Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Santa Clara, CA (2026)
2 verified zoning overlays & bonuses rules for Santa Clara, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Density Bonus Law
Santa Clara grants density bonuses of up to 50% under Zoning Code Chapter 18.64 to housing developments that set aside affordable units, but only projects of five or more dwelling units qualify. The bonus scales with the share of low-, very low-, senior, or moderate-income units provided.
Santa Clara Density Bonus Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara, CA, Zoning Code §§ 18.64.020(D), 18.64.030(A)
Minimum Project Size to Qualify for Density Bonus. The density bonus provided by this Chapter shall be available only to a housing development of five or more dwelling units, including mixed-use developments... The Council shall determine the amount of a density bonus allowed in a housing development in compliance with this Section. For the purposes of this Chapter, "density bonus" means a dens...
Downtown Design Guide
Santa Clara's Downtown Form-Based Code, Chapter 18.26 of the Zoning Code, caps new buildings in the ten-block Downtown Zone at 2 to 7 stories (28 to 98 feet) without a height bonus, measured from the sidewalk to the top of the parapet, cornice, eave or roof ridge. A future bonus program could allow up to 9 stories (124 feet) for projects providing listed Community Benefits.
Santa Clara Downtown Design Guide Height Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara City Code Section 18.26 (Downtown Form-Based Code), Standards 6.2, 6.3(A), 6.3(C)
6.2. Applicability. The standards and guidelines of this section apply to all new buildings within the Plan Area. All buildings are subject to the Maximum Building Heights without Bonuses (Figure 6-1). If a City height bonus program were to be established, buildings may be permitted to extend up to the Maximum Building Heights with Bonuses (Figure 6-2) for providing Community Benefits (Table 6-...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Clara city rules.
Zoning Overlays & Bonuses in Santa Clara County →