San Jose's zoning code (SJMC Title 20) controls oversized single-family construction through floor-area ratio, lot coverage, height, and daylight-plane setback rules tied to each base zone (R-1, R-2, R-M), preventing out-of-scale homes that overshadow neighbors.
SJMC Title 20 establishes development standards by base zone. R-1 zones cap floor-area ratio (FAR) at 0.45 with bonuses to 0.55 for one-story homes; lot coverage is generally limited to 40 percent. Front setbacks run 20 feet, side setbacks 5–10 feet, rear setbacks 20 feet, with daylight-plane envelopes that step in upper stories away from neighbors. Maximum building height is 30 feet (two stories) in most R-1 districts. The Single-Family House Design Guidelines and Residential Design Handbook supplement code with massing, articulation, and second-story setback expectations. Director-level review is required for homes exceeding base FAR or in hillside overlay zones.
Construction exceeding allowed FAR, height, or setback triggers stop-work orders, redesign, or forced demolition; encroachments into setbacks or daylight planes can require partial removal at owner's expense plus penalty fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Jose, CA
San Jose establishes maximum building height limits by zoning district under SJMC Title 20. In single-family residential (R-1) zones, the maximum height is g...
San Jose, CA
San Jose establishes minimum setback requirements by zoning district under SJMC Title 20 (Zoning). For single-family residential (R-1-8) zones, the standard ...
San Jose, CA
San Jose regulates lot coverage (the percentage of a lot covered by structures) through SJMC Title 20. In R-1-8 single-family residential zones, the maximum ...
See how San Jose's anti-mansionization rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.