Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
3 verified building setbacks & zoning rules for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Setback Rules
Santa Clara's Table 2-3 sets a 20-foot front setback in R1-6L and R1-8L, stepping down to 10 feet in R3 through R6, with a 5-foot interior side setback in R1-6L and 6-to-9 feet in R1-8L, plus separate second-story and rear-yard minimums.
Santa Clara Yard Setback Minimums
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 18.10.030, Table 2-3
Setbacks (minimum) -Property lines are measured in feet, with those adjacent to the street measured from the face of the curb., adopted plan line, or edge of right-of-way. Front 20 20 15 10 10 10 10 Section 18.30.050. Front, second story 25 25 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a. Side, Corner 10 10 10 10 15 15 15. Side, corner second story 15 15 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a. Side, Interior 5 6 and 9 5 5 10 10 10 Sectio...
Structure Height Limits
Santa Clara caps residential building height at 25 feet in the R1-6L and R1-8L single-family zones, and limits structures within 20 feet of any R1-6L, R1-8L or R2 zone boundary to 32 feet even in higher-density R3 through R6 zones.
Santa Clara Residential Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 18.10.030, Table 2-3
Height (maximum) measured in feet. Height (within 20 feet of the R1-6L, R1-8L, and R2 zones) 25 25 32 32 32 32 32. H Height (all other zones) 25 25 32 40 80 100 200. Number of Stories (maximum) All structures adjacent to R1 and R2 zones shall include a 45-degree daylight plan off the property line to implement a compatible transition between structures. Number of Stories 2 2 2 4 8 10 20
Lot Coverage Limits
Santa Clara caps structure coverage at 40% of lot area in the R1-6L and R1-8L single-family zones and 45% in the R2 two-family zone, rising to 60% in R3 and 80% in R4 multi-family zones, per Title 18's Table 2-3.
Santa Clara Max Lot Coverage Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, City Code § 18.10.030, Table 2-3
Table 2-3 Residential Zone Development Standards ... (minimum unless otherwise indicated) R1-6L R1-8L R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 ... Structure Coverage (maximum percentage) Parcel Area (less than 10,000 sq. ft.) 40% 40% 45% 60% 80% Parcel Area (10,000 sq. ft. or greater) 40% 40% 45% None None
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.
Building Setbacks & Zoning in Santa Clara County →