Home

>  CDD

>  planning

>  infill-house-plan-program

>

Infill House Plan Program
Frequently Asked Questions

In what areas can the plans be used?

The homes are approved for use throughout the City, in all design review areas with the exception of the Central City. They are not pre-approved for use within any planned unit developments (PUDs).  See map of design review areas.

What properties are eligible?

The lots need to be zoned for single family development (R-1 or R-2), be sufficient in size to accommodate the houses, and meet zoning requirements. The homes were designed to fit the most common sizes of vacant lots in the older neighborhoods. The Easton plan was generally designed for 40x100 foot lots, and the two Piches plans were designed for 50x120 foot lots. The plans can also be accommodated on lots that are larger than these sizes, and in some cases, on narrower or shallower lots if they still meet zoning requirements. Please note: Due to changes in the building code and reduced City resources, only the Piches plans are currently available and comply with the new 2008 Building Code. The City hopes to have the Easton plan available again in the near future.

To determine the zoning requirements for a particular property, contact the Planning Division of the City of Sacramento Community Development Department at (916) 808-5656 or at ezpermit@cityofsacramento.org.

There are vacant lots in the city that are too narrow or too shallow to accommodate these homes. This is a pilot program. If successful, the City hopes to add other plans to suit other lot sizes.

Below is a summary of common zoning requirements for reference. Please contact City Planning for specific requirements for specific lots.

General Zoning Requirements for Single Family Homes (R-1 Zoned Lots)
Lot Sizes	Minimum Setbacks				Maximum Lot Coverage	Maximum coverage of rear yard by garage
	Front Yard	Back Yard	Side Yard (Interior)	Side Yard (Street Side)
Interior Lots-width	20 feet, or the average of the two adjacent front yard setbacks.	15 feet, or 5 feet if the backyard abuts a public alley.			40% or 2500 square feet whichever is greater, but cannot exceed 50%.	33% or 350 square feet of required rear yard, whichever is greater.
52 feet or more			5 feet	12.5 feet
Less than 52 feet			3 feet	12.5 feet
Corner Lots-width
62 feet or more			5 feet	12.5 feet
Less than 62 feet			3 feet	12.5 feet

How much do the plans cost and where do I purchase them?

The plans are sold directly by the architects that prepared them. The cost is $1,850 for the Piches plans, and the price includes a site plan layout for your lot. The architects will provide customers with the site plan and a stamped set of plans. Bring the site plan and the stamped plans to the City to submit for the building permit.

What information will I need to submit?

You will need to submit a site plan, a site plan questionnaire related to conditions on the site (e.g., drainage conditions, location of any easements or trees, driveway location and curb information), and a stamped set of plans.

What if I want to use the plans multiple times?

You will need to pay for a stamped set of plans each time you use them. There is a limit of using the same plan a maximum of four times on one block. If building two of the same plan next to each other, you will need need to use different elevation (exterior facade) options.

How long does it take to get a permit with these plans?

Permits should be issued within one to two days. After you have had the site plan prepared, submit the plans with architectural stamp and necessary site information. City staff verifies that the plan can be used in that location, reviews the site information related to drainage, availability of utilities, any easements, or other issues, and then the permit is ready for issuance.

What if I want to modify the plans?

The plans have been approved through design review and building plan review processes, so there are very limited modifications that can occur without the plans losing their pre-approved status. Once the plans are purchased, they must be constructed using the approved materials. Modifications will be dealt with in one of the following ways:

• Upgrades or substitutions of equivalent quality materials can be approved administratively by design review staff.
• Other substitutions or changes to exterior materials or features (e.g., windows) may require the project to go through the design review process
• Alterations to the interior (i.e., changing the floor plan) can be negotiated with the individual architects. If these alterations materially change the approved building plans, the revised plans would need to be reviewed and approved through the building plan check process.

How do I obtain property? Does the City have lots?

Nearly all the vacant properties in the City are privately owned. If any appropriate surplus property is made available by the City or the redevelopment agency, these will be posted on the web site. In the future, the City will be asking owners if they are willing to be on a list as potentially available for sale.

How much do the houses cost to build?

Generally, construction costs are expected to be comparable to any other single family residential construction in the area. As a pilot project, the City does not yet have any examples to determine cost estimates. As projects are built, that information will become more readily available.

What are the fees? Are there any fee breaks?

As with any new residential development, there are a variety of fees and taxes that are paid to the City and other agencies. There is an estimated fee sheet for each plan. Some fees may vary depending on location. As master plans, the plan review fee is reduced by 50%. Some projects may be eligible for the infill water development fee waiver. Check with Planning to see if the lot is eligible area for the infill water fee waiver.

Can I use these plans in areas outside the City of Sacramento?

The City’s contractual agreement with the architects applies only to lots within the Sacramento city limits. For use in other areas, you would need to negotiate a price with the architects.

Can I use these plans in other zones or for subdivisions?

The plans are pre-approved for use in R-1 and R-2 zones in all design review areas except the Central City, and not within planned unit developments (PUDs). In other zones or areas, they are not pre-approved but may still be permissible. For example, in the single family alternative zone (R-1A) and in PUDs, single family homes require Planning Director approval. If the Planning Director approves their use in these circumstances, they could then be purchased at the same cost and are pre-approved through the building process. Similarly, they may be appropriate for some lots in the Central City, but they would require staff level design review or preservation approval.

Additional information can be obtained at:

Permit Center

300 Richards Boulevard
3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811

Phone

916/808-5656

E-Mail

ezpermit@cityofsacramento.org

Website

http://www.cityofsacramento.org/dsd/planning/infill-house-plan-program/

Architects

• Piches Architecture
  
  115 Taylor Street
  Roseville, CA 95678
  Tel (916) 783-4624
  Fax (916) 773-0417
  dpiches@surewest.net
• Cynthia Easton Architects
  
  4532 Freeport Blvd.
  Sacramento, CA 95822
  Tel (916) 453-1505
  Fax (916) 453-0843
  www.eastonarchitects.com