Drive-Through Service Facility Regulations and Guidelines

Regulation Highlights

The City of Sacramento Zoning Ordinance establishes the following regulations related to drive-through service facilities:

  • Special Permit approval from the City Planning Commission is required for a drive-through service facility in the allowed zones.
  • Three findings must be made by the Planning Commission in order to grant a Special Permit for a drive-though service facility:

    1. The design and location of the facility will not contribute to increased congestion on public or private streets or alleys adjacent to the subject property;
    2. The design and location of the facility will not impede access to or exit from the parking lot serving the business, impair normal circulation within the parking lot or impede pedestrian movement; and
    3. The design and location of the facility will not create a nuisance for adjacent properties.

The Zoning Ordinance also establishes the following standards:

  • A minimum stacking distance of 180 feet shall be provided to each pick-up window or automated machine.
  • A facility with a separate ordering point and pick-up window shall provide stacking space for at least 4 vehicles in advance of each ordering point and stacking space for at least 4 vehicles between each ordering point and pick-up window.
  • Entrances to drive-up lanes shall be at least 25 feet from driveways entering a public or private street or alley.
  • Drive-up service facilities shall not be considered as justification for reducing the number of required parking spaces.
  • The minimum width of each drive-through lane shall be 11 feet. The entrance to the lane and the direction of traffic flow shall be clearly designated by signs and pavement marking or raised curbs.
  • A solid six-foot high masonry sound wall shall be constructed on the property boundary when the site is contiguous to residentially zoned or used property(s).
  • Operation of the drive-up service facility shall be restricted to between the hours of 7:00a.m. and 10:00 p.m. when the site is contiguous to residentially zoned or used property(s).

Development Guidelines

The following is a partial list of guidelines that were developed by planning staff to evaluate drive-through service facility projects. These guidelines have not been adopted by the City Planning Commission or the City Council.

  • A minimum of a 0.50+ acre site shall be provided for a drive-through facility within an existing shopping center and/or urban areas.
  • "Franchise architecture" is strongly discouraged.
  • Drive-through facilities shall be architecturally compatible with the best examples of nearby structures and compliment existing or planned streetscape elements.
  • Building design, location and parking areas should be designed to provide pedestrian orientation and clearly identify areas for pedestrian access.
  • Windows provided for aesthetics in dining and entry areas should be used abundantly to provide visibility to the street and pedestrian view into the building.
  • Outdoor seating with high quality hardscape areas (such as brick, cobblestone, and decorative pavers) and high quality outdoor furniture is encouraged.
  • A minimum of 20 percent of the site should be landscaped.

Further Information

  • The full text of the City regulations related to drive-through service facilities is contained within the City Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 17.24.050 ).