When most people hear the words "Zoning Code," they probably think about developers, construction projects and a whole lot of rules that have very little to do with their everyday lives—and some people probably don’t ever hear the words “Zoning Code” at all.
But zoning affects much more than what gets built where. (We promise we are going to make this interesting, so please keep reading.)
It can determine whether you can run a business from your home, how many pets you can keep, how tall you can build a backyard workshop, where you can park a vehicle, where a childcare center can operate and even how a restaurant can expand its business.
That is why the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors' recent approval of a comprehensive update to the County's Zoning Code is more relevant to residents than they may realize.
The update addresses 134 issues identified by residents, business owners, developers, County staff and other stakeholders since the current Zoning Code was adopted in 2015. The changes range from small technical corrections to significant policy changes designed to make the Code easier to understand, remove outdated regulations and make it easier to do business and build in the unincorporated County.
In other words, the County is doing some major housekeeping.
And while many of the changes are aimed at improving the development process, plenty have a much more familiar feeling.
Here are a few of the changes residents may find particularly interesting.
More dogs and cats on some larger properties
Yes, the Zoning Code has rules about how many dogs and cats you can have.
Currently, residents can have up to four dogs and four cats by right. Under the updated Code, certain properties of at least one acre will be able to accommodate more dogs and cats as personal pets.
For example, properties in agricultural and some other larger-lot zoning districts can have up to 10 furry companions by right. In some other residential zoning districts, this allowance may be unlocked with a Minor Use Permit.
The changes are part of a larger effort to update the County's animal and pet-service regulations so they better reflect how animals are actually kept and how animal-related businesses operate today.
So, yes, your pets are officially part of the Zoning Code conversation.
Your home business doesn't have to be "part-time" anymore
The County's home occupation rules were largely written in 1984, long before remote work, online businesses and many of the ways people work from home today.
Those rules included a "part-time" category that limited certain home businesses to 32 hours per week and eight hours per day. The update removes that blanket limitation.
That does not mean every business can suddenly operate from a home without restrictions. Home occupations will still have to meet standards related to noise, traffic, visitors, parking and the amount of space used for the business.
The update also removes some outdated restrictions and clarifies how modern internet-based businesses and other home-based activities should be treated.
The result is a set of home occupation rules that better reflect how work happens in 2026.
Your backyard workshop, studio or other accessory structure may have more flexibility
If you've ever wanted a bigger workshop, studio, pool house or other structure to store your stuff in your backyard, this one may get your attention.
The current rules limit residential accessory structures to 16 feet at the peak and 14 feet at the plate line. The County is removing the 14-foot plate-line restriction, which was designed around traditional pitched roofs and can be difficult to apply to modern, box-shaped or prefabricated structures.
The update also allows residential accessory structures to use the same height allowances as certain incidental agricultural structures, which can reach 24 feet, when increased setbacks are provided.
The change is partly about making the rules easier to apply consistently. Staff noted that it can be difficult to distinguish an "agricultural" structure from a residential accessory structure based solely on what is stored inside it.
Property owners get more flexibility while still being required to meet appropriate setbacks.
Pool and spa rules are getting a little less confusing
The County's Zoning Code currently has pool standards in more than one place.
The update consolidates those standards into one location, removes outdated or unnecessary provisions and clarifies setback requirements for above-ground pools and spas.
We know this isn’t the most exciting zoning change we’re making, but it is a good example of the type of housekeeping happening throughout the Code.
Sometimes modernization means creating a brand-new policy. Sometimes it means making it much easier for a homeowner to figure out which rule actually applies to their backyard pool.
Childcare is getting a zoning update, too
The current Code separates adult and child day care centers in a way that can create confusion, including situations where facilities serving adults with mental disabilities are classified as child day care centers.
The updated Code creates a consolidated "day care center" category and uses a sliding scale based on the number of people in care to determine the appropriate level of review.
It also allows childcare centers to operate by right when they are located with multifamily housing, consistent with a state law that took effect earlier this year.
That change is particularly relevant as the County works to support housing and expand access to childcare.
