Santa Clara County, CA: Auto Repair on Residential Property (2026)
Key Facts
- Work limited to
- resident-registered vehicles
- Disabled vehicle cap
- 2 per lot
- Work hours (<1 acre)
- 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Applies to
- unincorporated area, all districts
Summary
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, home auto repair is limited to vehicles registered to a resident, capped at two disabled vehicles per lot, and restricted to daytime hours on lots under one acre.
On any residential lot in any zoning district, the servicing, repairing, assembling, disassembling, wrecking, modifying or otherwise working (hereinafter referred to as "work" within this section) on any motor vehicle or the placing or storing of disabled or inoperative motor vehicles, motor vehicle bodies, parts, equipment, machinery, tools or other metal materials of any kind is only permitted if all of the following are met:1.Work may be performed only on a motor vehicle registered to a person residing on the lot.2.Storing disabled or inoperative vehicles. A disabled vehicle is one that cannot immediately be started and moved under its own power or is not currently registered for use on the public right-of-way.a.Disabled or inoperative vehicles shall be stored in areas screened from public view and from adjacent properties.b.No more than two disabled or inoperative vehicles are allowed to be stored or worked on per lot.
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
Under § 4.20.070, work on any motor vehicle at a residential property is allowed only on a vehicle registered to a person residing on the lot. No more than two disabled or inoperative vehicles may be stored or worked on per lot, screened from public and neighboring view. On lots under one gross acre, parts and materials must be stored in a screened or enclosed area and work is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. On lots under ten acres, work cannot run more than 72 hours unless the vehicle is moved behind the front-yard setback. This use can never become a protected nonconforming use, and applies to every residential district in the unincorporated area.
Violations & Fines
Working on a non-resident's vehicle, storing more than two disabled vehicles, working outside the 7 a.m.-10 p.m. window on a sub-acre lot, or exceeding the 72-hour limit are enforceable violations of § 4.20.070.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix cars in my driveway in unincorporated Santa Clara County?
Does this apply inside San Jose or Sunnyvale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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