Pop. 60,381 · Santa Clara County
Cupertino's Community Noise Control ordinance (CMC Chapter 10.48) defines nighttime and sets lower dBA limits during those hours. Nighttime on weekdays runs 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and on weekends 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Cupertino requires "certified" leaf blowers rated 65 dBA or less at 50 feet on all properties citywide (Ordinance 21-2213, effective Nov. 6, 2022). Gas blowers are allowed only if they meet 65 dBA and carry the ANSI B175.2 sticker; louder units are banned.
CMC Section 10.48.040 sets property-line noise limits by land use: residential origins are capped at 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime, and nonresidential origins at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime, measured at the receiving property.
Cupertino has no separate industrial-noise chapter; nonresidential (commercial, office, industrial) sources are held to CMC 10.48.040 limits of 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at the receiving property, plus the general noise-disturbance ban.
CMC Section 10.48.053 permits grading, construction, and demolition only during daytime hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays, with mufflers required and hard caps on equipment noise.
Amplified sound is governed by the general property-line limits of CMC 10.48.040 (50 dBA night / 60 dBA day for residential) and the noise-disturbance ban in 10.48.060. Amplified public events need a city permit under CMC 10.48.052.
Cupertino has no municipal ordinance regulating aircraft noise; aviation noise is preempted by the FAA under federal law. The nearest major airport is San Jose International (SJC), roughly 8 miles away, whose noise program is run by the airport and FAA.
CMC Section 10.48.061 makes it unlawful and a nuisance to keep any animal, including fowl, that by its sound or cry habitually disturbs the peace and comfort of any person in the reasonable enjoyment of life or property.
CMC Sections 10.48.055-10.48.057 limit vehicle noise: engines may idle no more than three minutes per hour off the public right-of-way, and it is a violation to operate registered vehicles or off-road vehicles with faulty or modified exhaust producing excessive noise.
CMC Section 10.48.052 governs outdoor public events with music or amplification on nonresidential property: they require a city permit and are capped at 70 dBA daytime (max 3 hours), 60 dBA from 8-11 p.m., and 55 dBA other nighttime hours.
Cupertino levies a 12% Transient Occupancy Tax on stays of 30 nights or shorter, including cleaning fees, under Municipal Code Chapter 3.12. Airbnb collects and remits the tax for bookings on its platform; operators using other channels must collect and remit it themselves.
Cupertino requires anyone hosting stays of 30 nights or less to register the short-term rental with the City and obtain a Business License Certification before operating. The rules were adopted by ordinance on September 15, 2020 and codified as Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 5.08.
Every Cupertino short-term rental must be registered with the City, and the operator must prove the unit is their primary residence. Registration is applied for through the City's short-term rental portal, and compliance records must be kept for three years.
A Cupertino short-term rental must provide the minimum parking spaces required by its zoning district and designate at least one on-site parking space for the rental. The operator must also keep a license-plate registry of guest vehicles.
Cupertino allows both hosted and unhosted short-term rental stays, but unhosted stays (no host or operator on site) are capped at 60 nights per year. The operator must always provide a local contact who can respond to complaints within 60 minutes.
Cupertino's short-term rental ordinance (CMC Chapter 5.08) does not set out a specific liability-insurance amount or a proof-of-insurance mandate in its published requirements. Some third-party guides claim insurance is required, but that is unverified against the code; hosts should confirm current requirements with the City.
Cupertino limits short-term rental guest occupancy to two times the number of bedrooms in the unit, or two guests for a studio. The limit is set in the short-term rental standards of Municipal Code Section 5.08.030.
Cupertino permits short-term rentals only in the operator's primary residence. Second homes, vacation properties, and non-owner-occupied units are not eligible, and the operator must document primary-residence status at registration.
Cupertino short-term rentals must observe quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and follow the City's general noise ordinance. The operator's guest manual must state the quiet hours and noise rules, and a local contact must respond to complaints within 60 minutes.
Cupertino caps unhosted short-term rental stays at 60 nights per year, while hosted stays have no annual night limit. Only one rental agreement is allowed per night, and the rental must be the operator's primary residence.
Santa Clara County zoning enforcement under Title A escalates penalties for repeated STR violations. Cities use formal strike systems suspending or revoking permits after multiple substantiated complaints.
Santa Clara County does not operate an extended home-share program for stays beyond standard short-term rental periods. State law treats stays of 30+ days as tenancies under California landlord-tenant rules.
California state law and city ordinances impose joint liability on STR hosts and platforms like Airbnb. Platforms must collect TOT, verify permits, and remove unpermitted listings on jurisdiction request.
Cupertino requires property owners to clear hazardous weeds and brush under Municipal Code Chapter 9.08, enforced through the Santa Clara County Weed Abatement Program. In the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area, adopted Fire Code Chapter 49 mandates 30 to 100 feet of defensible space.
