Santa Clara County has no countywide mansionization ordinance, but Title C zoning sets floor area ratio caps, lot coverage limits, and tiered setbacks in residential and rural districts of unincorporated areas, including hillside, scenic, and AP-Agricultural Preserve overlays.
Title C (Zoning) of the Santa Clara County Code regulates residential bulk through district-specific FAR, lot coverage, and setback rules rather than a single anti-mansionization ordinance. R-1 single-family districts impose maximum FAR ranging from 0.40 to 0.45 depending on lot size, with second-story step-backs and daylight planes on smaller lots. HS Hillside and the Santa Clara County Scenic Roads overlays add ridgeline protection, height tied to slope, and visual-sensitivity review. The AP Agricultural Preserve and RR Rural Residential zones impose larger minimum lot sizes but lower coverage caps. The Department of Planning and Development reviews larger additions; the Architectural and Site Approval process applies in scenic corridors.
Stop-work orders and permit revocation for exceeding FAR or hillside limits. Title A administrative penalties run up to $1,000 per day. Illegal grading triggers separate Title C grading-permit civil penalties and restoration orders under the County Geologist's review.
Santa Clara County, CA
Santa Clara County Division C12 sets R1 setbacks at 20 foot front, 5 foot side, and 20 foot rear, with larger 30 foot hillside requirements in HS combining d...
Santa Clara County, CA
Santa Clara County Division C12 caps lot coverage at 40 percent in R1, 35 percent in RR, and 15 to 25 percent in HS Hillside zones. FAR caps of 0.35 to 0.45 ...
See how Santa Clara County's anti-mansionization rules stack up against other locations.
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