Mountain View vs Santa Clara
How do zoning restrictions rules compare between Mountain View, CA and Santa Clara, CA?
Mountain View and Santa Clara have similar restriction levels.
Mountain View, CA
Santa Clara County
Mountain View allows Home Occupations in residential zones subject to standards that keep the business clearly secondary to the dwelling and compatible with neighbors.
View full Mountain View rules →Santa Clara, CA
Santa Clara County
Santa Clara permits home occupations in residential zones with a business license and compliance with home occupation standards preserving the residential character of the neighborhood.
View full Santa Clara rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Mountain View | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Allowed zones | All residential | - |
| Max floor area | About 25 percent | - |
| Outside change | None | - |
| Employees | One non-resident | Limited non-resident employees |
| License | Required | - |
| License required | - | City business license |
| Use area | - | About 25% of dwelling |
| Prohibited | - | Auto repair, kennels, adult |
| External effects | - | None beyond residential norm |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Mountain View FAQ
Can I run an auto repair shop from my garage?
No. Auto repair and similar high-impact uses are not allowed as Home Occupations in Mountain View residential zones.
Do I need a business license for a one-person consulting business?
Yes. A Mountain View business license and Home Occupation Permit are required even for small consulting or online businesses.
Santa Clara FAQ
Can I run a software consulting business from home?
Yes. Low-impact professional services such as consulting, coding, and design are typical home occupations and need only a business license plus compliance with standards.
Can clients visit my home office?
Occasional client visits by appointment are allowed, but high-traffic customer-facing operations are not permitted under residential home occupation rules.
Compare other topics
See how Mountain View and Santa Clara compare on other ordinance categories.
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