Cupertino's western foothills are in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, which CAL FIRE expanded to over 1,000 acres in 2025. The Santa Clara County Fire Department enforces adopted Fire Code Chapter 49 defensible-space rules across the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area.
Open outdoor burning of yard waste and refuse is effectively prohibited in Cupertino. Bay Area Air Quality Management District Regulation 5 bans residential yard-waste burning year-round, and the adopted California Fire Code requires a fire-code-official permit for any allowed open burning.
Cupertino follows the California Residential and Fire Codes for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Homes need smoke alarms in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas, and on every level, plus carbon monoxide alarms where fuel-burning appliances or attached garages exist.
Cupertino limits liquefied petroleum gas storage under its adopted Fire Code. In residential and congested commercial areas, any single installation may not exceed 2,000 gallons water capacity, with small portable cylinders for heating and cooking allowed under safe handling.
All fireworks, including state-approved Safe and Sane types, are banned in Cupertino. The Santa Clara County Fire Department enforces the prohibition citywide, consistent with a countywide ban across nearly all Santa Clara County cities. Only licensed public displays are allowed.
Cupertino has no separate fire-pit ordinance, so the adopted 2022 California Fire Code governs. Portable outdoor fireplaces cannot be used within 15 feet of a structure or combustible material, and all outdoor fires must be constantly attended with extinguishing equipment ready.
Backyard recreational fires are allowed in Cupertino under the adopted 2022 California Fire Code, but must stay 25 feet from structures, be constantly attended, and never burn yard waste. Air-district Spare the Air burn bans prohibit wood fires on many winter days.
Cupertino has no blanket overnight street-parking ban for standard cars, but oversized vehicles are prohibited on public streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. without a permit, and posted permit zones and 72-hour limits still apply overnight.
Cupertino limits how many vehicles can park in a residential front-yard setback and requires paved surfaces and specific orientation. Longer vehicles must park perpendicular to the street, and driveway widths are set by lot depth.
Cupertino restricts recreational vehicles, boats and trailers both on public streets and in residential yards. Oversized RVs may not park overnight on streets without a permit, and yard-parked vehicles must be registered, operable and on an approved surface.
Cupertino prohibits heavy commercial vehicles from parking in residential areas, both on the street and in yards. Vehicles rated 10,000 pounds or more, or combinations over 60 feet long, are barred, and truck routes are designated by ordinance.
Cupertino's oversized-vehicle ordinance bans large vehicles from parking on public streets overnight without a permit. It targets RVs, big trailers and buses over set size limits and lets residents obtain a limited number of short-term permits each year.
Cupertino follows standard California painted-curb designations. Red means no parking at any time, yellow and white are loading zones, and green is short-term limited parking. Curb colors are enforced by citation.
Cupertino's on-street parking rules require vehicles to face traffic within 18 inches of the curb, keep clear of hydrants and sidewalks, and follow posted permit and street-sweeping restrictions. Vehicles may not sit in one spot longer than 72 hours.
Cupertino treats vehicles left on public streets over 72 hours, and inoperable or wrecked vehicles visible from the street, as abandoned or a nuisance. Such vehicles are subject to citation, abatement and impoundment, and can be reported to a dedicated hotline.
Cupertino has adopted an EV reach-code ordinance and CALGreen standards requiring EV-ready and EV-capable parking spaces in new development, plus an expedited permitting process for installing residential and commercial charging stations.
Cupertino designates commercial and passenger loading zones by curb color. Yellow curbs allow 20 minutes for commercial loading and white curbs allow three minutes for passenger loading, with strict time limits enforced by citation.
Cupertino requires written approval from adjacent property owners before building an 8-foot fence where a 6-foot fence is otherwise allowed. Fence Exception applications trigger mailed notice to abutting and surrounding owners, and California's shared-fence cost-sharing law also applies.
Standard fences up to 6 feet in Cupertino generally need no discretionary approval, but an 8-foot fence requires a building permit plus written neighbor consent. Fences over 10 feet, taller-than-allowed fences, and driveway gates require a Fence Exception from the Design Review Committee.
Cupertino fences must preserve sight visibility at intersections, stay out of the 40-foot corner triangle in the front, and meet height limits by setback area. In design-review zones, the Design Review Committee approves fence location, height, and materials, including acoustic and privacy buffering between commercial and residential zones.
Cupertino caps residential fences at 3 feet in the front yard setback and 6 feet in side and rear yard setbacks. An 8-foot fence is allowed where 6 feet is permitted with a building permit and written neighbor approval. Fences over 10 feet require a Fence Exception.
Retaining walls in Cupertino are regulated separately from fences and generally require a building permit. In hillside areas, retaining walls facing downhill slopes should be staggered to keep exposed heights at 5 feet or less and be screened with landscaping. A fence added atop a wall counts toward fence height.
