A Sacramento-area concrete patio should be poured over compacted aggregate, slope slightly away from the house, and have control joints plus an isolation joint at the foundation. Plan for summer heat, narrow side-yard access, and keeping sprinkler water off the edges, and check HOA and city rules before the pour.
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With a long dry season and warm evenings, Sacramento-area homeowners use their backyards for a good part of the year, and a poured concrete patio is one of the most common ways to make that space usable. It can be a simple broom-finished slab off the slider or a larger area with steps, seat walls and a decorative finish. Either way, what makes it last is the same: a stable base, drainage that works and joints in the right places.
Planning the patio
- Size for furniture. Lay out the table, chairs, grill or fire feature you plan to use and leave room to walk around them.
- Sun and heat. A south- or west-facing slab can get very hot on a Sacramento summer afternoon. Lighter colors, textured finishes and shade from a cover or trees all help.
- Access. Many valley subdivisions have narrow side yards and fences, so concrete may need to be pumped or wheeled in. That affects cost and scheduling.
- Future plans. A patio cover, pergola, hot tub or outdoor kitchen may need footings, thicker concrete or conduit placed before the pour. Covered structures generally need a building permit.
Drainage and irrigation
A patio should slope slightly away from the house. On clay soil, and especially where a hardpan layer sits a couple of feet down, water that runs off a slab can sit in the soil for a long time instead of draining. Think about where the runoff goes and keep sprinkler spray off the slab edges, since constant wetting and drying of clay along one edge is a common cause of cracking and settling. Move or convert sprinkler heads before the pour.
Patios and water-efficient landscaping
Many Sacramento-area homeowners replace thirsty lawn with patios, paths and lower-water planting. California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), adopted locally by cities and counties, applies to larger new and rehabilitated landscapes that need a permit or plan check. Hardscape like patios isn't counted as irrigated landscape area, but if your project also redoes planting or irrigation, check with your city and water provider about local requirements and any lawn conversion programs, which change from year to year.
Base, thickness and joints
Patios are commonly about four inches thick over compacted aggregate. Soil near the house is often loose backfill from construction and can settle under a new slab if it isn't compacted or replaced. Control joints divide the slab into roughly square panels, and an isolation joint where the patio meets the house keeps the two from binding as they move.
Finish options
- Broom finish: simple, slip-resistant and economical.
- Exposed aggregate: a long-time favorite in older Sacramento neighborhoods, with good traction.
- Stamped or colored concrete: see our stamped and decorative concrete page.
- Smooth trowel: can be slippery when wet, so it's less common outdoors.
Permits and HOAs
Whether a ground-level patio needs a permit depends on the city or county, and lot coverage or drainage rules can apply. Many newer subdivisions in Elk Grove, Roseville, Folsom and Rocklin have HOA approval requirements for hardscape and colors, so get approval before scheduling.
Questions to ask
- How will the slab drain, and what will you do about nearby sprinklers?
- What base material and thickness are included?
- Where will joints go, including at the house?
- How will you get concrete into the backyard, and how will you protect the lawn and fence?
Ready to plan it? Request a patio contractor and share a photo of the space.
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Frequently asked questions
How thick should a concrete patio be?
Patios are commonly about four inches thick over compacted aggregate. Areas that will hold a hot tub, outdoor kitchen or patio cover posts may need extra thickness or footings, so tell your contractor about future plans.
Do I need a permit for a concrete patio in the Sacramento area?
It depends on the city or county. A ground-level slab often doesn't need a building permit, but patio covers and other roofed structures generally do, and drainage or lot coverage rules can apply. Check with your building department and HOA.
Does California's landscape water ordinance affect my patio?
Patios are hardscape and aren't counted as irrigated landscape area under MWELO, but larger landscape projects that need a permit or plan check may have to meet local water-efficiency rules. If you're also changing planting or irrigation, check with your city and water provider.
Sources and further reading
- Contractors State License Board (CSLB): C-8 Concrete classification
- CSLB: minor work exemption rises to $1,000 (AB 2622), effective January 1, 2025
- City of Sacramento: Sidewalk Maintenance Program Handbook
- City of Sacramento Public Works: Engineering Services Permits
- Sacramento County Department of Transportation: Encroachment Permits
- City of Elk Grove: Encroachment Permits
- City of Roseville: Engineering Permits
- City of Davis: Encroachment Permits
- UC Master Gardeners of Sacramento County: Soil (clay and hardpan resources)
- USDA NRCS Official Soil Series: San Joaquin (clay over duripan)
- California Department of Water Resources: Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
- USA North 811: call before you dig in Northern California
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- Portland Cement Association (PCA)