City of Cupertino Zoning Map & Ordinance

Your zoning district determines what can be built on your property and which uses are allowed on your property, with regulations regarding a number of aspects, including building heights, setbacks, landscaping, parking, and fences. 

The Zoning Ordinance is part of the Cupertino Municipal Code, which regulates a range of issues including Tree Protection and Tree Removal, Signs and Special Events.
Content on this webpage is informational. If there is an inconsistency between this information and the zoning ordinance, the zoning ordinance prevails.

What is your Zoning?

To find out zoning information for your property you may do one of the following:

• Search by address in the map embedded above (click on the color shape over your property for designation);
• Search by address, assessor parcel number (APN), or owner name on this interactive map: Cupertino Property Information;
• Download the Zoning Map; or
• Contact the Planning Division at 408.777.3308

Once you identify your zoning designation, continue to the links below for the corresponding zoning ordinance and webpages. If your zoning designation does not appear below, please contact the Planning Division for details.

Residential Zoning Districts

Single-Family Residential (R1) Zones
The Single-Family zoning ordinance regulates detached single-family dwellings.
Single-Family Residential (R1) Zoning Ordinance
Within the R1 zoning designation, some districts are subject to additional design requirements and development regulations.

• R1-e: Eichler District
• R1-a: Semi-rural District
• R1-i: Single Story Overlay District

Single-Family Residential Development
Residential Single-Family Cluster (R1C) Zones
The Residential Single-Family Cluster zoning ordinance regulates developments that use a more creative approach to land development by reducing the amount of street improvements and public utilities required in residential development, to conserve natural features and to provide more desirable aesthetic and efficient use of open space.
Residential Single-Family Cluster (R1C) Zoning Ordinance
Residential Hillside (RHS) Zones
The Residential Hillside zoning ordinance regulates detached single-family dwellings on uneven or hilly terrain.
Residential Hillside (RHS) Zoning Ordinance
Residential Hillside Development
Residential Duplex (R2) Zones
The Residential Duplex zoning ordinance regulates two dwelling units under the same ownership on lots of at least 8,500 square feet.
Residential Duplex (R2) Zoning Ordinance
Duplex Development
Multiple-Family Residential (R3) Zones
The Multiple-Family Residential zoning ordinance regulates three or more dwelling units on the same parcel, e.g. triplexes, fourplexes and apartments.
Multiple-Family Residential (R3) Zoning Ordinance
Multiple-Family Residential Development

Non-Residential Zoning Districts

General Commercial (CG) Zones
The General Commercial zoning ordinance regulates retailing, offices and service establishments offering goods and services to the general public.
General Commercial (CG) Zoning Ordinance

Light Industrial (ML) and Industrial Park (MP) Zones
The Light Industrial and Industrial Park zoning ordinance regulates certain industrial uses which are incompatible with commercial and residential uses or areas where development of light industrial parks are deemed appropriate.
Light Industrial (ML) and Industrial Park (MP) Zoning Ordinance

Administrative and Professional Office (OA & OP) Zones
The Administrative and Professional Office (OA) zoning ordinance regulates development of office space together with necessary landscaping and off-street parking facilities. The Planned Office zoning district is intended for large parcels over twenty-five acres on which development of professional administrative offices is deemed appropriate.
Administrative and Professional Office (OA & OP) Zoning Ordinance
Other Zoning Districts
In addition to the Zoning Districts above, the City also has:

• Public Building (BA), Quasi-Public Building (BQ) and Transportation (T) Zones for regulating governmental, public utility, education, religious, and transportation facilities;
• Open Space (OS) Zones for establishment of open space uses in private natural areas;
• Park and Recreation (PR) Zones to regulate activities within publicly owned parks; and
• Private Recreation (FP) Zones to regulate privately owned recreational businesses that enhance passive open space uses and organized activity.

Mixed-Use/Planned Development Zoning Districts

Planned Development (P) Zoning District
The Planned Development (P) Zoning District allows flexibility to property owners and developers to propose any form of development from residential projects to commercial and office projects or mixed use projects. The ordinance lays out the approval process for development in this zoning district.
Planned Development (P) Zoning Ordinance

Mayor of Cupertino abandons housing at Vallco, pushing for a retail-dominant complex at Vallco Mall

Below is an email from Reed Moulds, the Managing Director of Sand Hill Property Company:

Mayor abandons housing at Vallco, pushing for a retail-dominant complex at Vallco Mall, on eve of Vallco Specific Plan community engagement kick-off (please attend!)

Dear neighbor:

Wednesday night, during his State of the City address, Mayor Darcy Paul put forward his "personal" opinion of the future of Vallco. Unfortunately, his future looks to recreate past failures and calls for a retail-dominant mall with some office and little to no housing. If you haven’t seen his speech, you can watch it here.

