 Modification of existing facilities. Substantial modifications of parking areas, maneuvering areas, or buildings served by a driveway shall constitute a new plan of operation. In all such cases, new applications for driveways must be submitted, including all plans and payment of all fees. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.100 Abandonment of driveways.

17.508.100 Abandonment of driveways. A. All abandoned driveways shall be removed by the lot owner within 60 days of the abandonment or within 45 days from the time the city traffic engineer gives the lot owner written notice, whichever occurs first. B. All driveway removals shall be the responsibility of the lot owner, and all work shall be done at the owner's expense. Work in the public right-of-way shall be in accordance with the city standard specifications in effect at the time the permit is issued. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.110 Availability of permits.

17.508.110 Availability of permits. Driveway permits must be obtained prior to the issuance of building permits or parking facility permits. Driveway permits must be available at the site at the time construction begins and must remain available at the site during constructions until final driveway inspection. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.120 Construction standards.

17.508.120 Construction standards. A. Construction of all driveways in the public right-of-way shall be in accordance with the standard specifications of the city and under the inspection of the director of public works. B. All construction in public right-of-way shall be completed in the shortest reasonable time. Construction not completed within the period provided for in the permit may be completed by the city and costs may be placed as a lien on the lot. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.130 Penalties for violations.

17.508.130 Penalties for violations. A. Any person who installs, or causes to be installed a driveway without obtaining a required permit is liable for the cost of restoration of the public right-of-way to its original condition. B. Any person who begins construction of a driveway before obtaining a required permit shall be required to pay three times the standard permit fee for a permit. C. Any person who installs a driveway without obtaining the required inspection of forms may be required to remove all surfacing materials for inspection of subgrade. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Sacramento City Code § 17.508.140 Appeals.

17.508.140 Appeals. Any person may appeal to the director of public works an action taken under this chapter by the city traffic engineer, by filing a notice of appeal with the department of public works. The notice of appeal shall be filed with the department of public works no later than 10 days after the city traffic engineer's action, except that an appeal of a variance granted pursuant to section 17.508.080 shall be filed no later than 10 days after written notice is mailed to owners of property abutting the property where the variance has been granted, as specified in section 17.508.080.B. Upon receipt of a timely and complete notice of appeal, the department of public works shall schedule a date and time when the appeal will be heard by the public works director. Notice of the date, time, and location of the hearing shall be mailed to the person filing the notice of appeal no later than 10 days prior to the date of the hearing. (Ord. 2017-0009 § 13)

Source: City of Sacramento, Sacramento City Code (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sacramentoca/latest/sacramento_ca/0-0-0-38560Fetched: 10/24/2026