Sacramento County is taking a closer look at how older commercial areas, underused properties, and existing neighborhoods can support more housing and investment. The Sacramento County Infill Program is part of that effort, with a focus on reducing development barriers, improving the development process, and encouraging new residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects in established areas.
The County adopted an updated Infill Program Update in August 2024 after identifying policy and procedural barriers that can make infill development difficult. The program is intended to provide a roadmap for changes that can help accelerate housing production and encourage reinvestment in existing communities.
But what does the Sacramento County Infill Program actually do? Which projects can benefit from the County’s housing and infill initiatives? And how do density bonuses, development incentives, and proposed zoning changes fit into the picture?
This guide explains the program in straightforward terms.
What Is the Sacramento County Infill Program?
The Sacramento County Infill Program is a planning and policy initiative designed to encourage development within already established areas rather than relying entirely on outward expansion.
Its central focus is on commercial corridors and other areas where redevelopment can add housing, businesses, services, and community investment.
According to Sacramento County, the program aims to remove policy barriers that hinder development in commercial corridors and promote more livable, walkable neighborhoods.
The program is not simply a single grant or one-time housing payment. Instead, it brings together policy changes, development-process improvements, zoning work, and related housing incentives.
Sacramento County Infill Program at a Glance
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Primary goal | Encourage infill development and housing production |
| Main focus | Established communities and commercial corridors |
| Project types | Residential, commercial, and mixed-use development |
| Key strategy | Reduce regulatory and procedural barriers |
| Housing component | Streamlining, density opportunities and incentives |
| Related program | Affordable Housing Incentive Program |
| Current policy work | Housing and Infill Zoning Code amendments |
The County’s broader housing and infill work is continuing. Its current zoning-code amendment project includes proposed changes affecting multifamily housing, commercial corridors, adaptive reuse, neighborhood-scale multiunit buildings, and multifamily use permits.
Why Sacramento County Is Promoting Infill Development
Infill development can make use of land and infrastructure that already exist inside established communities.
Instead of creating entirely new neighborhoods farther from existing services, infill projects can potentially place homes and businesses closer to:
- Existing roads
- Transit routes
- Retail areas
- Employment centers
- Schools and community facilities
- Established utility networks
- Existing neighborhood services
Sacramento County has also identified aging commercial corridors and Environmental Justice communities as areas where equitable investment and economic development can be important components of the broader infill strategy.
The County’s 2024 action also followed earlier discussions about development review improvements and barriers affecting housing and infill construction.
How the Sacramento County Infill Program Works
The easiest way to understand the program is to view it as a framework for making infill projects easier to plan, review, and build.
1. Identify Development Barriers
The Infill Program Update examined obstacles that can discourage investment in existing areas.
These can include regulatory requirements, development standards, review procedures, and other conditions that increase uncertainty or make projects harder to complete.
The updated program identified seven barriers to infill development and 13 implementation actions intended to address them.
2. Improve Development Policies
The County can respond to identified barriers through changes to policies, procedures, zoning regulations, and related development standards.
The current Housing and Infill Zoning Code Amendment is one example of this continuing work.
3. Encourage Housing in Strategic Locations
A major objective is to make it easier to add housing in locations where development can support established communities.
The County’s current amendment project includes revisions for multifamily development, commercial corridors, and adaptive reuse. It also proposes allowing neighborhood-scale multiunit buildings such as triplexes and fourplexes in certain single-family residential zones.
4. Use Housing Incentives Where Applicable
Separate from the general infill framework, Sacramento County has an Affordable Housing Incentive Program that can provide qualifying housing developments with density bonuses, incentives or concessions, and certain development-standard waivers.
The County says the program is based on California’s State Density Bonus Law and that eligible applications can be processed alongside other required planning entitlements.
What Projects May Benefit From Sacramento County Infill Policies?
Eligibility depends on the specific policy, zoning designation, location, project design, affordability component, and applicable development rules.
There is therefore no single rule saying that every project located in an established neighborhood automatically qualifies for every infill benefit.
Potentially relevant project categories include:
Residential Development
New housing is a major part of Sacramento County’s infill strategy.
Multifamily housing is particularly relevant because the County is considering changes to multifamily development and design standards, including changes affecting commercial corridors.
Mixed-Use Projects
Projects combining residential and commercial uses can fit naturally within commercial-corridor revitalization goals.
These developments may help bring housing, services, and economic activity closer together.
Adaptive Reuse
Converting an existing building for a new use can provide another path for infill development.
Sacramento County’s current housing and infill zoning work specifically includes proposed development-standard revisions for adaptive reuse.
Commercial Corridor Redevelopment
Commercial corridors are a central focus of the County’s Infill Program.
The goal is not necessarily to replace every commercial property with housing. Instead, the broader approach considers ways to encourage investment and create more functional, walkable communities.
Neighborhood-Scale Multiunit Housing
The County’s current zoning amendment project includes neighborhood-scale multiunit buildings, including triplexes and fourplexes, in certain single-family residential zoning districts.