His vision for the Vallco planning area is an inefficient 1.2 million square foot project, less than what exists today, where at least half of the space – 600,000 feet – would be reserved for retail.

Needless to say, such a project is infeasible and not supported by the market, and it just ensures that Vallco will not be revitalized and remain a vacant, dead mall. With his focus on retail and office, and accounting for the new hotel already being built there by another developer, his proposal doesn’t leave a lot of space for residential use. By ignoring the need for housing at Vallco – Cupertino’s best opportunity to provide real solutions to the housing crisis – the Mayor fails to acknowledge the single greatest challenge facing our region and the City of Cupertino, which happens to be the region’s most unaffordable city.

In October, compelled to address this unprecedented housing crisis, we requested that the City analyze alternatives to add significant housing through a Vallco Specific Plan and reduce housing demand generators like office and retail uses.

The timing of the Mayor’s statements about Vallco – which threaten to influence this planning process before the community engagement on the Vallco Specific Plan has even started – is irresponsible and disappointing. That is why we, once again, are asking for your help.

Next week on Monday, February 5, 2018 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm the City is hosting a “Vallco Specific Plan Kick-off Meeting” at Community Hall, a.k.a. Council Chambers. At this meeting the City’s planning consultant, Opticos Design, will further explain the Specific Plan, discuss the range of outcomes and ask the community to talk about their perspective on the future of Vallco.

With this note, we want to encourage you all to attend this first in a series of community meetings. Your voice is needed on the future of Vallco. The Opticos team should hear what the majority view of Cupertino is and how a smart and dynamic town center plan with a good mix of uses will benefit the City, the community and everyone who lives, works and is a visitor in Cupertino.

For our part, we are convinced more than ever that Vallco offers a unique opportunity to help address the region’s housing shortage and affordability crisis, while adding greatly to the lives of those of you who are already settled here. A sustainable mixed-use plan that includes shopping, dining, a cutting-edge entertainment district, community facilities, great streets and outdoor spaces, a meaningful amount of housing and a manageable amount of office has the tremendous potential to turn a lifeless part of the city into a vibrant and community-driven new downtown district. And let’s not forget that, absent significant mitigations, the most traffic-sensitive proposals are the ones where there is a balance among the different uses, not the ones that are office- or retail-heavy.

All around us, other cities throughout Silicon Valley are already setting examples. Delaying or undermining Vallco’s revitalization is a lose-lose strategy, not just for the landowner but for the Cupertino community as well. Let’s all help Cupertino’s decision-makers see the benefit of a realistic plan for Vallco through a collaborative planning process; my hope is this would have the dual benefit of preventing the partisan few from trying to sway it. But if supporters of true revitalization don’t show up and let themselves be heard, given the Mayor’s mindset, this process certainly cannot succeed.

We will continue to send updates throughout the rest of the process. Once again, thank you for your support.

Reed Moulds
Managing Director
Sand Hill Property Company

Requirements for Sunnyvale Bathroom Remodel

The City of Sunnyvale requires a permit if a bathroom remodel includes any of the following:

• replacement of the tub/shower enclosure,
• relocation of plumbing fixtures or cabinets
• installation of additional plumbing fixtures

 

A permit is NOT required for replacement of plumbing fixtures (sink or toilet) in the SAME location.

 

If a permit is required, it shall be obtained prior to the start of the remodel.

For more information, click on the hyperlink here --> Sunnyvale Residential Bathroom Remodel Building Permit Requirements

 

City of Los Altos Single-Family Residential DESIGN GUIDELINES for New Homes & Remodels

The City of Los Altos provides a 26 page booklet on Single-Family Residential DESIGN GUIDELINES for New Homes & Remodels on their website.

Los Altos requires a design review for all residential construction.  Most design reviews are performed by Planning Department staff.  However, applications for 2-story construction or unusual architectural designs are heard by the Architectural and Site Control Committee (A&S), a subcommittee of the Planning Commission.

Near Proposed New Apple Spaceship Campus De Soto Ave at Lawrence Expressway Potential Closure

Near the Proposed New Apple Computer "Spaceship" Campus, the neighborhood residents requested a study of a potential closure of De Soto Ave at Lawrence Expressway and its effects on the surrounding neighborhood. A Notice of Public Meeting was mailed out to residents who live on De Soto Avenue and/or live in the surrounding neighborhood. The postcard calls it a "De Soto Avenue Traffic Calming Study" and the Public Meeting to discuss it is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12, 2011 from 6pm-7pm at the Santa Clara City Council Chambers at 1500 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

Residential Market Update Santa Clara County 2010 May

Click here for the latest statistics for Santa Clara County