Small tutoring and training businesses are getting a clearer path
Not every school is a school in the traditional sense.
Under the current Code, small training businesses such as tutoring programs, CPR schools, medical training programs and computer classes can be classified as "private schools," even when they serve fewer than 25 students.
The update creates a new category for smaller educational facilities and provides a more appropriate level of zoning review for these businesses, recognizing that such businesses are fundamentally different from a traditional full-scale school.
A tutoring center with 15 students shouldn't have to navigate the same zoning process as a full-scale school.
Restaurants will have more flexibility to cater
A restaurant is a restaurant, right?
Not necessarily, at least according to zoning.
The current Code allows restaurants in a wide range of areas, but catering and wholesale food production are permitted in fewer zones.
The update will allow restaurants to conduct catering operations by right. Restaurants that want to engage in wholesale food production will be able to do so with a Minor Use Permit.
The change recognizes that many restaurants and bakeries already operate in ways that include catering or other food production as a meaningful part of their business.
The County is updating its regulations to better reflect how those businesses actually operate.
Fire stations are getting a zoning tune-up, too
The updated Code also cuts several months from the permit process for fire stations near residential areas, helping these public-safety facilities move from planning to construction more quickly. The goal is simple: get fire stations built where they are needed so first responders can be there when residents need help.
OK, let's get into the weird stuff
If you've made it this far, you may be thinking, "Wait, that's in the Zoning Code?"
Exactly.
The Zoning Code contains rules for an incredible variety of activities and businesses because zoning is, at its core, about deciding what types of activities can happen on a property and how those activities fit with the surrounding community.
That means some of the changes in this update are surprisingly specific.
Arcades are finally catching up with the times
Yes, the Zoning Code has specific rules for arcades.
And those rules date back to 1982, targeting teens skipping sixth period to play Pac-Man and Space Invaders.
The updated Code removes those outdated regulations, recognizing the many ways gaming and recreation have evolved since then.
So, yes: after more than four decades, the County's arcade rules are getting a reboot.
Tattoo shops are becoming "Body Art Facilities"
The County is replacing the outdated "Tattoo Shop" classification with a broader "Body Art Facility" category, bringing the terminology in line with California's Body Art Act and recognizing that body art can include more than traditional tattooing.
The County is also lowering the level of review required for body art facilities in certain commercial and industrial zones and clarifying that activities such as ear piercing can be included within personal services.
Art studios and body art can overlap
The updated rules also recognize that body art facilities can operate as an incidental use within an art gallery or art studio when the body art portion makes up no more than 25 percent of the floor area.
Does that sound oddly specific, yes. But it reflects a larger goal of the update: making sure the categories in the Zoning Code match the businesses and activities that actually exist in the community.
Cottage food and meal prep are getting clearer definitions
The County is also updating its definitions to better align "Cottage Food Operations" with California's Retail Food Code.
And the Code will clarify that catering services include meal prep businesses.
Again, these may seem like small changes, but they are examples of the County updating regulations to reflect the way people and businesses operate today.
Why make all of these changes?
The County's Zoning Code is the rulebook for land use in the unincorporated County. It helps determine what can be built on a property, what businesses can operate there, what activities are allowed in residential neighborhoods and what level of review is required before certain projects can move forward.
The current Zoning Code was adopted in 2015. Since then, residents, businesses, developers, County staff and other community stakeholders have identified hundreds of questions, inconsistencies and areas where the regulations no longer fit the way people live and work.
The 2023 Zoning Code Update brings 134 of those issues together into one comprehensive package. And yes, we know it's 2026. Zoning takes a little time.
Some changes make it easier to build. Some make it easier to run a business. Some simply clarify a confusing rule. Some remove regulations that have become outdated. And some address things that most residents probably never realized were governed by zoning in the first place.
A Zoning Code is not just a rulebook for developers. It is one of the tools the County uses to help shape communities, balance different property and land use needs and make sure its regulations keep pace with the people and businesses those regulations are intended to serve.
So, when do all of these changes take effect? The updated Zoning Code will take effect on Sept. 10, 2026, giving residents, businesses and property owners a little time to get familiar with the new rules.