Sacramento, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- Govt Code §65915
- Maximum bonus
- Up to 50%
- Local code
- Title 17
- Concessions
- Up to 4
Summary
California Government Code §65915 grants developers up to 50% additional density and waivers from local development standards when projects include affordable, senior, or supportive housing. Sacramento implements the bonus through Title 17.
65915.
(a) (1) When an applicant seeks a density bonus for a housing development within, or for the donation of land for housing within, the jurisdiction of a city, county, or city and county, that local government shall comply with this section. A city, county, or city and county shall adopt an ordinance that specifies how compliance with this section will be implemented. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (s), failure to adopt an ordinance shall not relieve a city, county, or city and county from complying with this section.
(2) A local government shall not condition the submission, review, or approval of an application pursuant to this chapter on the preparation of an additional report or study that is not otherwise required by state law, including this section. This subdivision does not prohibit a local government from requiring an applicant to provide reasonable documentation to establish eligibility for a requested density bonus, as described in subdivision (b), and parking ratios, as described in subdivision (p).
Full Breakdown
Government Code §65915 (the State Density Bonus Law) requires every California city, including Sacramento, to grant density bonuses, concessions, and waivers when developers reserve units for very-low, low, or moderate-income households, seniors, transitional foster youth, or specially designated populations. Sacramento codifies the formula in Title 17 of the City Code. Bonuses scale with affordability: a 15% very-low-income set-aside unlocks roughly a 50% density bonus and three concessions. The city cannot deny the bonus on subjective design grounds and must process requests with the underlying entitlement.
Violations & Fines
Cities that improperly deny density-bonus applications face Housing Accountability Act claims with attorney-fee exposure and potential HCD enforcement. Developers who fail to record the affordability covenant can lose certificate-of-occupancy approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to ADUs?
Can Sacramento deny my bonus request?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento to another location·View the California zoning overlays & bonuses overview
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Density Bonus Law in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle density bonus law.