Santa Clara County, CA Ordinances (2026)

Unincorporated Santa Clara County allows up to four roosters without a permit, but keeping five or more requires an annual rooster coop permit from the Animal Care and Control Manager…

Every cat over four months old kept in unincorporated Santa Clara County must be licensed with the County, with narrow exemptions for short visits and registered colonies.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a permit from the Animal Care and Control Manager before anyone keeps, sells, trades, or maintains a dangerous wild or exotic animal, with…

Beekeepers in unincorporated Santa Clara County must set hives back 25 to 300 feet from property lines and roads depending on colony count, and must notify the Agricultural…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires every dog to be on a leash no longer than six feet or fenced behind a six-foot barrier, with narrow exemptions for working and service dogs.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County addresses animal hoarding through its pet and kennel limits and public-nuisance authority under County Code Division B31, backed by California's…

Feeding deer, geese, or other wildlife in a Santa Clara County Park is prohibited unless the Parks Director issues a Valid Permit; unincorporated county parks are declared wildlife…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires both a use permit and a minimum 2.5-acre lot for veterinary clinics and hospitals in every rural base district, Exclusive Agriculture…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County doesn't mandate spaying every pet, but caps each household at one unspayed female dog and one unspayed female cat before a kennel permit is required.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires any pet shop, kennel, grooming parlor or animal shelter to hold a County permit before operating; the code doesn't ban retail pet sales…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County does not ban or restrict any dog breed. The County Code instead regulates individual dogs by behavior, defining and managing 'potentially dangerous'…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County allows a vehicle to sit on a public highway continuously for up to 72 hours; beyond that, the California Highway Patrol or a Sheriff's deputy may tow…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires electric-vehicle charging readiness in new construction under its all-electric reach code. New single-family homes and townhomes must include…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County the Board of Supervisors can post 2-hour, 1-hour, 30-minute, or 15-minute parking limits in congested areas, generally enforced only between 9 a.m…

The Board of Supervisors can designate residential permit parking areas in unincorporated Santa Clara County where only permitted residents and exempt vehicles may park.

Abandoned, wrecked, and inoperative vehicles are regulated by the County's Stopping, Standing and Parking ordinance (Division B12, Chapter III, Article 4) and the Zoning Ordinance. A…

Commercial loading zones on unincorporated county roads cap loading stops at 20 minutes, with default hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, a red-painted curb marks an official bus zone reserved for commercial or school buses only: the code reserves the color red exclusively for that…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires paved, dust-controlled driveways for single-family homes, caps driveway and parking-area coverage at 40 percent of the front yard, and bans…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bars parking any commercial vehicle rated 10,000 pounds or more on a residential street, with narrow exceptions for daily-commute pickups, mounted…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, an RV, camper, trailer, or boat can sit in a front or side yard for only 72 hours per calendar month unless it's at least 75 feet from the front…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County treats any parade, march, or procession of 50 or more people, animals, or vehicles moving on a county road as a special event requiring a permit from…

Street fairs on unincorporated Santa Clara County roads run under the county's special event permit process, and the Director can require food and beverage vendors to hold Public…

Group picnics, facility rentals, and camping in Santa Clara County Parks require a reservation permit obtained one day to six months ahead, or up to a year for weddings.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a special event permit from the Director of Roads and Airports before any block party closes or restricts use of a county road, filed at…

Santa Clara County's Living Wage Policy requires county service contractors to pay minimum living wages and provide health benefits. The policy covers contractors providing services to…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County hotels, motels and other short-term lodging must collect an 8% transient occupancy tax from every guest staying 30 days or less and remit it to the…

Cost-sharing for a boundary fence between neighbors in unincorporated Santa Clara County is governed by California Civil Code Section 841, the Good Neighbor Fence Act. Adjoining owners…

Fences in unincorporated Santa Clara County's urban residential districts are capped at 3 feet within 20 feet of the front lot line and 8 feet elsewhere, with tighter limits at…

In the unincorporated New Almaden Historic Preservation combining district of Santa Clara County, new and replacement fencing must be built of wood similar to the area's original…

A retaining wall in unincorporated Santa Clara County needs a Grading Permit once the cut or fill it creates exceeds 150 cubic yards or is deeper than five vertical feet.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County exempts fences 3 feet or less, and certain open fences, from design review; taller fences or those in combining districts need Zoning Administrator…

