Sacramento County, CA Parking Rules: Driveway Rules (2026)

The core rule sits in Sacramento County Zoning Code § 5.9.3.F.2.b. On a lot of 15,000 net square feet or less, every place a car parks inside the required front yard, the required side street yard, and all areas between the front and side street walls of the primary dwelling and the right-of-way must be impervious and continuously paved: concrete, asphalt, or non-permeable pavers. A concrete ribbon or gravel driveway may lead to a concrete parking pad, but no one may park on the ribbon or gravel itself. Outside those front areas, such as a side or rear yard, vehicles can sit on permeable and cool paving (permeable pavers, gravel, limestone) if they are screened from the right-of-way and neighboring properties, and an internal combustion vehicle has an oil drip pan or oil absorbent mat under the engine.

Lots over 15,000 net square feet fall under § 5.9.3.F.2.c, which only encourages permeable and cool paving instead of required impervious surfacing. Each parking space must be at least nine feet wide by 19 feet long (§ 5.9.3.F.2.d). A garage is not required, but one that is built must measure at least 10 feet wide and 20 feet deep inside, and counts as a single vehicle space; staff can approve a reduction of up to 10 percent in length or area administratively if the garage still fits one standard vehicle (§ 5.9.3.F.2.e). Driveways must be at least 22 feet long, and a Special Development Permit can reduce that to no less than 20 feet (§ 5.9.3.F.2.f).

Paving also counts against the hardscape cap in § 5.2.4.C.3. Interior lots follow Table 5.2.A: 50% of the required front yard with 65 or more feet of street frontage; the required front setback multiplied by 32 for 40 to 64.9 feet; multiplied by 24 for 30 to 39.9 feet; and multiplied by 8, plus the area leading to a legal carport or garage, for 29.9 feet or less. Corner lots get 50 percent of the combined required front and side street yards. Existing paving that exceeds the cap before September 10, 2026 can be repaired and replaced but not expanded without a Minor Special Development Permit. Section 5.9.3.B requires Engineering Division approval for curb cuts, and § 5.9.3.A.4 encourages shared driveways where the drive sits on a shared property line, an easement is recorded, and the width fits the added vehicles.