Explore zoning districts, official map resources, and recent rezoning activity in Santa Clara, CA. ZoneWire monitors council meetings to track every zoning change.
Live records updated through September 22, 2026
Updated with meetings through September 22, 2026.
Zoning classifications used in this jurisdiction, from the adopted local code.
Single-family dwellings on standard-size lots (approximately 6,000 sq ft minimum); the city's predominant residential district.
Single-family dwellings on larger lots (approximately 8,000 sq ft minimum), plus accessory and secondary dwelling units.
Two-family (duplex) residential development on lots of roughly 7,000 sq ft.
Multiple-family residential at low density, up to about 18 dwelling units per net acre.
Multiple-family residential at moderate density, up to about 25 dwelling units per net acre.
Multiple-family residential at medium density, up to a maximum of 36 dwelling units per net acre.
Higher-density multi-family housing including rowhouses, townhouses, and low-rise apartments.
Small-scale retail and service uses serving surrounding neighborhoods.
Retail, service, and commercial uses serving the broader community.
Auto-oriented commercial and service uses along major thoroughfares.
Mixed commercial uses within the downtown area.
Planned commercial and office park development.
Administrative and professional office uses.
General office and professional office development.
Light industrial, manufacturing, research, and related uses.
Medium-intensity industrial and manufacturing uses.
Heavy industrial and manufacturing uses.
Planned industrial development under an approved development plan.
Flexible district where permitted uses and development standards are set by an approved development plan.
Planned development for large master-planned communities.
Agricultural and related open-space uses.
Combining (overlay) district applied to historically significant properties.
These parcels came up for a zoning decision in Santa Clara in the last 30 days, often before they hit the market. See what changed, how the vote went, and hear the moment it happened. According to ZoneWire's analysis of official public meeting records, each decision below links to its timestamped source.
Santa Clara · Sep 22, 2026
Approved · 4-1University Station Residential - annexation, pre-designation, pre-zone, and vesting tentative map at 451-475 El Camino Real, approved by a 4-1 vote on Sep 22, 2026 in Santa Clara.
Your move: Higher-intensity use now allowed. Comp the parcel before the owner reprices.
In Santa Clara, 81% of land-use board decisions were approved over the last 24 months. Single-family homes clear 81%, Mixed-use 86%. ZoneWire analyzed 65 land-use board decisions in Santa Clara over the last 24 months. Here are the most active project types and how often each one clears.
| Project type | Decisions | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family homes | 27 | 81% |
| Mixed-use | 7 | 86% |
| Multifamily / attached housing | 6 | 100% |
| Commercial / office / retail | 6 | 67% |
| Variance | 5 | 100% |
These are the denials and deferrals in categories that usually sail through, the deals worth understanding before you commit capital.
Get free county alertsThe official Santa Clara zoning map is maintained by the local planning department. You can access the interactive GIS map at https://public-gis-missioncity.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/city-of-santa-clara-zoning. ZoneWire also tracks rezoning activity discussed in council meetings.
Zoning districts in Santa Clara include R1-6L (Single-Family Residential), R1-8L (Single-Family Residential, Larger Lot), R2-7L (Residential Duplex), R3-18D (Low-Density Multiple Dwelling), R3-25D (Moderate-Density Multiple Dwelling), R3-36D (Medium-Density Multiple Dwelling), R4 (High-Density Residential), CN (Neighborhood Commercial). Each district has specific permitted uses, setbacks, and density requirements set by the local code.
ZoneWire reads every council meeting in Santa Clara to detect rezoning discussions, variances, and zoning amendments. Start a free trial to receive alerts when rezoning activity is detected.
Zoning and land use in the City of Santa Clara are handled by the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. The Planning Division administers the City's Zoning Code, which regulates land uses within the city boundaries and establishes zoning districts (such as Residential, Mixed-use, and Commercial) that are applied to individual properties consistent with the General Plan land use designations. Note that the City of Santa Clara is a separate jurisdiction from the County of Santa Clara, which has its own Department of Planning and Development covering unincorporated areas.
For each zoning district, 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 (setbacks), along with standards for parking, landscaping, lighting, and other rules that guide the development of projects in the city. The City's adopted Zoning Code was updated in July 2025.
The City Council adopted the 2010-2035 General Plan on November 16, 2010, and certified its Final Environmental Impact Report. The General Plan describes the long-term goals for the City's future and guides land use decisions through the year 2035, containing policies on land use and community design, transportation, housing, environmental resources, and health and safety. All properties and land uses are governed by the General Plan, and zoning districts are applied to individual properties consistent with the General Plan's land use designations.
The City of Santa Clara Planning Commission generally meets once a month on a Wednesday at 6 p.m. Meetings are held at City Hall Council Chambers, 1500 Warburton Avenue, and can also be viewed or joined remotely. Current and past agendas and meeting materials are posted through the City's Legistar portal and at SantaClaraCA.gov/agendas.
Accessory Dwelling Units (also called secondary units, granny flats, or in-law units) can be attached to or detached from the primary home and must have their own entryway, kitchen, and bathroom. ADU and Junior ADU (JADU) projects can generally be submitted as a Building Permit, except that a new attached second-story ADU on a single-story residence requires Architectural Review. No setbacks are required for conversions of an existing structure (such as a garage) that is rebuilt in the same location and to the same dimensions as the existing structure. The City provides an ADU and JADU summary handout with the applicable rules.
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Our Santa Clara record holds 4 land-use decisions heard in the last 60 days, with the vote where one was recorded.
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