Snow is extremely rare in Santa Clara County's valley floor and Santa Clara County has no snow clearing ordinance; mountain properties should clear for safety.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County declares any property with blight, unsecured or abandoned buildings, disrepair, overgrown vegetation, garbage, or illegal outdoor storage, a public…

Launching or landing a drone in any Santa Clara County Park requires a Valid Permit from the Parks Director; unauthorized flights from park land are prohibited countywide.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bans operating any drone, commercial UAS included, in a way that interferes with firefighting, law enforcement, or emergency response; only…

Plumbing work in unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a permit under the 2025 California Plumbing Code, with plan-review and permit fees set by Board of Supervisors resolution…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires additional green building measures for new single-family homes of 3,000 square feet or more and multi-family projects of 25,000 square feet…

Santa Clara County elevators are regulated by Cal/OSHA under Labor Code 7300 to 7324. Every conveyance needs annual inspection and a current permit. HOA and condo elevators follow…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County enforces the 2025 California Electrical Code, based on the 2023 National Electrical Code, with plan review and permit fees set by Board of Supervisors…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes and in additions that push a dwelling's fire area past 3,600 square feet.

Santa Clara County pre-1978 home renovation follows EPA RRP rules and CA Health and Safety Code 17920.10. Contractors disturbing more than 6 sq ft interior or 20 sq ft exterior painted…

On unincorporated county lots bordering Los Altos that carry the -n1 combining designator, homes are capped at a 0.35 floor-area ratio on smaller lots and a 27-foot maximum height, to…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County withholds a building's final inspection and certificate of occupancy until the County Fire Marshal clears its fire protection facilities and access…

Building additions in unincorporated Santa Clara County skip design review under 1,000 square feet, get administrative review from 1,001 to 2,000 square feet, and need full review…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County lets homeowners rebuild or convert an existing, setback-nonconforming detached garage into an accessory dwelling unit without adding any new setback…

Accessory dwelling units on unincorporated Santa Clara County land cannot be rented for less than 30 days, ruling out nightly or weekly short-term rental use of any standard ADU…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County allows one movable tiny home per lot in place of a standard ADU, but only if it's ANSI 119.5-certified, DMV-registered, incapable of self-propulsion…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires an owner to live in either the main house or the junior ADU whenever a junior accessory dwelling unit is added: standard ADUs carry no such…

Detached accessory dwelling units in unincorporated Santa Clara County are capped at 1,200 square feet, must sit at least 4 feet from side and rear lines, and are limited to 16 feet in…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, detached accessory buildings in urban residential zoning districts are capped at 12 feet in height and one story, and must sit in the rear yard or…

California Civil Code §1950.5, amended by AB-12 effective July 2024, caps residential security deposits at one month's rent statewide. Santa Clara County adds no local cap, so the…

Santa Clara County landlords must follow California AB 1482 just cause eviction rules, requiring specified reasons and relocation assistance for no-fault terminations.

Rental units in unincorporated Santa Clara County must meet the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, adopted as the county's Housing Code and enforced by the Development…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County applies California's AB-1482 no-fault grounds: owner move-in, substantial remodel, demolition, government order, and Ellis Act withdrawal. Each path…

Santa Clara County has not adopted a countywide tenant anti-harassment ordinance for unincorporated areas. Tenants rely on California Civil Code §1940.2 against forcible exclusion plus…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County follows California AB 1482 statewide rent cap (5 percent plus CPI, max 10 percent) with no local rent control ordinance.

Santa Clara County has no countywide rent stabilization, so pass-through charges in unincorporated areas follow state law. AB-1482 caps annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI, capped at…

California Government Code §12955, expanded by SB-329 in 2020, prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers. Santa Clara County…

Santa Clara County has no countywide relocation ordinance for unincorporated areas. State law controls: AB-1482 requires one month of rent for no-fault terminations and the Ellis Act…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bars residential noise disturbances from radios, stereos, and similar devices between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. across a neighboring property line.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bars idling a heavy truck or its auxiliary equipment for more than 15 minutes an hour within 150 feet of a residential area between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County caps exterior noise at 45 dBA nighttime / 55 dBA daytime for single-family homes, rising to 60-65 dBA for commercial land and 70-75 dBA for industrial…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bans running loudspeakers or amplified sound for commercial use between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it disturbs neighbors, and caps residential exterior…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County makes chronic animal noise a code violation once a bark, howl or squawk crosses a property line for 10+ minutes straight or 30+ minutes on and off.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County has no separate dedicated leaf-blower ordinance; gas leaf blowers fall under the County Noise Ordinance's exterior limits and 'domestic power tools'…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, helicopters can't exceed 80 dBA daytime noise over residential or commercial areas, or violate nighttime limits, without a variance; military and…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bars construction and demolition noise before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and all day Sunday and holidays, absent a variance.

