What is the Zoning Code?

The City's adopted Zoning Code, updated July 2025, regulates land uses within the boundaries of Santa Clara. It establishes zoning districts (e.g., Residential, Mixed-use, Commercial) that are applied to individual properties consistent with the General Plan land use designations.

For each of the zoning districts in the City, the Zoning Code identifies land uses that are permitted, conditionally permitted, and not permitted. It also establishes development standards such as minimum lot size, maximum building height, and the minimum distance buildings must be set back from the street. Standards for parking, landscaping, lighting, and other rules that guide the development of projects in the city are also included.

Zoning Code Goals

The overall goals of the Zoning Code are to promote the city’s growth in an orderly manner and to promote and protect the public health, safety, peace, comfort, and general welfare following the 2010–2035 General Plan (PDF, 50 MB).

What is Your Zoning?

To find out zoning information for your property:

• Search by property address or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) using MapSantaClara, our interactive map.
  • Select Zoning Data in the Layers tab.
• Contact the Planning Division at planning@santaclaraca.gov or 408-615-2450.

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