Santa Clara County, CA Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 max height
- 35 feet
- R1 max stories
- 2 stories
- R3 max height
- 45 feet
- Flag lots under 20,000 sq ft
- 21 feet, 1 story
Summary
Homes in unincorporated Santa Clara County's R1 residential district are capped at 35 feet and two stories, dropping to 21 feet and one story on small flag lots, under the county's own Zoning Ordinance.
Maximum height6: Feet 35 8 35 35 35 Note 4 35 45 8 Stories 2 8 2 3 2½ Note 4 2 4 8 B.Flag lots: Height restriction. On any flag lot of less than 20,000 square feet, the maximum height of dwellings shall be 21 feet and shall not include more than one story.
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 caps standard R1 and R1E homes at 35 feet and two stories; the RHS district allows three stories at the same 35-foot height, and multifamily R3 lots may reach 45 feet and four stories. A separate flag-lot rule cuts the limit further: any flag lot under 20,000 square feet is restricted to 21 feet and a single story, regardless of the base district's normal allowance. Height is measured under the county's own rules in Chapter 1.30. These limits apply only to unincorporated land; a San Jose, Sunnyvale, or Cupertino address is governed by that city's separate height ordinance, not this one.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the applicable height cap without an approved variance results in permit denial or a stop-work order from county Planning and Development; framing built over the limit must be cut down or brought into compliance before final inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the height limit the same for every unincorporated residential zone?
Why is my flag lot limited to 21 feet?
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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