Cupertino, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum lot coverage
- 45% of net lot area
- Overhang/patio/porch bonus
- Additional 5% allowed
- Floor area ratio cap
- 45% (separate limit)
- Slopes 30% or greater
- Follows Chapter 19.40 hillside formula
- Applies to
- R1-5 and R1-6/7.5/8/10/20/R1-6e subzones
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 19.28.070(A)
Summary
Cupertino caps single-family homes in the R1-5 and R1-6/7.5/8/10/20 zoning districts at 45% lot coverage under Municipal Code Section 19.28.070(A), with an extra 5% allowed for uncovered roof overhangs, patios and porches. Homes on lots with a 30% or greater slope instead follow the hillside floor-area formula in Chapter 19.40.
A. Maximum lot coverage 1. 45% of the net lot area, however, a housing development project on a lot having a slope 30% or greater shall not exceed the floor area allowed under Chapter 19.40. a. An additional 5% is allowed for roof overhangs, patios, porches, and other similar features not enclosed on by walls on at least three (3) sides
Full Breakdown
40, the Residential Hillside development regulations. Subsection (A)(1)(a) adds a bonus of an additional 5% of lot area for roof overhangs, patios, porches, and other similar features not enclosed by walls on at least three sides, so a fully enclosed structure is held to 45% while covered outdoor features can push total coverage toward 50%. The same section sets a separate but related cap on floor area ratio at subsection (B): 45% of net lot area, calculated independently of the lot-coverage figure. 5, 8, 10, 20 and R1-6e subzones; the table does not differentiate the percentage by subzone the way it does for setbacks. 040 sets out which permit level applies to expansions.
Violations & Fines
Building or expanding a home beyond the 45% lot coverage cap, or beyond the additional 5% allowance for unenclosed features, without the required Architectural and Site Approval is a zoning violation the Building Division and a Code Enforcement Officer under Chapter 2.30 can cite. Under Section 1.12.010 an uncorrected violation is an infraction punishable by up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $500 for later offenses within a year, or a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, and the City can also withhold final occupancy approval until the excess coverage is removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of my lot can I cover with my house in Cupertino?
Do patios and roof overhangs count toward the lot coverage limit?
Is the lot coverage limit different on a steep hillside lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
California rules heatmap·Compare Cupertino to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle lot coverage limits.