A tree recommended by the Historical Heritage Commission and confirmed by the Board of Supervisors as historically or aesthetically significant is designated a heritage tree…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County subdivisions must plant street trees and erosion-control landscaping in road rights-of-way when required by the advisory agency as a tentative map…

Trees the Historical Heritage Commission finds historically or biologically significant can be designated 'heritage trees' by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, triggering…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bans burning refuse outright unless every agency with air-quality or fire jurisdiction, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the local fire…

Properties in unincorporated Santa Clara County must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California Public Resources Code 4291. The county fire marshal inspects, and annual…

Smoke alarm requirements in unincorporated Santa Clara County follow California state law: alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level, with carbon monoxide…

All fireworks, including 'safe and sane' types, are banned in unincorporated Santa Clara County; only Fire Marshal-permitted public displays run by licensed operators are allowed.

Much of unincorporated Santa Clara County - the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range foothills - is mapped as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and wildland-urban interface…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County parks, open fires are barred except in a provided camp stove or fireplace, and every campfire needs five feet of cleared ground around it.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County collects residential yard waste through its three-container system, but yard debris removed by a landscaper, gardener, or tree service counts as…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires garbage and organic waste to be removed from homes and apartment complexes at least once a week, by a permitted refuse collector.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires source separation under its three-container system: recyclables go in the blue container, organics in the green container, and trash in the…

Throwing away, dumping, or burying refuse anywhere but an approved disposal site is unlawful in unincorporated Santa Clara County.

Residential and nonresidential premises in unincorporated Santa Clara County must subscribe to the County's three-container (gray, blue, green) collection service from the permitted…

Multi-family and nonresidential properties in unincorporated Santa Clara County must screen trash enclosures on three sides with a six-foot masonry or wood wall, keep them out of view…

Under California SB 1383 and the County garbage code, residents and businesses in unincorporated Santa Clara County must separate organic waste (food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, dumpsters and roll-off bins serving nonresidential or multi-unit properties need the Director's approval, and every container, including…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County keeps adult businesses at least 1,000 feet from residential/agricultural districts, other adult uses, and schools or playgrounds, sharply limiting…

Tow operators in unincorporated Santa Clara County cannot solicit business at accident scenes or park tow vehicles within 1,000 feet of one.

Secondhand and junk dealers operating in unincorporated Santa Clara County must hold a county license, pay a $30 fee, and produce business records and acquired property for inspection…

Body art practitioners and facilities anywhere in Santa Clara County, including San Jose and other cities, need Public Health Department permits and registration under the county's…

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…

Selling tobacco products in unincorporated Santa Clara County requires an annual Tobacco Retailer Permit, and new retailers can't locate within 1,000 feet of a school or 500 feet of…

Home-based businesses in unincorporated Santa Clara County must operate entirely inside the dwelling, employ no more than one nonresident worker, and keep client visits to three a day…

State law treats a small family day-care home (six or fewer) as a residential use, and the County classifies it as a Residence allowed by right. A large-family day-care home (7 to 14…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County allows only one non-illuminated sign, no larger than one square foot, to identify a home-based business under the zoning code.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County limits home-business client visits to three per day and 10 per week so the use doesn't add traffic beyond what's normal for the neighborhood.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County processes density bonus requests under state law, reducing minimum lot size or lot-area-per-unit standards for affordable multi-family housing…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County exempts yard and garage sales from outdoor-storage rules only if each sale runs three consecutive days or less, happens no more than four times a…

Routine pruning of trees on private property in unincorporated Santa Clara County generally does not need a permit, except for heritage trees and trees in protected areas. Trees in the…

Artificial turf is allowed in unincorporated Santa Clara County, and California Civil Code 4735 bars HOAs from prohibiting synthetic grass. Large new landscapes may need a Sustainable…

Cutting down a protected tree, generally one 12 inches or more in trunk diameter, on private or public land in unincorporated Santa Clara County requires an administrative or…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bans dead, diseased, or overgrown weeds and vegetation that create a fire hazard or spread 12 inches or more onto a public right-of-way.

