Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Sonoma, CA (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Sonoma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
The City of Sonoma requires developments of five or more parcels or units to make at least 25 percent of them affordable, or pay an in-lieu fee if the project has four or fewer units. Qualifying affordable projects can then claim a state-law density bonus, processed under the city's own Chapter 19.44 procedures.
City of Sonoma Density Bonus & Inclusionary Housing
Significant RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 19.44.020(C)
C. Inclusionary Requirements. 1. A development containing five or more parcels or units shall provide the following affordable housing units: a. Rental Projects. A rental project shall provide that at least 25 percent of the total parcels and/or units are rental units that are affordable to households in the extremely low, very low, and low income categories. ... ... 2. A development containing...
Downtown Design Guide
New construction, storefront remodels, and building alterations within the City of Sonoma's Downtown district, the eight-acre Plaza area designated a National Historic Landmark, must follow Chapter 19.34's design standards. The rules push architecture toward Sonoma's own historic vernacular rather than generic corporate styling, and require large buildings to break up their massing so they read at a pedestrian scale.
Downtown Sonoma Design Standards
Some RestrictionsSonoma Municipal Code § 19.34.020(B)(3)
3. Building Types – Guidelines for Commercial and Mixed Use Structures. ... New commercial and mixed use buildings and alterations to existing structures should reinforce the authentic historic character of the downtown district. ... ... c. Architectural styles and details that reflect the Sonoma vernacular should be used. In the Downtown district, examples include stone, stucco, pressed metal,...
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sonoma city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Sonoma County →