Patio Covers in Rio Linda, CA

Patio covers in Rio Linda include attached aluminum covers, freestanding shade structures out in the yard, aluminum carports and wood pergolas. Sacramento Peak Patio Covers is a referral service, not a contractor; we connect homeowners with independent, licensed local installers. Rio Linda is an unincorporated community of about 15,900 people north of Sacramento, laid out in 1912 when a Minneapolis land company subdivided 12,000 acres of the Rancho Del Paso grant into farm tracts, and later known for poultry; Wikipedia describes its soil as mostly hardpan of silted clay and fine sands.

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Freestanding covers, carports and pergolas

Lots carved from early farm tracts often leave room for structures away from the house: a cover over an outdoor kitchen, a pergola in the garden, or a carport over a side-yard RV pad.

Freestanding covers

With no ledger on the house, the posts and footings carry all the wind and uplift. A detached structure of 120 sq ft or less is exempt from a building permit; anything larger needs one. See freestanding patio covers.

Carports

Aluminum carports use the same system as a solid patio cover. The CSLB awning and patio cover class (C-61/D-03) excludes carports, so ask which license the installer builds them under. See aluminum carports.

Hardpan soil and footings

Hardpan is a dense, cemented layer that can make digging footing holes slow and can hold water above it in winter. Footing size and depth still come from the engineered or listed plans, but expect the installer to ask about soil conditions, and budget for harder excavation or a slab-mounted post base where the plans allow it.

Sacramento County permit rules

Office: Sacramento County Building Permits & Inspection Division, (916) 875-5296.
Attached covers need a permit at any size; detached structures under 120 sq ft are exempt.
GI-38 standard design for attached lattice and solid covers; ICC or IAPMO listed systems accepted with stamped, highlighted plans.
Each detached structure needs its own permit, so a carport and a patio cover are two permits.
No accessory structure in a utility or maintenance easement or in the front or street-side setback.

See the permit guide.

Rain cover for bikes and furniture

The 10-mile Sacramento Northern Bike Trail has its northern end here and Gibson Ranch Park's 325 acres are close by, so bikes often live on the patio. A solid cover with a gutter that drains away from the slab keeps bikes and furniture dry through the rainy season; lattice does not.

Patio Covers in Neighboring Towns

See every town we cover on the service areas page.

Back to the main guide: patio covers in Sacramento.

Patio Cover Questions From Local Homeowners

Does a freestanding cover need a permit?

Not if it is one story, detached and 120 sq ft or less with no wiring. Larger covers need a building permit, and zoning setbacks apply at any size.

Will hardpan soil change my quote?

It can add excavation time. Footing design follows the engineered or listed plans; the installer may ask about soil before pricing.

Are a carport and a patio cover one permit?

No. Sacramento County requires a separate permit for each detached structure.

Who installs carports?

Many aluminum patio cover installers do, but the CSLB D-03 awning class does not include carports. Ask which license applies and verify it at cslb.ca.gov.