Sacramento County Affordable Housing Incentive Program
One of the most important housing-related incentives to understand is Sacramento County’s Affordable Housing Incentive Program.
The program was formerly known as the State Density Bonus Program. It is intended to encourage the production of housing serving various income groups and certain special-needs populations.
Eligible housing categories can include:
- Very low-income housing
- Low-income housing
- Moderate-income housing
- Senior citizen housing
- Housing for transitional foster youth
- Housing for disabled veterans
- Housing for people experiencing homelessness
- Low-income college student housing
- Qualifying housing developments that include childcare facilities
The County’s application materials also identify income-restricted, age-restricted, special-needs, student, and childcare-related housing among potentially eligible categories.
What Housing Incentives Are Available?
Depending on the project and its qualifying characteristics, Sacramento County’s affordable housing incentive framework can provide several forms of assistance.
Density Bonuses
A density bonus allows an eligible housing development to exceed the otherwise applicable residential density under specified conditions.
The amount depends on the type and percentage of qualifying affordable units.
Sacramento County’s current Zoning Code includes a density-bonus framework with calculations tied to the percentage of qualifying affordable housing. The code was amended in June 2026, including updates to its density-bonus tables.
Incentives and Concessions
Qualified affordable housing projects may request incentives or concessions under applicable state and County rules.
These can potentially make a project more financially or physically feasible when affordable housing requirements would otherwise make development difficult.
Sacramento County’s current code provides for incentives or concessions based on the level of affordability provided by a qualifying development.
Waivers of Development Standards
Certain qualifying projects can also seek waivers of development standards when the applicable legal requirements are satisfied.
This can be important when a particular design requirement prevents a project from physically achieving the permitted density.
Concurrent Processing
One useful feature is that the County says eligible Affordable Housing Incentive Program applications can be processed concurrently with other planning entitlements required for the housing development.
The County also states that it does not charge a fee for processing eligible Affordable Housing Incentive Program applications.
Who Can Qualify for Affordable Housing Incentives?
The Sacramento County Zoning Code establishes eligibility requirements for qualifying housing developments.
For example, the current code provides eligibility pathways involving:
- At least 10% of units affordable to low-income households
- At least 5% of units affordable to very low-income households
- Certain senior housing developments
- At least 10% of units in qualifying for-sale common-interest developments affordable to moderate-income households
- Certain developments where all non-manager units are restricted to qualifying income levels
- Certain special-needs housing
- Low-income college student housing
- Qualifying land dedication arrangements
- Certain redevelopment or condominium-conversion situations
The precise requirements are detailed in Sacramento County Zoning Code Section 6.5.4, and project-specific eligibility should be confirmed with the County before relying on a particular incentive.
Important Rule for Redeveloping Existing Rental Housing
Developers should pay particular attention when an infill project would replace existing affordable or rent-restricted housing.
Sacramento County’s rules contain specific restrictions concerning redevelopment of existing rental dwelling units and certain units that were recently vacated or demolished.
In qualifying circumstances, replacement housing and affordability requirements may need to be satisfied before density bonuses, incentives, reduced parking ratios, or other concessions can be used.
This means that redevelopment of an existing property should not be evaluated only by looking at the proposed number of new units. The history and status of the existing housing can also matter.
Sacramento County Housing and Infill Zoning Changes
The County is continuing to work on zoning changes intended to streamline housing and infill development.
The current project includes proposed changes involving:
- Multifamily development standards
- Multifamily design standards
- Commercial-corridor development
- Adaptive reuse
- Commercial and mixed-use development
- Triplexes and fourplexes in certain single-family zones
- Multifamily use-permit requirements
One notable proposal is the elimination of use permit requirements for multifamily development as part of the zoning amendment project.
These changes are part of an ongoing process rather than a blanket statement that every proposed project has already received these benefits.
Current Timeline
Sacramento County’s published schedule lists:
- Planning Commission hearing: estimated September 2026
- Board of Supervisors hearing: estimated November 2026
- Post-adoption implementation: estimated December 2026
Because these are project milestones rather than completed actions, developers and property owners should check the County’s latest notices before making decisions based on a proposed amendment.
Is There a Sacramento County Infill Grant?
The phrase “infill program” can sometimes create confusion because the Sacramento County Infill Program is not simply a universal cash-grant program for every property owner.
The initiative is broader.
It includes policy changes, development-process improvements, regulatory considerations, and strategies intended to attract investment and accelerate housing production.
Separate financial programs or housing-related requirements may apply to individual developments.
For example, Sacramento County’s Affordable Housing Ordinance can require applicable housing developers to pay an affordability fee, dedicate land, include affordable units, or use another permitted compliance option.
As of March 27, 2026, the County reported the applicable affordability fee at $3.91 per habitable square foot of each housing unit. Because fees and regulations can change, applicants should verify the current amount directly with Sacramento County before budgeting a project.
Infill Development vs. New Development
The basic distinction is location and development strategy.
Infill development generally focuses on building within an already developed community or using underutilized land and buildings.
