Countywide Rezone Program

​Sacramento County currently has a shortfall of available vacant sites that would accommodate its lower-income Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Under state law, the County is required to ensure that enough suitably zoned land is available to accommodate the RHNA at the required density of 30 dwelling units per acre. To address this deficiency, the Board of Supervisors initiated a rezone and Zoning Code amendment on October 20, 2021 to take the following actions: 

  • Rezone at least 165 acres to multi-family zoning classifications.

  • Amend the Zoning Code to implement Housing Element programs​​ A2 and B7 and modify the density range or maximum density for properties zoned Residential 20 (RD-20) or greater; and

  • Amend Special Planning Areas (SPAs), as​ necessary, to modify the density range or maximum density for RD-20 and greater zoned properties.

Timeline

The Countywide Rezone process was initiated in Fall 2021 and culminated in its adoption by the Board of Supervisors in 2024. This met the statutory deadline set by California state law.


Update

On August 20, 2024, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted resolution and approved ordinances authorizing the rezone of 74 candidate rezone sites, totaling approximately 217 acres, to accommodate the shortfall and establish a buffer for the County’s lower-income RHNA and increase the buffer for the moderate-income RHNA. The list of candidate rezone sites considered and approved is available here. Additionally, the Board also approved an ordinance amending the Sacramento County Zoning Code to comply with State housing law requirements. The rezone and Zoning Code amendments will go into effect on September 19, 2024. 

With the completion of the Countywide Rezone Program, the County fulfills its lower-income RHNA obligation as prescribed in Housing Action Plan Program A1 of the Housing Element. 

The County remains committed to rezoning additional properties and intends to bring forth a second package of rezone sites specifically in planned communities such as Vineyard and Antelope. A defined timeline for the second package will be provided when available. Please revisit this webpage for future updates. 


Public Outreach:

​​​​Project Documents:

​A Draft SEIR has been prepared by the County of Sacramento pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. The review period for the Draft SEIR began April 5, 2024 and ended on May 20, 2024.​

FAQs

Nothing. Neither the property owner nor the County are required to build the units estimated to be provided on the Land Inventory. If you sell the property or choose to develop it as multifamily, you or the future owner/developer will be required within the density range identified by its new zoning classification.​

You can view the locations of all the candidate rezone sites in the map below. You can also download a PDF of this map​.

Countywide Rezone_Master_Map - Package 1_V2.jpg

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The State has outlined criteria for vacant sites to be designated as suitable for housing development affordable to lower-income levels:

  • Sites must be at least 0.8 acres, but less than 10 acres.

  • Have exist​ing access to infrastructure (e.g. water, sewer, dry utilities)

  • Be in close proximity to services (e.g transit opportunities, parks, commercial centers)

County staff also prioritized rezoning sites that already allowed multifamily development; many of the sites on the rezone list already allow a housing density of 20 units per acre, but must allow at least 30 units per acre to satisfy the lower-income RHNA.

The County has also committed to rezone sites equivalent to 30% of the remaining lower-income RHNA along commercial corridors in moderate, high, and highest-resource areas to affirmatively further fair housing choice. This includes portions of Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Orangevale, Cordova, and Antelope. More information on the requirement to affirmatively further fair housing can be found on the State of California Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) website​​. 


The RHNA is a minimum projection of additional housing units needed to accommodate projected growth of all income levels by the end of the Housing Element’s planning period. 

Every eight years, HCD provides Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) with an amount of dwelling units the region must plan for. SACOG is then responsible for allocating these units to each city and county within its region. Each jurisdiction then adopts a Housing Element that demonstrates how they can accommodate their RHNA units in their zoning. 

California (HCD) - SACOG RHND 153,512 Units - Local Jurisdictions, SacCounty's 2021-2029 RHNA 21,272 Units

More information on SACOG’s process for RHNA calculations can be found on​ their website​​.

Sacramento County’s total RHNA for 2021-2029 at all income levels is shown below. Please note that the County is proposing to rezone properties to accommodate lower and moderate income housing need. ​

​2021 - 2029 Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)​​
​Income Category 
​Number of Units
​Percentage
​Lower-Income
​7,158
​33.6%
​Moderate-Income
​4,186
19.7%​
​Above Moderate-Income
​9,928
​46.7%
​Total
​21,272
100%​


Lower income is inclusive of the low, very low and extremely-low income categories. These following income ranges are based on a percentage of Sacramento County’s average median income: 


​​Income Category​
​Income
​Occupation
​Extremely Low-Income
​$0 - $25,900
​N/A. Typically residents on fixed incomes (e.g., social security, disability) 
​Very Low-Income
​$25,901 - $43,150
​Food Preparation and Serving; Personal Care and Services; Farming, Fish​​ing, and Forestry
​Low-Income
​$43,151 - $69,050
Sales and Retail; Healthcare Support; Office and Administrative Support ​
​Moderate-Income
​$69,051 - $103,550
Education, Training, and Library; Community and Social Services; Installation, Maintenance and Repair; County Planners​

​

These are based on the “opportunity index” maps prepared by HCD and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC). The maps are intended to display the areas that, according to research, offer low-income children and adults the best chance at economic advancement, high educational attainment, and good physical and mental health. 

The primary function of TCAC is to oversee the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, which provides funding to developers of affordable rental housing. The opportunity maps play a critical role in shaping the future distribution of affordable housing in areas with the highest opportunity. 

A map showing the opportunity index of the unincorporated areas of the County can be found on the CTAC/HCD Opportunity Area Maps webpage​.

The County is required to complete the rezone program by May 2024. If the County fails to fulfill its rezone obligation, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will likely de-certify the Housing Element and potentially pursue legal action against the County. Not having a certified Housing Element will also cause the County to become ineligible for state funding critical for new housing construction and unable to maintain existing affordable housing. 

Please contact Jessie Shen at shenj@saccounty.gov​.

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