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Housing

Housing Development Toolkit

Housing

Housing Development Toolkit

The Housing Development Toolkit provides resources on converting vacant and underutilized properties into housing. The toolkit is a one-stop resource for the public, developers, property owners, and City of Sacramento staff regarding incentives, processes, and procedures to develop housing.

To meet Sacramento’s housing needs the city needs to build over 45,000 housing units between 2021-2029. Out of the total, 17,000 need to be affordable housing units.

This page highlights various available incentives, guides, and an overview of why the City is prioritizing housing development on vacant and underutilized properties.

Why is the City highlighting housing development on vacant and underutilized lots?

The City of Sacramento is facing an uprecedented housing crisis in that housing supply is low and sales and rental prices are unaffordable for many residents.

Vacant properties represent the best opportunity to increase the housing supply while also making better use of limited land supply and adding vibrancy to neighborhoods.

Is developing housing right for me?

Developing housing can generate income while also serving a greater good to the community by improving land and providing much needed housing for Sacramentans. If you are not able to develop housing on your property at this time, this webpage also outlines other ways to develop your property, such as creating an urban garden or small park. See other options for vacant lots for additional information.

What if I don't develop my vacant property?

If you own vacant land, doing nothing means still paying property taxes on a property that does not generate any revenue for you. A vacant property may also require maintenance and may attract illegal dumping with associated clean-up costs and could potentially receive fines from the City of Sacramento.

Side by side mockup of a vacant lot and possible developments with a rendering showing new buildings, walkable pedestrian path and landscaping.

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Photo of a project site and a mockup of a possible development to fill the vacant site.

What does it mean for a site to be "underutilized"?

Underutilized sites are non-vacant sites that have structures or other site improvements but are capable of being redeveloped with residential uses at a higher density under the zoning and General Plan land use designations. Examples include sites with vacant or abandoned buildings, surface parking lots in the Central City, and large sites that are only partially-developed.

Find underutilized and vacant sites for housing

Through the Vacant Lot Program, the City provides a map that identifies vacant properties in Sacramento that could be available for development.

Explore housing element land inventory sites

This map displays sites identified through the City's 2021-2029 Housing Element Update process that are either vacant or may otherwise be potential sites for future housing development.

Aerial view of Sacramento with green highlights of vacant lots

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The City's housing element highlights vacant sites for future development

City of Sacramento's Vacant Lot Program

The Vacant Lot Program was created to ensure city-wide compliance of vacant lots with public health and safety standards. Owners of vacant lots are required to annually register each vacant lot property owned. This includes a $65 payment of Vacant Lot Program fee per parcel. If the property has two or more administrative penalties, then the property is considered a Nuisance Vacant Lot, which results in a $275 monitoring fee plus clean-up of the property.

Find more information about the program and register your property here.