Cupertino's fence chapter sets height and location standards but leaves most material choices to the owner, except that barbed, razor, and electrified fencing are banned. In design-review zones the Design Review Committee approves materials, and buffer fences between commercial and residential zones must provide acoustic and visual privacy.
Cupertino prohibits barbed wire, razor wire, and electrified fencing in all zones unless required by law or by City, State, or Federal regulation. These prohibited-fence rules are set out in Municipal Code Section 16.28.080.
California Health and Safety Code 115920 requires swimming pool barriers at least 60 inches tall with self-closing self-latching gates, plus a second drowning prevention feature in Santa Clara County.
Cupertino does not ban or restrict any dog breed. California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683 preempts breed-specific bans, so no pit-bull or other breed prohibition can exist locally.
Cupertino is a built-up suburb where residential zoning does not accommodate cattle, horses, or other large livestock; keeping is constrained by the four-animal household-pet limit and nuisance rules rather than an agricultural allowance.
Cupertino has no beekeeping-specific ordinance; hives are treated as an accessory residential use that must not create a nuisance, and California requires all hives be registered with the county agricultural commissioner.
Cupertino zoning code 19.28.030(H) allows a maximum of four adult household pets per single-family site, of which no more than two may be adult dogs or cats.
Cupertino discourages feeding wild animals through its nuisance and sanitation provisions; feeding that attracts pests, coyotes, or other wildlife and disturbs neighbors can be abated as a public nuisance.
Cupertino Municipal Code 8.03.010 requires every dog to be under physical restraint by leash, or confined behind a fence at least six feet high, whenever it is off the owner's controlled property.
Cupertino has no dedicated backyard-chicken ordinance; hens are kept as household pets within the four-animal limit of zoning code 19.28.030(H) and must not create a noise nuisance under the City's animal-nuisance rule.
Cupertino has no exotic-pet ordinance of its own; possession of wild and exotic animals is governed by California Fish and Game Code restrictions and state permit requirements, enforced through state and county agencies.
Cupertino has no cat leash or licensing mandate; cats count within the household-pet limit and must not create a nuisance, with sheltering and stray response handled by San Jose Animal Care and Services.
Cupertino addresses animal hoarding through its four-pet household limit, nuisance and sanitation provisions, and California animal-cruelty law, with investigation handled by San Jose Animal Care and Services.
Santa Clara County Title 4 zoning permits veterinary clinics in commercial zones with conditions on overnight boarding, outdoor runs, noise, and odor. Larger animal hospitals, kennels, or large-animal practices typically require a use permit from county Planning.
California Fish & Game Code §3503 to §3516 protect native birds, nests, and eggs, with raptors and migratory species getting enhanced safeguards. Santa Clara County Title C reinforces wildlife protection by banning intentional harm and feeding in unincorporated areas.
Santa Clara County Code Title C requires sterilization of dogs and cats released from county shelters, mirroring California Food & Agricultural Code §30503. Cities such as San Jose and Sunnyvale extend a broader spay-neuter mandate to all owned dogs and cats over four months.
Santa Clara County Animal Services microchips every dog and cat adopted, redeemed, or released from its shelter and registers the chip to the new owner. San Jose and other cities now require microchips at licensing, expanding the mandate beyond shelter exits.
Santa Clara County and partner cities follow a coexistence model led by SCC Vector Control and CDFW: hazing, attractant removal, and lethal control only for sick or aggressive animals. Title C and city codes ban intentional feeding of coyotes and other wildlife.
California Health & Safety Code §122354.5 (AB-485, 2019) bars retail pet stores statewide, including throughout Santa Clara County, from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits unless sourced from public shelters or registered nonprofit rescues. SCC and city counsel handle enforcement.
Pet groomers in unincorporated Santa Clara County need a county business license, zoning compliance under SCC Title 4, and sanitation standards under SCC DEH. Mobile groomers add vehicle and wastewater discharge requirements. California has no state grooming license.
Cupertino prohibits removing any protected tree, heritage or specimen, without first obtaining a tree removal permit under Municipal Code Chapter 14.18. Specimen species like native oaks are protected at ten inches trunk diameter, and removal usually requires planting replacement trees.
Cupertino places no ban on residential rainwater harvesting and actively encourages on-site rainwater and graywater capture in its Water-Efficient Landscape and Green Stormwater programs. California law lets homeowners collect rooftop rainwater without a water right.
Under California's SB 1383, Cupertino residents and businesses must keep food scraps and yard trimmings out of the trash and use Recology South Bay's organics collection. Backyard composting is allowed as a supplement, provided the pile does not become a nuisance.
In Cupertino, severe pruning of a protected tree, meaning removal of more than one-fourth of its leaf and stem area in any twelve months, is legally treated as a tree removal and requires a permit under Municipal Code Chapter 14.18. Routine light pruning of unprotected trees needs no permit.