Greenfield development generally involves developing previously undeveloped land.
Infill can offer advantages such as proximity to existing infrastructure and established services, although it can also present challenges involving older buildings, parcel configurations, parking, infrastructure capacity, neighborhood compatibility, and existing regulations.
That is why Sacramento County’s infill strategy emphasizes removing barriers rather than assuming every infill property is automatically easy to develop.
What Property Owners Should Check Before Starting an Infill Project
Before purchasing land or preparing a major development proposal, property owners and developers should review several factors.
Zoning
Confirm the property’s current zoning designation and permitted uses.
A property’s location alone does not establish eligibility for every housing or infill incentive.
Existing Development
Determine what currently occupies the site.
Existing rental housing, commercial buildings, parking areas, or other uses can affect the available development pathway.
Affordable Housing Requirements
Check whether the project is subject to Sacramento County’s Affordable Housing Ordinance or other affordability requirements.
Density
Determine the base density before calculating any potential density bonus.
A density bonus is not the same thing as unrestricted development capacity.
Development Standards
Review setbacks, height, parking, landscaping, open space, access, design standards, and other applicable requirements.
Environmental and Site Conditions
A project may also need additional review based on site-specific environmental or physical conditions.
Application Process
Identify all required planning and development approvals before assuming that a project can proceed under an expedited pathway.
A Practical Sacramento County Infill Project Checklist
Use this basic checklist as a starting point:
Step 1: Identify the property and jurisdiction.
Step 2: Confirm zoning and existing land-use designation.
Step 3: Determine whether the site is within a commercial corridor or another area relevant to current infill policies.
Step 4: Identify the proposed project type: residential, multifamily, mixed-use, adaptive reuse, or another use.
Step 5: Calculate the base development potential.
Step 6: Check affordable housing obligations.
Step 7: Evaluate whether the project may qualify for the Affordable Housing Incentive Program.
Step 8: Review potential density bonuses, incentives, concessions, or waivers.
Step 9: Check whether existing housing creates replacement or preservation requirements.
Step 10: Confirm the current County application and review process before submitting plans.
This approach can reduce surprises later in the development process.
What Makes Sacramento County’s Infill Strategy Important?
The significance of the program extends beyond individual development applications.
A successful infill strategy can help communities use existing areas more efficiently while supporting additional housing and reinvestment.
The County’s own program materials describe the initiative as a roadmap for policy and procedural changes, development-review improvements, and increased and accelerated housing production.
At the same time, infill development must balance housing production with infrastructure, neighborhood conditions, environmental considerations, affordability, and sound land-use planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sacramento County Infill Program?
It is a County initiative focused on reducing barriers to development, particularly in commercial corridors and established communities, while encouraging housing, commercial, and mixed-use investment.
Does the Infill Program give homeowners a direct cash payment?
Not generally. The program is primarily a policy and development framework rather than a universal homeowner cash-grant program.
Individual projects may have access to separate housing incentives or financial programs depending on their circumstances.
Can multifamily housing benefit from Sacramento County infill policies?
Multifamily housing is a major focus of the County’s current housing and infill zoning work. Proposed changes include revisions to multifamily development and design standards and other measures intended to streamline housing production.
Are triplexes and fourplexes part of the new infill strategy?
The County’s current Housing and Infill Zoning Code Amendment includes neighborhood-scale multiunit buildings such as triplexes and fourplexes in certain single-family residential zoning districts. The amendment remains subject to the County’s adoption process.
What is the Affordable Housing Incentive Program?
It is Sacramento County’s program for qualifying housing developments that provide specified affordable or special-needs housing. Potential benefits include density bonuses, incentives or concessions, and certain development-standard waivers.
Does Sacramento County charge a fee for the Affordable Housing Incentive Program application?
The County states that it does not charge a fee for processing eligible Affordable Housing Incentive Program applications. Other development fees or obligations may still apply to a project.
Can an infill project automatically receive a density bonus?
No. Density bonuses depend on meeting applicable eligibility requirements and providing the required qualifying housing or other qualifying components.
Where can developers check the latest Sacramento County infill rules?
The County’s Planning and Environmental Review materials and Land Use Regulation Library provide the most appropriate starting points for current zoning, housing, and infill requirements.
Final Takeaway
The Sacramento County Infill Program is best understood as a broader strategy for making established communities more development-friendly while increasing housing production and encouraging reinvestment.
Its importance comes from several connected efforts: reducing policy barriers, improving development review, supporting commercial-corridor revitalization, considering adaptive reuse, updating multifamily standards, and using affordable housing incentives where projects meet the applicable requirements.
For developers and property owners, the biggest opportunity is not simply knowing that an “infill program” exists. The real value comes from understanding which zoning rules apply, what the property can currently support, whether affordable housing requirements are triggered, and whether the proposed development qualifies for a density bonus or other incentive.
Because Sacramento County’s housing and infill policies are still evolving in 2026, project decisions should be based on the latest County regulations, adopted amendments, and application requirements rather than relying on older descriptions of the program.
