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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 pre-approved 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 older neighborhoods and in some cases smaller lots. The Easton plans are generally designed for lots ranging from 37x80 foot to 40x100 foot lots, and the Piches plans were designed for 37x80 foot to 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. To determine the zoning requirements for a particular property, contact the Planning Division of the City of Sacramento Community Development Department by calling 311 or by email at planning@cityofsacramento.org.

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 $2,250 for the 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. Additional fees may apply for site specific information regarding onsite drainage and fire sprinkler plans. Likewise any customization or deviation from the pre-approved plans will result in additional costs to the plan purchaser and may result in a longer review time..

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 house plans.  In addition, as a result of the new 2010 California Building Code requirements, you will need to provide a residential sprinkler plan for the home as well as a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for each home.  Please note that these items are required and are additional costs.

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 week. After you have had the site plan prepared, submit the plans with the architectural stamp and necessary site information. City staff will verify that the plan can be used in the chosen location and then will review the site information for drainage, availability of utilities, location of easements, and/or other issues before 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 Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA) website.

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 sufficient examples built to determine cost estimates. As projects are built, construction cost estimates may become more readily available

Which models offer energy efficiency improvements?

In addition to the standard plans, both Piches Architecture and Cynthia Easton Architects offer energy efficient versions of the plans that exceed Title 24 requirements.  Plans are available that comply with SMUD’s SolarSmart^SM Program or with SMUD’s Home of the Future Program.  The SolarSmart^SM Pre-Approved Infill Plans use up to 60% less energy than a typical single-family home while the Home of the Future Infill Plans use up to 80% less energy over a typical Title 24 compliant home.  A number of tax credits and other incentive programs are available to offset some of the improvement costs for these programs.   For SMUD program information, including current SolarSmart^SM and Home of the Future incentives, please contact Jim Burke, SolarSmart^SM program manager, at (916) 732-5244 or email JBurke@smud.org.

What accessible features are available with the plans?

Both Piches and Easton offer accessible versions of their plans for the one-story model which generally comply with the City’s Universal Design (Accessibility Standards) for Residential Dwellings (refer to City Code Section 15.154).  Some of the accessible plan features include accessible entries, bathroom areas, wider hallways, and lower kitchen counter areas.

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. Some projects may be eligible for the infill water development fee waiver. Check with planning@cityofsacramento.org to see if a specific 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. The County of Sacramento has also adopted the same program for use in county unincorporated areas.  For more information about the County program, please visit the Sacramento County’s Infill Program website.  For use in other areas outside the City and County, 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, plans 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 the use of a pre-approved house plan in these circumstances, the plan could then be purchased from the architect at the same cost and are considered pre-approved through the building process. Similarly, pre-approved house plans may be appropriate for some lots in the Central City, but would require review and approval by design review or preservation staff.

Additional information can be obtained from the City or the architects:

CIty Permit Center

300 Richards Boulevard
3rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811

Phone

311 inside the City or (916) 264-5011 outside of Sacramento

E-Mail

planning@cityofsacramento.org

Website

Infill House Plans

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