The community of Rio Linda/Elverta is an unincorporated community within Sacramento County. Rio Linda does not have its own law enforcement or city inspectors. So the community relies on Sacramento County for law enforcement by the Sacramento County Sheriff and Code Enforcement by the Sacramento County Code Enforcement officers.
What does Code Enforcement do? They enforce the county codes, things like building codes, vehicle codes, and housing codes. Enforcement works to prevent and abate nuisances on private property such as Neglected landscaping, Junk motor vehicles, Dangerous buildings, Graffiti, Illegal dumping, and overgrown vacant lots.
They also handle complaints about parking and stored vehicles on private property.
So what exactly are those laws? Let’s ask some questions and get some answers.
Q: Is Storing Unregistered or Inoperable Vehicles Permitted on my Property?
No. It is unlawful to park or store, or permit others to park or store, automotive vehicles or trailers without current registration or in an inoperable condition on any lot in any residential, interim residential, interim estate, recreation, agricultural, interim agricultural, or agricultural residential zone unless they are stored in a fully enclosed building.
Storage of up to two vehicles “may” be allowed outside of a fully enclosed building, if all of the following conditions are met:
- The parcel size is 10,000 square feet, or larger, for the first vehicle and that 5,000 additional square feet is provided for the second vehicle.
- Vehicles are the legal property of the same person/family who resides in the onsite dwelling.
- Vehicles shall not be stored in the front yard or side-street yard.
- Vehicles shall be stored behind a 6 foot high solid wood fence and not be visible from any public street.
(See Section 3.2.5, Table 3.2 (R) & 3.9.3 (P) of the Zoning Code)
Q: Is Parking Work Vehicles in an Agricultural-Residential Zone Permitted?
No motor vehicle or equipment used for, or designed primarily for, commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more, and no trailer used for, or designed primarily for,
commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes, shall be parked or stored on any agricultural/residential or recreation zoned property.
Q: Is Parking Work Vehicles in a Residential Zone Permitted?
No motor vehicle or equipment used for, or designed primarily for, commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or more, and no trailer used for, or designed primarily for,
commercial, industrial or agricultural purposes, shall be parked or stored on any residential or interim residential zoned property except when loading, unloading, or rendering service.
(See Section 3.2.5, Table 3.2 (N) of the Zoning Code)
Q: Is Yard Parking Permitted?
No. In residential zones, vehicles cannot be parked on the grassy or unsurfaced area of your front or side-street yard. When adding additional surfaced parking in the front or side street yard of your residence, the following requirements must be met:
- For residential parcels that are 15,000 square feet or less in size, the surfacing must be impervious.
- For residential parcels that are greater than 15,000 square feet in size permeable surfacing is encouraged in lieu of required impervious surfaces. In addition, the total area used for paving or parking in the front or side street yard is limited to no more than the greater of the following:
- 40% of the front or side street yard area;
- or the area leading directly to a legally constructed carport or enclosed garage.
(See Section 5.9.3.C.1 of the Zoning Code)
Q: Is it legal to live in Recreational Vehicles?
No. The residential land use zoning codes do not allow for anyone to occupy a recreational vehicle on residential property.
One easy way to avoid these citations, fines, and fees is to store your vehicles at a local self-storage facility like A-1 Storage.
A-1 Storage is at the corner of 14th and Q Street in Rio Linda, and has acres of space to store cars, boats, trucks, and any other wheeled equipment you may need to get off the street. There are many kinds of vehicles stored at A-1 Storage; Cars, construction equipment, large ocean-going boats, school buses, classic cars, not-so-classic cars, Recreational vehicles, and much more.
24-foot parking spaces begin at just $70, and your second month is always free. Ask them about their annual discount.
Code Enforcement’s goal is to prevent the physical and aesthetic deterioration of our community. By enforcing the County codes, they can help you clean up your neighborhoods and maintain a healthy and safe environment.
Together, they can help reduce crime and poverty, protect the health and well-being of residents, and help maintain property values. When you purchased your home, business, or property, you made an investment not only in the property itself but also invested in the community.
As a property owner, you can positively impact your property and community by adhering to the County codes, keeping your property tidy, and reporting those who do not; thus, preserving and enhancing your community for future generations.
