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Planning commission recommends sweeping 2023 zoning code update to Board of Supervisors
Summary
After a multi-hour presentation and questions, the commission voted unanimously to recommend a countywide update to chapters 1–7 of the Sacramento County Zoning Code (134 amendments) to the Board of Supervisors; staff stressed the package includes procedural clarifications, residential and commercial rule changes, battery energy storage standards and measures to expedite compliance with state mandates.
The Sacramento County Planning Commission voted June 8 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt a substantial update to the county’s zoning code, encompassing 134 amendments to chapters 1 through 7 and Title 4.
Matthew Jamoy, lead project manager in Planning and Environmental Review, said the package addresses a decade of stakeholder feedback and includes clarifications and policy changes intended to reduce the number of hearing-body reviews and to allow more approvals at the staff level. Key proposals called out by Jamoy included increasing accessory-structure height allowances for residential properties to 24 feet, updates to the home-occupation rules, changes to driveway-length minimums for subdivisions, revised bucket-use classifications for commercial businesses, an overhaul of temporary-use rules to better account for private-property food concessions and food trucks, and the codification of utility-scale battery energy storage system standards.
Jamoy said the package also seeks to close regulatory gaps for agricultural operators — for example, allowing commercial-vehicle storage on-site for agricultural businesses with at least 20 acres or for parcels under Williamson Act contracts — and to reduce hearing-body levels for selected facilities like some fire stations and restaurants in industrial zones. He told commissioners that 134 numbered amendments were included and that the Board hearing is scheduled for July 28; the zoning-code amendments would take effect 30 days after board adoption.
Commissioners thanked staff for the breadth of the work and asked technical questions about how the zoning update interacts with separate microenterprise home-kitchen (MCO) efforts, notice and outreach to Community Planning Advisory Committees (CPACs), and enforcement of sidewalk-vendor or temporary-use rules. Jamoy and Planning Director Todd Smith said MCO work is a separate effort, staff will improve CPAC notice (including indicating when staff presentations are posted) and the county will develop education materials in the lead-up to the board hearing. Jamoy also discussed responses to workshop concerns such as pesticide-notice processes (with input from Agricultural Commissioner Chris Flores) and limits proposed for homebased vehicle-share operations.
After discussion, the commission moved to recommend adoption to the Board of Supervisors; commissioners recorded their support with all members present voting yes. The Board hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2026; if adopted there, the updated code would take effect 30 days later.