Outdoor watering in Santa Clara County is governed mainly by Valley Water (the countywide water agency) and California state law, not by a County land-use ordinance. Common rules…

For urban agriculture uses in unincorporated Santa Clara County, compost bins and refuse containers must sit at least five feet from any property line and be managed to keep out…

Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in unincorporated Santa Clara County. California's Rainwater Capture Act (AB 1750) lets owners collect rooftop rainwater without a state…

California Civil Code §3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance suits after three years of consistent activity. SCC layers this with the Williamson Act and…

Santa Clara County's own ordinance shields lawfully run commercial agricultural operations from nuisance claims and sets up a Grievance Committee so disputes with new neighbors get…

California Penal Code sections 25400 and 25610 require firearms transported by vehicle in Santa Clara County to be unloaded, with handguns inside a locked container or trunk. Long guns…

California Penal Code section 25400 prohibits carrying a concealed firearm without a CCW. The Santa Clara County Sheriff issues permits to county residents under shall-issue rules…

California Penal Code section 26350 bans open carry of unloaded handguns in incorporated areas, and section 26400 bans openly carried unloaded long guns. All fifteen Santa Clara County…

The county can designate no-solicitation zones where soliciting money, work, or business from vehicle occupants on the roadway is a misdemeanor.

Riding or propelling a skateboard on any unincorporated Santa Clara County highway is unlawful under the county's roadway code.

Loitering, standing, or sitting on a public highway, alley, sidewalk, or crosswalk that blocks or annoys passersby is unlawful in unincorporated Santa Clara County.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County treats gatherings of four or more where minors drink alcohol as a public nuisance; hosts face administrative citations up to $1,000 and liability for…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bars urinating or defecating anywhere in a County Park except in an enclosed restroom fixture the Parks Director has designated for that use.

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, and on any County-owned property, smoking and vaping are banned in County parks and trails, within 30 feet of doorways, windows, and vents of…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County caps air-conditioning and air-handling equipment noise at 50 dBA on a neighbor's property line and 45 dBA at a neighboring patio or window, absent a…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bans loud loading, unloading, and container handling near homes between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., and at any time if it breaches the Table B11-152 decibel…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, a motor vehicle burglar alarm that doesn't shut off within 15 minutes of activation is a noise-code violation.

Mobile food facilities and mobile food preparation units in Santa Clara County must obtain an annual environmental health permit from the Director before operating, renewable each year.

In unincorporated Santa Clara County parks, Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles may only ride trails and roads specifically signed for e-bike use: plain bike-trail signage isn't…

The Parks and Recreation Director sets and posts each unincorporated Santa Clara County park's hours, and it's unlawful to enter or stay in a park after closing without a permit.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County bars anyone under 18 from unsupervised public streets, parks, and lots between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or on a legitimate…

Placing, altering, or excavating in a County right-of-way in unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a written encroachment permit from the Director before work begins.

Trees, hedges, and shrubs that block sightlines or block sidewalk and street passage in unincorporated Santa Clara County are a declared public nuisance owners must remove.

California Streets and Highways Code 5610 makes abutting property owners responsible for sidewalk repair in unincorporated Santa Clara County, with county-issued repair notices.

Dumping anything but rainwater into storm drains or waterways in unincorporated Santa Clara County is illegal, and construction or development projects must install BMPs and get…

Building, filling, or grading anywhere within a mapped special flood hazard area of unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a development permit from the Planning and Development…

Grading or drainage alteration on unincorporated Santa Clara County land needs a county Grading Permit once cuts or fills exceed 150 cubic yards or five feet in depth, under the…

New and substantially improved homes in unincorporated Santa Clara County's flood zones must have their lowest floor built two feet above the base flood elevation set on FEMA's flood…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires every inspected food facility to post the Director's inspection placard within five feet of the front door, clearly visible to the public and…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County property is blighted when building walls, retaining walls, or roofs show termite or rodent infestation visible from a public area or neighboring…

Under California Health and Safety Code §113948, every food handler in Santa Clara County must obtain an ANSI-accredited food handler card within 30 days of hire. Cards are valid for…

Sharps manufacturers selling products in Santa Clara County must fund and run a County-approved take-back program, so residents get free mail-back kits and drop-off sites for used…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, single-family residential districts (R1, R1E, RHS, R1S, R2) carry no separate lot-coverage percentage, bulk is controlled through setback and…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a 25-foot front and rear yard setback and a 5-foot side setback on standard R1 residential lots under the county Zoning Ordinance, separate…

