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Hours of testimony and frustration ended late Wednesday night in West Sacramento when the city council voted to uphold a planning commission decision against homeowner Mark Reyes. His newly built carport, meant to shield his motorhome, must come down.
Reyes, a recent retiree, built the structure without a city permit, believing it was a reasonable way to protect his RV. The carport does not block the sidewalk, but city planning staff determined it violates setback rules by sitting too close to the street and exceeding the height limit. Those rules help maintain sightlines for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The city’s approach to code enforcement drew heavy criticism during the three-hour hearing. Officials described their system as reactive, meaning they respond to complaints rather than patrolling neighborhoods. Reyes argued that it puts homeowners at risk of selective enforcement. He showed photos of nearby carports that appear to break the same rules without consequence. Councilmember Norma Alcala agreed the practice feels uneven, noting she counted 17 noncompliant carports in her own neighborhood.
Despite those concerns, city attorneys advised that the setback ordinance is tied to California state law. The council could not simply override it for one homeowner. Members acknowledged frustration over fairness but said the law left little room to grant Reyes a variance.
For Reyes, the decision is costly. He has spent about $20,000 on the carport and recently received a bill from the city for more than $7,400 to cover planning review time. After losing the appeal, he said he plans to sell the structure to recoup some of his losses.
The broader issue of how West Sacramento handles RV carports is not settled. Several council members suggested revisiting the ordinance itself in the future, but any potential change would not apply retroactively to Reyes’ case.
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