Santa Clara County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Setback Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 front setback
- 25 feet
- R1 side setback
- 5 feet
- R1 corner exterior side
- 10 feet
- R1 rear setback
- 25 feet
- Scenic road setback
- 100 feet
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a 25-foot front and rear yard setback and a 5-foot side setback on standard R1 residential lots under the county Zoning Ordinance, separate from any of the 15 cities' own codes.
R1 R1E RHS R1S R3S R2 R3 Setbacks (feet)6, 7:
Front 25 8 25 30 25 Note 4 25 20 8 Side 5 8 5 20 5 5 Note 4 5 10 8 Corner lot: Exterior side 10 8 10 20 10 5 Note 4 10 10 8 Rear 25 8 25 25 25 5 Note 4 25 15 8
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Table 2.30-3 of the Zoning Ordinance's Urban Residential Base Districts chapter sets setbacks by district: R1 lots get 25-foot front and rear yards, 5-foot side yards, and 10-foot corner exterior-side yards, with a 100-foot setback from designated scenic roads. Other urban residential districts (R1E, RHS, R2, R3) carry their own figures in the same table. Lot-size combining districts under Chapter 3.10 supersede these base numbers where they apply, and Section 4.20.110 lists specific setback exceptions. These standards govern only unincorporated county parcels; property inside San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, or any of the other 14 cities is subject to that city's own zoning code instead.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required setback triggers permit denial, a stop-work order, or a red tag from the county Department of Planning and Development; owners may seek a variance or apply an exception under Section 4.20.110.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this setback rule apply inside San Jose or Palo Alto?
Can a combining district change these numbers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California building setbacks & zoning overview
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