Cupertino has permanent water-waste prohibitions under Municipal Code Chapter 15.32, banning runoff, hosing pavement, and un-nozzled hoses. Water is supplied by San Jose Water Company, California Water Service, and the City, and any drought watering-day limits are set by those providers, not the City.
Artificial turf is not counted as drought-tolerant landscaping in California, and under SB 676 (Government Code 53087.7) cities like Cupertino may regulate synthetic grass. Cupertino's Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance limits and encourages living, water-wise plantings over synthetic turf.
Cupertino requires property owners to keep grass and weeds below six inches in height for fire safety under its weed abatement program (Municipal Code Chapter 9.08). Non-compliant parcels are cleared by the County at the owner's expense, added to the property tax bill.
Cupertino declares overgrown weeds and dry brush a fire nuisance under Municipal Code Chapter 9.08, enforced through a Santa Clara County weed abatement program. Vegetation must be under six inches by April 30, or the County clears it and bills the owner through the tax roll.
Cupertino's Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 14.15) implements California's MWELO and caps turf at 25% of landscape area, favoring climate-appropriate, low-water plants. Native and drought-tolerant species are the practical way to meet the water budget and are encouraged citywide.
Pool barriers in Cupertino follow California's statewide Swimming Pool Safety Act. An enclosure isolating the pool must be at least 60 inches high, have no gaps a 4-inch sphere can pass, and gates that open outward and are self-closing and self-latching.
When a permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa, California law requires at least two of seven approved drowning-prevention features, such as an isolating enclosure, safety cover, alarms, or self-closing self-latching doors. Cupertino applies this at permit issuance.
Cupertino requires a building permit to construct or remodel a swimming pool or spa. The city has adopted the 2022 California Building Code under Municipal Code Section 16.04.010, and pool work is reviewed and inspected by the Building Division for structural, electrical, and plumbing compliance.
Cupertino has no separate above-ground pool ordinance. Above-ground pools are treated under the adopted California Building Code and the state Swimming Pool Safety Act, and deeper pools require a building permit, barrier isolation, and drowning-prevention features.
Hot tubs and spas in Cupertino are regulated under the adopted 2022 California Building Code and the state Swimming Pool Safety Act. Permanent spas need a building permit, and the drowning-prevention and barrier rules apply, though a lockable safety cover can serve as one feature.
Cupertino home occupations may not use business signs unless legally required. Under Municipal Code 19.120.030, any legally required sign is limited to one square foot and may not be placed on the roof or within required setback areas.
Small family day care homes are a permitted use in Cupertino's R1 zones. Large family day care homes are administratively approved when they meet parking and 300-foot spacing criteria under Municipal Code 19.28.030; otherwise a conditional use permit is processed per state Health and Safety Code.
Cupertino requires a business license tax certificate to establish a home occupation under Municipal Code 19.120.020. No separate discretionary permit is normally needed, but unusually intense uses may require a conditional use permit, and listed occupations are excluded entirely.
Home occupations are permitted in Cupertino's residential zones under Municipal Code Chapter 19.120, provided the business is clearly incidental and secondary to residential use and does not change the neighborhood's residential character. In R1 zones they are a permitted use per CMC 19.28.030.
Cottage food operations in Cupertino are authorized under the California Homemade Food Act and permitted by Santa Clara County's environmental health department. The city treats them as home occupations under Municipal Code Chapter 19.120, with the same residential-character limits.
Santa Clara County home occupations must generate no more traffic, parking, or deliveries than normal residential use. Appointment-only visits and residential-scale deliveries only.
Sheds and other detached accessory structures in Cupertino are regulated as accessory structures under Municipal Code Chapter 19.100 and must meet setback, height, and size standards. Structures over 120 square feet generally require a building permit under the adopted California Building Code.
Cupertino allows converting a garage or accessory structure into an accessory dwelling unit under Municipal Code Chapter 19.112, and no replacement parking is required when covered parking is removed for an ADU. A building permit is required to confirm the converted space meets dwelling standards.
Cupertino permits accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on lots in any residential or mixed-use residential district under Municipal Code Chapter 19.112. Conforming ADUs are approved ministerially, and standard ADUs carry no owner-occupancy requirement, consistent with California ADU law (Government Code Sections 66310 to 66342).
Carports in Cupertino are regulated as accessory structures under Municipal Code Chapter 19.100 and must meet the setback and height standards of the underlying zoning district. Off-street parking design is governed by Municipal Code Chapter 19.124.
A permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit in Cupertino under Municipal Code Chapter 19.112, which allows detached ADUs up to 800 to 1,000 square feet. Movable tiny homes on wheels are not recognized as standalone permanent dwellings.
Backyard propane and charcoal barbecues are allowed in Cupertino under the adopted California Fire Code. At apartments and condos, the Fire Code restricts using or storing propane and charcoal grills on or near combustible balconies and decks.