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…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires every short-term rental operator to register with the County Director of Finance and post a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate…

There is no short-term-rental-specific parking requirement in unincorporated Santa Clara County. Parking is governed by the general off-street parking standards in the Zoning Ordinance…

Santa Clara County HOAs must offer free Internal Dispute Resolution under Civil Code 5900 and Alternative Dispute Resolution under 5925 before filing enforcement lawsuits. ADR…

Santa Clara County HOA architectural review runs under Civil Code 4765. Owners submit written applications and receive written decisions, and associations must apply fair and…

Santa Clara County HOA dues follow Civil Code 5600 to 5740. Regular dues cannot rise over 20 percent yearly, special assessments over 5 percent need a member vote, and delinquencies…

Santa Clara County HOAs enforce CC and Rs under Civil Code 5850 to 5895. Fines require 10 day written notice and a board hearing, and cannot become a lien unless tied to assessments…

Santa Clara County issues expedited residential solar permits within 3 business days under AB 2188 and AB 1414. Title 24 mandates solar on new homes. PG and E interconnection runs…

Santa Clara County HOAs cannot ban solar under Civil Code 714 and 4753. Aesthetic rules adding over 1000 dollars or losing 10 percent efficiency are void. Complete applications deem…

Santa Clara County has no predictive-scheduling ordinance. California AB-1228 governs fast-food workers via the statewide Fast Food Council. Outside fast food, no local or state…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires peddlers, solicitors, and itinerant merchants to obtain a Sheriff's Office permit, wear a photo-ID badge, and limit door-knocking to between…

California AB-1884 (Public Resources Code section 42270) and AB-1276 make Santa Clara County a straws-on-request jurisdiction. Restaurants countywide cannot auto-distribute single-use…

California AB-1276 (Health and Safety Code §42270 et seq.) prohibits full-service and takeout food facilities from providing single-use utensils, straws, or condiment packets unless…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires a discretionary Use Permit for any billboard and limits sign illumination to continuous, non-blinking light, effectively barring changeable…

Political signs are permitted in any zoning district of unincorporated Santa Clara County without architecture and site approval, under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.40.100. Size limits…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, window signage on nonresidential buildings is capped at 25% of the window frame area and cannot be animated under the Zoning Ordinance's sign…

California AB-1236 (Labor Code §2814) prohibits Santa Clara County and any city from requiring private employers to use E-Verify. Federal mandates apply only to federal contractors…

Federal Tobacco 21 (Public Law 116-94) and California Business and Professions Code section 22963 bar Santa Clara County retailers from selling cigarettes, cigars, vapes, or any…

Retailers in unincorporated Santa Clara County can't sell any tobacco product with a characterizing flavor other than tobacco: menthol, fruit, candy, or dessert flavors are all…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County's water-conservation limits on outdoor irrigation, hose-washing, and decorative fountains don't apply to water drawn from a recycled water, gray…

Property owners in unincorporated Santa Clara County must fix outdoor water leaks from broken pipes, sprinklers, or irrigation within seven days of County notification, or face…

In unincorporated Santa Clara County, a building permit from the Department of Planning and Development is required to construct a residential pool or spa. The County Code includes a…

Residential pools and spas must meet California's Swimming Pool Safety Act. When a building permit issues for a new or remodeled single-family pool or spa, the owner must install at…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires Board of Supervisors approval before any county department acquires or uses automated license plate readers, with a public Surveillance Use…

California is an all-party consent state. All parties to a confidential conversation must consent to audio recording under Penal Code §632. Video recording in public is legal…

Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires security lighting on accessory wind energy towers to sit no higher than 12 feet, face downward, and be fully shielded.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County has no data-center zoning classification. A data center is treated as an industrial use, allowed only in the ML (Light Industrial) or MH (Heavy…

Historic and architecturally significant properties in unincorporated Santa Clara County can be designated county 'landmarks' if they are 50 years or older, retain historic integrity…

Commercial filmmaking or photography in any Santa Clara County Park needs a Valid Permit from the Parks Director, and TV, radio, or movie rights need a separate reviewed contract.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County's Community Preservation ordinance defines "property blight", abandoned buildings, dead vegetation, illegal outdoor storage, junk vehicles, graffiti…

New landscape and irrigation projects on unincorporated Santa Clara County land can't use California Invasive Plant Council-listed species; the county's Landscape Design Plan review…