Sacramento County, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum project size
- 5+ units
- Low income set-aside threshold
- 10% of units
- Very low income set-aside threshold
- 5% of units
- Reviewing agency
- Planning and Environmental Review
- State law basis
- CA GOV §65915-§65917
Summary
Sacramento County grants density bonuses of up to 5-20%+ above base zoning for housing developments that set aside affordable units, under its Affordable Housing Incentive Program.
The County shall consider a density bonus and/or provide incentives/concessions or waivers, as described in this Section, when an applicant for a Housing Development (including Shared Housing Buildings) of five or more units seeks and agrees to construct a project that will contain at least one of the following:
At least 10 percent of the total units of the Housing Development as target units affordable to Low Income Households;
At least five percent of the total units of the Housing Development as target units affordable to Very Low Income Households;
Senior Citizen Housing Development including a mobile home park age-restricted to senior citizens (no affordable units required);
At least 10 percent of the total units in a for-sale Common Interest Development affordable to Moderate Income Households;
100 percent of the housing units (other than manager’s units) are restricted to very low, lower, and moderate income residents (with a maximum of 20 percent moderate income);
At least 10 percent of the housing units are for transitional foster youth, disabled veterans, or homeless persons, with rents restricted at the very low income level;
At least 20 percent of the housing units are for low income college students in housing dedicated for full-time students at accredited colleges;
Full Breakdown
Under Zoning Code Section 6.5.4, a housing development of five or more units qualifies for a density bonus, incentives, or waivers of development standards if it sets aside at least 10% of units for Low Income Households, 5% for Very Low Income Households, or 10% (for-sale) for Moderate Income Households, among other eligibility paths. The bonus percentage is calculated per Table 6.4, implementing the state Density Bonus Law (CA GOV §65915-§65917). Applicants file with Planning and Environmental Review and may request incentives, concessions, or waivers of standards that would otherwise physically preclude the project.
Violations & Fines
Density bonus, incentive, and waiver requests are reviewed and conditioned through the discretionary Housing Development application process handled by Planning and Environmental Review; no bonus is granted without an approved Affordable Housing Agreement recorded against the parcel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much density bonus can a project get in Sacramento County?
What affordable housing share qualifies a project for a bonus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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