To the north of the plaza is architect Rudolph A. Herold's 1911 Beaux-Arts–style Sacramento City Hall and to the south is the newly renovated Citizen's Hotel, originally built in 1926 and designed by G. C. Sellon & Company.

Framing the northeast corner of the Cesar Chavez Plaza is the California Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, the first building in the United States to receive Platinum LEED certification.

[5] Cesar Chavez Park and Plaza has undergone multiple renovations during its 150-year lifetime in order to maintain, beautify, and adapt the space for new public needs, such as from 1990 to 1998.

[9][10] Cesar Chavez Plaza is also home to the Raley's Grape Escape, an event showcasing the region's food and wine offerings.

[3] Within the Sacramento community, Cesar Chavez Plaza is well-known for serving as a gathering place and living quarters for large numbers of homeless people.