Cupertino, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum height
- 28 feet, two stories
- 'i'-suffix districts
- 1 story, 18 feet maximum
- Second-story envelope
- 16-ft vertical line plus 25-degree roof angle
- Gable end/attic peak
- Up to 17 feet (20 feet with permit)
- Entry feature cap
- 14 feet from natural grade
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 19.28.070(J)
Summary
Cupertino caps single-family homes at 28 feet and two stories under Municipal Code Section 19.28.070(J), with zoning districts carrying the 'i' suffix limited to one story and 18 feet. Building envelopes further restrict wall height near property lines, and entry features are capped at 14 feet from natural grade.
J. Maximum height 1. Total principal building height 28 feet, no more than two stories 2. Zoning Districts with “i” suffix1 Limited to one story (not to exceed 18 feet) ... ... 4. Entry feature height 14 feet from natural grade to top of plate
Full Breakdown
070(J) sets the total principal building height for R-1 zoned homes at 28 feet, no more than two stories. Any zoning district the City Council has designated with an 'i' suffix is limited to one story, not exceeding 18 feet, a designation the code notes pertains to all buildings in a designated area limited to one story in height as prescribed by the City Council affixing the 'i' designation to the zoning district symbol. Beyond the flat 28-foot cap, the section imposes building envelopes measured from natural grade at the property line: single-story walls and single-story sections of two-story homes must fit within a 10-foot-high vertical line at the property line topped by a 25-degree roof line angle projected inward, while second-story sections of two-story homes must fit within a taller 16-foot vertical line and the same 25-degree angle.
12. Entry features are separately capped at 14 feet from natural grade to the top of the plate. 070(K) allows the height limit to be varied for a solar structure, but only through a Minor Residential Permit and only if the structure does not infringe on a neighbor's solar easement.
Violations & Fines
Building above the 28-foot, two-story limit, above 18 feet in a district with the 'i' suffix, or outside the required wall-height envelope without a Minor Residential Permit or variance, is a zoning violation the Building Division and a Code Enforcement Officer under Chapter 2.30 can enforce. Section 1.12.010 treats an uncorrected violation as an infraction, starting at $100 for a first offense and rising to $500 for later offenses within a year, or as a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail, and the City can require an oversized structure to be cut down or removed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in Cupertino's R-1 zone?
What is the building envelope rule for second-story additions?
How tall can a gable roof peak be over an attic?
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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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle structure height limits.