Cupertino has no ordinance targeting backyard smokers, so the adopted California Fire Code and air-district rules apply. Wood, pellet, and charcoal smokers are allowed at homes with safe clearance, but may not be used on combustible multifamily balconies.
Cupertino limits maximum building coverage in R1 single-family zones to 45 percent of the net lot area, with an additional 5 percent allowed for roof overhangs, porches, and similar features not enclosed on at least three sides. Coverage is set in Municipal Code Chapter 19.28.
Cupertino limits single-family R1 homes to a maximum of 28 feet and two stories. Zones with an 'i' suffix are restricted to one story not exceeding 18 feet. Height limits are set in Municipal Code Chapter 19.28, with fences capped separately at 6 to 10 feet.
In Cupertino's R1 single-family zones, homes must keep a 20-foot front yard, a 5-foot minimum first-floor side yard, and a 20-foot rear yard, with larger setbacks for second stories. Corner lots require a 10-foot street-side yard. Standards are set in Municipal Code Section 19.28.070.
Cupertino's Protected Trees ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 14.18) requires a tree removal permit before removing any heritage or specimen tree. Specimen removals go to the Community Development Director, heritage removals to the Planning Commission, and replacement trees are usually required.
Planting any tree in a Santa Clara County parkway, the strip between sidewalk and curb on county-maintained roads, requires an encroachment permit and approved species selection from the County Roads and Airports approved street tree list.
Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-300.847 protects heritage oaks, native sycamores, redwoods, buckeyes, and other native species in unincorporated areas. Removal requires permits, mitigation planting, and arborist reports. Cities including Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Saratoga add comparable protected lists.
The OneSCC Sustainability Master Plan and county Climate Roadmap 2030 set urban forest equity goals tied to heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. Targets include doubling canopy cover in low-income areas through partnerships with cities, Valley Water, and Our City Forest.
California provides statewide protections for native oak woodlands and heritage trees through CEQA review, Public Resources Code, and Forest Practice Rules that apply uniformly.
Cupertino abates blighted and nuisance property conditions under Municipal Code Chapter 1.09 (Nuisance Abatement). Junk, debris, and combustible trash on private property are public nuisances the City can order removed, with abatement costs assessed against the parcel.
Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 9.08 declares hazardous weeds and combustible vegetation a public nuisance and requires property owners to remove them. Abatement is administered through the Santa Clara County weed-abatement program, with the City able to remove growth and lien the property if owners do not comply.
Under Cupertino Municipal Code Section 6.24.070, garbage, recycling, and compostables carts may be placed at the curb no more than 24 hours before scheduled collection and must be removed within 24 hours after collection. Carts must be kept in sanitary condition with lids closed except when being loaded.
Cupertino does not require a permit for residential garage or yard sales, and the Municipal Code sets no numeric limit on how many a household may hold. The only specific code rule is CMC 19.104.250, which regulates temporary garage-sale signs. The City also hosts an optional annual Citywide Garage Sale.
Cupertino requires vacant and open private lots to be kept free of weeds, combustible vegetation, and litter. Weed and fire-hazard growth is abated under Municipal Code Chapter 9.08 through the Santa Clara County program, and dumping litter on vacant private property is prohibited by CMC 9.18.215.
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.
Recology South Bay gives each Cupertino household two free on-call bulky-item collections per year for furniture, appliances, and similar large items. Pickups must be scheduled in advance, with a limit of three bulky items per collection and weight and material restrictions.
California SB 1383 requires all Cupertino residents and businesses to divert organic waste, including food scraps, yard trimmings, and food-soiled paper, from the landfill. The City implements this through Recology's three-cart system, and Municipal Code 6.24.030 requires subscription to collection service that captures recyclables and compostables.
Recology South Bay is Cupertino's exclusive franchised hauler, and Municipal Code 6.24.030 requires every occupied residential and nonresidential property to subscribe to and pay for garbage collection. Weekly collection of garbage, recycling, and organics is mandatory, with service starting within ten days of occupancy.
Cupertino Municipal Code 6.24.070 sets when and how carts are placed for collection: at the curb no more than 24 hours before pickup and removed within 24 hours after. Lids must be fully closed, and Recology asks for 24 inches of clearance between carts for automated collection.
Cupertino Municipal Code 9.18.215 makes it unlawful to deposit litter on any public street, waterway, or occupied or vacant private property, mirroring California Penal Code 374.4. Dumping refuse or garbage on streets and public places is also barred by CMC 6.24.110.
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 trimmings) into the green container. Commercial and multifamily (5+ unit) generators must have organics service; non-compliant businesses are auto-enrolled and billed starting July 1, 2026.
Garage sale signs in Cupertino are allowed in residential zones under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250: one on-site sign and up to three off-site signs, each up to 8 square feet and 6 feet tall, for the length of a bona fide garage sale. Off-site signs must follow right-of-way placement rules.
