Post-War Framing Sits Between Two Worlds
Neither the oversized dimensional lumber of the pre-war neighbourhoods nor the engineered assemblies of the newer suburbs, and that ambiguity is the practical problem.
Framing of this era can often be repaired in sections, which is favourable. But the detailing is lighter than in older stock and the assessment is less predictable, so a structural opinion carries more weight and a buyer without one discounts harder.
What About the Foundation?
And the River Corridor Is Right There
Proximity to the American River and its levee system means the flood question is live for a good deal of property on this side of the city, and it is not answerable by looking at the ground.
Government Code section 65962 bars a jurisdiction in this valley from approving a ministerial permit that would result in the construction of a new residence in a flood hazard zone unless it makes the required findings. The full position is on our page covering the levee and the rebuild permit.
How Do I Find the Answer for My Parcel?
We publish no flood mapping conclusions or structural determinations for individual North Sacramento parcels. Both are parcel-specific and both are available at no cost from the relevant office.
The Combination Is What Hurts
Taken separately neither fact is severe. Together they are the difficulty on this side of the city.
Construction of this era is more likely than pre-war stock to push a serious fire toward replacement. And replacement is the route that engages the findings requirement where the parcel sits in a mapped zone. So the building type raises the chance you need the harder route at the same time as the location makes that route harder.
Which is a reason to establish both early rather than sequentially. Owners who check the flood position only after deciding to demolish have removed their own options in the wrong order.
City or County Is Not Obvious Here
The city boundary on this side is irregular and a good deal of nearby territory is unincorporated. The county assessor's parcel record names the jurisdiction, free, and postal addresses do not settle it.
It matters because the department handling your permit differs, and an application filed with the wrong office is not forwarded to the right one.
North Sacramento in Context
Where older stock sits on more consistently favourable ground, see our page about Land Park and Curtis Park. Where the jurisdiction question dominates entirely, see our page for the county and the surrounding cities.
The Numbers on This Side of the River
Most of the stock here dates from the 1940s to the 1970s, which is the era that straddles dimensional framing and engineered assemblies, and slab and raised foundations.
The framework is the same as everywhere in the valley: SB 5 signed 10 October 2007, general plans amended by 2 July 2015, zoning ordinances by 2 July 2016, and Government Code section 65962 requiring findings against a two-hundred-year standard before a new residence may be permitted in a flood hazard zone.
North Sacramento Questions
Slab or Raised Foundation?
It varies across this era. Wall thickness at a doorway and whether there are foundation vents at the base are the usual quick indicators, and an inspection confirms it.
Am I in the City or the County?
The assessor's parcel record names it. The boundary is irregular here and postal addresses regularly mislead.
Will You Buy in Del Paso Heights?
Yes, across the whole area and in any condition. The flood position and the jurisdiction affect the figure and neither stops us buying.