RO Zone-Residential Office Zone

Sacramento City Code tit. 17, div. II, ch. 17.212, art. II

in effect

Sacramento City Code § 17.212.200 RO zone-Purpose.

17.212.200 RO zone-Purpose. The purpose of the RO zone is to provide a medium-density multiple-family zone, generally located inside the central city and in certain adjacent areas. The zone permits development of office and other commercial uses that are compatible with adjacent residential uses. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.212.210 RO zone-Permitted uses.

17.212.210 RO zone-Permitted uses. A. Permitted uses. The following uses are permitted by right in the RO zone, subject to the limitations specified: Use | Limitations 1. Residential Uses | Dormitory | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.111 Dwelling, duplex | Dwelling, multi-unit | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.117 Dwelling, single-unit | Low barrier navigation center | Residential care facility | Residential hotel | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.112 2. Commercial and Institutional Uses | Assembly-cultural, religious, social | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.128 Bed and breakfast inn | Childcare center | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.113 Community clinic | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.118 . Community market | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.124 Nonresidential care facility | Office | 3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses | Community garden, private (not exceeding 1.0 acre) | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. Market garden (not exceeding 1.0 acre) | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. Solar energy system, commercial (city property) | Allowed in this zone and exempt from the provisions of this title B. Conditional uses. The following uses in the RO 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 | | Fraternity house; sorority house | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.111 | PDC Mobilehome park | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.115 | PDC Temporary residential shelter | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.600 et seq. | ZA 2. Commercial and Institutional Uses | | Amusement center, outdoor | | PDC Cemetery | | PDC Golf course; driving range | | PDC Kennel | | ZA Non-profit organization, food preparation for off-site consumption | | PDC Non-profit organization, food storage and distribution | | PDC Non-profit organization, meal service facility | | PDC Nonresidential care 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 any applicable development standards related to the proposed 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 Transit vehicle-service, repair, storage | | PDC Veterinary clinic; veterinary hospital | | ZA 3. Industrial and Agricultural Uses | | Antenna; telecommunications facility | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.300 et seq. | PDC Boat dock; marina | | PDC Community garden, private (exceeding 1.0 acre) | 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 Market garden (exceeding 1.0 acre) | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. | ZA Passenger terminal | | PDC Well-gas, oil | | PDC C. Accessory uses. The following uses are permitted in the RO zone when accessory to a permitted or conditional use, subject to the limitations specified: Use | Limitations Accessory antenna | Aquaculture | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. Childcare, in-home (family day care home) | Common area | Dwelling unit, accessory | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105 Dwelling unit, junior accessory | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.105 Family care facility | Family day care facility | Home occupation | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.200 et seq. Private garden | Subject to special use regulations in section 17.228.810 et seq. Urban beekeeping | Subject to section 9.44.330 D. Prohibited uses. All uses not listed as permitted, conditional, or accessory uses are prohibited in the RO zone. (Ord. 2026-0001 § 7; Ord. 2025-0007 § 4; Ord. 2024-0054 § 20; Ord. 2024-0051 § 6; Ord. 2024-0017 § 26; Ord. 2021-0023 § 22; Ord. 2020-0021 § 23; Ord. 2016-0001 § 15; Ord. 2015-0005 § 23; Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.212.220 RO zone-Height, density, lot coverage, and floor area ratios.

17.212.220 RO zone-Height, density, lot coverage, and floor area ratios. A. Height. The maximum height is 35 feet. B. Density. The maximum density is 36 dwelling units per net acre. C. Lot coverage. 1. Outside the central city, the maximum lot coverage for dwellings in the RO zone is 60%. 2. Office uses in the RO zone have no maximum lot coverage. 3. Floor area ratios. The minimum and maximum floor area ratios are established in the general plan. (Ord. 2013-0020 § 1; Ord. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.212.230 RO zone-Setbacks.

17.212.230 RO zone-Setbacks. A. Front-yard setback. 1. Minimum front-yard setback. a. If there are at least two other buildings with front-yard setbacks on the same side of the street on the same block as the lot for which the setback is being determined, the minimum front-yard setback is the average of the two front-yard setbacks of the nearest two buildings or 25 feet, whichever is less. b. If there is only one other building with a front-yard setback on the same side of the street on the same block as the lot for which the setback is being determined, the minimum front-yard setback is the front-yard setback of that building or 25 feet, whichever is less. c. If there is no other building with a front-yard setback on the same side of the street on the same block, the minimum front-yard setback is 20 feet. 2. If a parcel fronts a right-of-way that has a planter strip between the street pavement and the sidewalk, the width of the planter strip is counted in the front-yard setback. B. Street side-yard setback. 1. The minimum street side-yard setback for single-unit and two-unit dwellings is three feet. 2. The minimum street side-yard setback for multi-unit dwellings is five feet. C. Interior side-yard setback. 1. Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, there is no minimum interior side-yard setback. 2. If the interior side-yard lot line abuts a lot in the R-1 or R-1B zone or a lot containing a detached single-unit dwelling, the minimum interior side-yard setback is five feet. D. Rear-yard setback. 1. Unless paragraph 2 of this subsection applies, the minimum rear-yard setback is 15 feet. 2. If the rear-yard lot line abuts a public alley, the rear-yard setback is five 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)

Sacramento City Code § 17.212.240 RO zone-Generally applicable development standards.

17.212.240 RO 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. 2013-0007 § 1)

Sacramento City Code § 17.212.250 RO zone-Site plan and design review.

17.212.250 RO 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. The structure shall be predominantly residential in appearance. To achieve this end, conditions may be placed on parking area location and design, signage, and landscaping. 3. 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 § 28; 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/0-0-0-34805Fetched: 10/24/2026