Title
2025 Title 17 Omnibus Ordinance: An Ordinance Amending Various Provisions of Title 17 of the Sacramento City Code Relating to Planning and Development (M25-013) [Published 01/02/2026]
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FileID
File ID: 2026-00023
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Location
Location: Citywide
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Recommendation
Recommendation: Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion, pass a Motion: 1) determining the attached ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3), and 15378(b)(5); and 2) adopt an Ordinance amending various provisions in Title 17 of the Sacramento City Code relating to Planning and Development.
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Contact
Contact: Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, (916) 808-5260, kcolin@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Presenter
Presenter: Kevin Colin, Zoning Administrator, (916) 808-5260, kcolin@cityofsacramento.org, Community Development Department
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Attachments
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Background
3-Ordinance (Redline)
4-Ordinance (Clean)
5-Staff Presentation
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Description/Analysis
IssueDetail
Issue Detail: The proposed omnibus ordinance includes various amendments to Title 17 of the City Code in response to new planning and zoning laws passed during the 2024 State legislative session as well as a budget trailer bill from May 2025. The amendments are, with two exceptions, limited to changes necessary to align the City Code with State law, including:
• AB 2085 (Community Clinics)
• SB 1211 (Accessory Dwelling Units)
• AB 2904 (Zoning Ordinances: Notices)
• AB 3122 (Streamlined Housing Approvals)
• AB 2243 (Middle Class Housing Act of 2022 and Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022: Ministerial Housing Changes)
• SB 450 (SB 9 Approvals)
• AB 130 (Housing Omnibus - Permit Streamlining Act)
One administrative clean-up amendment is included to clarify the criteria for staff to determine the timely filing of appeals; another is to address the applicability of objective standards to accessory dwelling units located in historic districts or on landmark properties.
A detailed explanation of proposed amendments is provided at Attachment 2 (Background). A redline (showing deletions/additions) and clean version of the ordinance are at Attachment 3 and 4.
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PolicyConsiderations
Policy Considerations: Title 17 (Planning & Development Code) is the primary means by which the City’s land use policy is implemented. The ordinance helps advance the following 2040 General Plan goals and policies:
Land Use Element
Goal LU-1: A compact urban footprint and sustainable development pattern with infrastructure that supports efficient delivery of public services while protecting surrounding open space lands.
Goal LU-2: Balanced and connected community with thriving neighborhoods and centers and development intensities linked to transit.
Goal LU-3: Flexible development standards to promote revitalization in corridors and centers.
Housing Element
Policy H-2.3.2: Streamlined Application and Building Process. The City shall continue to facilitate interdepartmental review of development applications, encourage pre-application meetings with planning and building staff, and streamline the overall planning application and building process for all development types.
Policy H-2.3.5: Clear Development Standards and Approval Procedures. The City shall maintain and administer clear development standards, and approval procedures for a variety of housing types, including, but not limited to, multifamily housing and emergency shelters.
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EconomicImpacts
Economic Impacts: None.
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EnvironmentalConsiderations
Environmental Considerations: The proposed ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3), 15061(b)(3), and 15378(b)(5). None of the proposed amendments will result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment and as such the ordinance is exempt from CEQA review.
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Sustainability
Sustainability: The proposed ordinance includes amendments that help to make zoning standards easier to understand and implement. This will help facilitate development in the City in a manner consistent with existing policy, including that relating to sustainability.
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Commission/Committee Action
Commission/Committee Action: On May 28, 2025, pursuant to City Code Section 17.916.010(A), the Planning Director initiated the proposed ordinance. On November 13, 2025, pursuant to City Code Section 17.916.010.B, the Planning & Design Commission reviewed the ordinance and, after conducting a public hearing, forwarded an approval recommendation to City Council. On December 2, 2025, pursuant to the City Council Rules of Procedure, the Law & Legislation Committee considered the ordinance and forwarded an approval recommendation to City Council. On December 9, 2025, the City Council
passed for publication the ordinance title in accordance with Sacramento Charter section 32(c).
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RationaleforRecommendation
Rationale for Recommendation: Orderly and well-planned development cannot be easily achieved without accurate and clear regulations. The ordinance provides for regulations which are consistent with new state laws. In doing so, the ordinance helps staff and code users maintain focus on achieving the policy goal rather than being distracted by questions about City Code inconsistencies with state law.
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FinancialConsiderations
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
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LocalBusinessEnterprise
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
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