Temporary political signs in Cupertino need no permit and are allowed in all zones with no numeric limit, under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250. Each sign may not exceed 4 square feet, and signs must be removed within 5 days after the election.
Santa Clara County Title C zoning prohibits new off-premises digital billboards in unincorporated areas. The California Outdoor Advertising Act sets statewide controls along Interstate and primary highways and requires Caltrans permits for any roadside display.
Santa Clara County Title C zoning limits window signs in unincorporated commercial districts to roughly 25 percent of the window area. Larger temporary banners and obstructive signage trigger sign-permit review by the Planning Department.
Signs visible to motorists on US-101, I-280, I-680, I-880, SR-85, and SR-87 require both Caltrans Outdoor Advertising approval and County zoning sign permits. The Outdoor Advertising Act preempts inconsistent local rules along these routes.
Cupertino city parks are closed overnight under Municipal Code Chapter 13.04. No person may remain, stay, or loiter in a public park between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. unless the City Council sets other hours, and many parks post shorter hours by resolution.
Unincorporated Santa Clara County has no general countywide juvenile curfew ordinance, relying on state law for truancy and parental responsibility.
Cupertino's dark-sky lighting standards in Municipal Code Chapter 19.102 require all outdoor lighting to be fully shielded, directed downward, and away from adjacent properties. Exterior lighting is capped at 1,600 lumens per fixture and must be extinguished or motion-sensor operated after 11 p.m.
Cupertino limits light trespass onto neighboring property under Municipal Code Chapter 19.102: no exterior light may cast more than 0.1 foot-candle onto an adjacent property, measured at the shared property line, and no direct off-site glare may be visible above three feet at a public right-of-way.
Outdoor advertising in Santa Clara County must follow Caltrans brightness rules adopted from the federal Highway Beautification Act. Digital displays cannot exceed 0.3 footcandles over ambient at the regulated measurement distance and must dim automatically at night.
Decorative holiday and seasonal lighting is broadly exempt from Santa Clara County outdoor-lighting standards from November through early January. Permanent year-round string lighting still must meet shielding, color-temperature, and light-trespass rules under Title C zoning.
Santa Clara County Title C outdoor-lighting standards require full-cutoff shielding on security and area lights to prevent glare and light trespass. The rules align with International Dark-Sky Association practice and limit upward and lateral light beyond property lines.
Santa Clara County grading follows Division C12 and CBC Appendix J. Sites must slope runoff away from foundations at 5 percent for 10 feet. Redirecting drainage onto neighbors is barred.
Santa Clara County declared a climate emergency in 2020 and adopted the OneSCC 2030 Sustainability Master Plan setting county-operations carbon neutrality and aggressive countywide reduction targets. The Office of Sustainability coordinates implementation across departments serving 1.9 million residents.
Properties in CalFire State Responsibility Area and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under California PRC §4291. Santa Clara County FireSafe Council and CalFire enforce in foothill unincorporated communities like Saratoga Hills, Los Altos Hills, and Mount Hamilton.
California Code of Regulations Title 13 §2485 caps heavy-duty diesel idling at five minutes statewide, enforced across Santa Clara County by CARB and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The county fleet idle-reduction policy mirrors the limit for county-owned trucks and buses.
Santa Clara County's Sustainable Procurement Policy directs all departments to prioritize recycled-content, energy-efficient, low-toxicity, and locally sourced products. Procurement leads the county's transition to a zero-emission light-duty fleet under the OneSCC Sustainability Plan.
Santa Clara County Roads and Airports runs limited cool pavement pilots in heat-vulnerable unincorporated communities like East San Jose foothill fringes. Reflective coatings reduce surface temperatures by roughly 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit on summer afternoons aligned with OneSCC heat equity goals.
Santa Clara County Title B Building Code adopts CALGreen Title 24 Part 11 baseline plus reach-code amendments requiring cool roofing on new construction and major reroofs in unincorporated areas. Reflective materials must meet minimum solar reflectance and thermal emittance ratings under Title 24 Part 6.
The OneSCC 2030 Sustainability Master Plan and county tree canopy goals guide heat island mitigation through cool roofs, cool pavement, urban forestry, and cooling-center activations when National Weather Service forecasts highs at or above 95 degrees Fahrenheit for two consecutive days in unincorporated areas.
Santa Clara County Division C12 requires a grading permit over 50 cubic yards or 5000 sq ft disturbance. Hillside grading is barred Oct 15 to Apr 15 without winterization. Sites over 1 acre need state CGP.
Santa Clara County stormwater follows SCVURPPP and Municipal Regional Permit MRP 3.0. Projects over 10000 sq ft impervious need Low Impact Development treatment. Non-rain discharges are prohibited.
Santa Clara County enforces FEMA NFIP rules via Division B17. Zone A and AE areas along Coyote Creek and Guadalupe River require construction 1 foot above Base Flood Elevation. Federal loans need insurance.
California AB-1346 banned the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and other small off-road engines under 25 horsepower starting 2024, applying across Santa Clara County. Several cities including Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Los Gatos enforce stricter operating bans, while unincorporated areas follow the state floor.
The California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction over local decisions.
Santa Clara County has adopted strong sanctuary policies since 2011, refusing to honor ICE civil detainers without a judicial warrant. Board resolutions in 2011, 2017, and 2023 reaffirmed the policy. California SB-54 reinforces the limits statewide.
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. SCC and its 15 cities impose no E-Verify requirement.
California Penal Code section 53071 preempts almost all local firearm regulation, so Santa Clara County cannot register or restrict gun ownership beyond state law. Narrow zoning and ammunition vendor rules survive in unincorporated areas under SCC Ord. NS-509.99.
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 cities are incorporated; loaded open carry is barred everywhere countywide.
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 following Bruen and SB-2, with sensitive-place limits applied countywide.
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 must be unloaded but may ride in the passenger compartment if encased.
Santa Clara County requires every vape and tobacco retailer in unincorporated areas to hold a Tobacco Retail License under Ordinance NS-300.789 plus a state CDTFA license. Sales of flavored vape products are barred under earlier county Ordinance NS-300.913 and California SB-793.
Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-300.913, adopted in 2010 and predating the LA County and statewide bans, prohibits sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes and flavored e-liquids in unincorporated areas. California SB-793 imposes the same ban statewide as of December 2022.
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 tobacco product to anyone under twenty-one. SCC Public Health enforces in unincorporated areas with photo-ID checks.
Santa Clara County has no county-specific minimum wage above the California state floor for unincorporated areas. Workers in unincorporated SCC follow the state rate set by SB-3, while San Jose and other cities maintain higher local minimums.
Santa Clara County has no county paid-leave ordinance. Workers in unincorporated areas follow California SB-616's five-day statewide floor. San Jose and a few other cities have not enacted higher local rules, so SB-616 governs across the county.
California SB-525, signed October 2023, establishes tiered minimum wages for covered healthcare workers ranging from $18 to $25 per hour. Santa Clara County hospitals and clinics follow state schedules; the county adds no additional local healthcare wage floor.
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 predictable-schedule mandate applies in SCC unincorporated areas or its 15 cities.
Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-1100, adopted in 2008 as the first county-level bag ban in the nation, prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in unincorporated areas and requires a paper-bag charge. California SB-270 and AB-1162 (2024) now mirror the rule statewide.
Santa Clara County Ordinance NS-300.881 bars food vendors and county facilities in unincorporated areas from using expanded polystyrene foam containers, cups, plates, and trays. California AB-1276 (Public Resources Code section 42273) and SB-54 extend parallel statewide standards to all cities.
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 requested by the customer. Santa Clara County DEH enforces locally.
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 plastic straws; disability requests must be accommodated without burden under state and federal law.
California Civil Code §1954.603 requires every Santa Clara County landlord to give new tenants a written bed-bug information notice and disclose known infestations. SCC DEH and city code enforcement respond to habitability complaints; treatment cost normally falls on the landlord.
Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health inspects every restaurant, market, and mobile food facility countywide and posts a numerical inspection score and report online. Unlike LA, SCC uses risk-based scoring rather than letter grades; sub-standard facilities may face closure.
Santa Clara County Vector Control District handles outdoor rodent surveillance and resident complaints countywide, while SCC DEH addresses food-facility infestations. California AB-1788 bans second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides for non-licensed users to protect raptors and other wildlife.
California Health & Safety Code §118286 bans home-generated sharps in trash or recycling. Santa Clara County Public Health distributes free SHARP containers and operates syringe exchange and drop-off sites countywide. Mail-back kits are also available through the program.
Santa Clara County Public Health's Healthy Stores program partners with corner stores and small markets to stock fresh produce, low-sugar beverages, and whole-grain items. Participation is voluntary, with technical assistance, signage, and refrigeration grants offered to qualifying retailers.
FDA menu labeling under 21 CFR §101.11 requires chain restaurants of 20 or more locations to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards. Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health enforces compliance during routine food facility inspections.
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 three years. SCC DEH inspectors verify compliance during routine retail food inspections countywide.
Santa Clara County Code Title C Zoning establishes A (Exclusive Agriculture) and AR (Agricultural Ranchlands) districts for unincorporated areas. Williamson Act contracts further restrict prime farmland in Coyote Valley, San Martin, and the Gilroy growing belt to agricultural use.
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 agricultural preserves in Coyote Valley and the Gilroy-Morgan Hill area.
Santa Clara County imposes no countywide buyout disclosure rule. Cash-for-keys agreements in unincorporated areas follow only baseline California contract and Civil Code rules, unlike San Jose and Mountain View, which require formal disclosures.
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 requires written notice, statutory relocation, and good-faith intent.
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 tort remedies for retaliation or harassment.
The Santa Clara County Housing Authority (SCCHA) administers federal Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers across the county. Landlords accepting vouchers must pass an HQS inspection and cannot refuse applicants based on voucher status.
Unincorporated Santa Clara County does not require rental property registration, though business licenses may apply to multi-unit and short-term rental operators.
Santa Clara County landlords must follow California AB 1482 just cause eviction rules, requiring specified reasons and relocation assistance for no-fault terminations.
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 10%, including any operating cost passthroughs.
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 adds extra pay for elderly or disabled tenants.
Unincorporated Santa Clara County follows California AB 1482 statewide rent cap (5 percent plus CPI, max 10 percent) with no local rent control ordinance.
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 enforces statewide rules through state CRD; no separate county code exists.
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 state rule governs unincorporated and incorporated rentals alike.
California evictions run through the unlawful detainer process. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 1161, nonpayment requires a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit (excluding weekends and holidays), and lease violations require a 3-day notice to cure or quit. No-fault terminations of covered tenancies require 30, 60, or 90 days. Self-help lockouts are illegal.
California landlords must keep rentals fit to live in. Civil Code §§ 1941 and 1941.1, reinforced by Green v. Superior Court, imply a warranty of habitability covering plumbing, heat, water, electricity, and sanitation. If repairs fail after notice, a tenant may repair and deduct up to one month's rent under § 1942 or withhold rent.
California Civil Code § 1954 limits when a landlord may enter a rented home. Except in emergencies, abandonment, or with tenant consent, the landlord must give reasonable written notice (24 hours is presumed reasonable) and may enter only during normal business hours, for specific permitted reasons such as repairs, inspections, or showings.
California sets no fixed dollar or percentage cap on rent late fees, but a late fee in a residential lease is treated as liquidated damages. Under Civil Code § 1671, such a fee is valid only if it reasonably estimates the landlord's actual loss from late payment; arbitrary penalty fees are unenforceable.
To end a California month-to-month tenancy, a tenant gives 30 days' written notice. A landlord gives 30 days if the tenant has lived there under a year, or 60 days if a year or more, under Civ. Code § 1946.1. AB 1482 requires just cause after 12 months; military and DV tenants may exit early.
California requires written notice before raising a month-to-month tenant's rent. Under Civ. Code § 827, increases of 10% or less in 12 months need 30 days' notice; increases above 10% need 90 days' notice. AB 1482 separately caps yearly increases on covered units.
California adverse possession requires five years of continuous, open, hostile possession AND payment of all property taxes during that period under Code of Civil Procedure § 325. A squatter or trespasser who has not paid taxes gains no ownership and can be removed by unlawful detainer, ejectment, or a police trespass action.
California permits state-licensed retailer cannabis delivery into any jurisdiction under DCC regulations. Santa Clara County does not host retail storefronts in unincorporated areas but cannot ban delivery into homes.
California's MAUCRSA framework lets local jurisdictions adopt social equity programs. Santa Clara County has limited unincorporated cannabis licensing, with state Bureau of Cannabis Control administering equity outreach grants.
California Business and Professions Code §26054 prohibits cannabis licensees within 600 feet of schools, daycares, and youth centers. Santa Clara County Title C zoning may impose larger buffers in unincorporated areas.
California Proposition 64 and Health and Safety Code §11362.1 allow adults 21+ to grow up to six cannabis plants per residence for personal use. Santa Clara County follows the state baseline.
Santa Clara County Title C zoning sharply limits commercial cannabis in unincorporated areas. Most cultivation, manufacturing, and retail must locate in incorporated cities with permissive ordinances like San Jose.
Health and Safety Code section 11362.2 grants every adult 21 or older the statewide right to cultivate up to six cannabis plants indoors, and bars local governments from completely prohibiting indoor personal cultivation.
Santa Clara County has no countywide mansionization ordinance, but Title C zoning sets floor area ratio caps, lot coverage limits, and tiered setbacks in residential and rural districts of unincorporated areas, including hillside, scenic, and AP-Agricultural Preserve overlays.
Santa Clara County Code Title B adopts the California Residential Code R313, requiring NFPA 13D fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes in unincorporated areas, with County Fire reviewing plans.
Santa Clara County Title B classifies childcare centers as Group E or I-4 occupancies with specific egress, fire-protection, and lead clearance requirements. CCR Title 22 licensing through CDSS adds operational rules on staffing, square footage, and outdoor space.
Santa Clara County Title B and the California Fire Code adopt CFC Section 1010, restricting locks and latches on required egress doors. Single-action hardware, no double-cylinder deadbolts on exits, and panic hardware in assembly occupancies are mandatory.
Santa Clara County Title B adopts the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen, Title 24 Part 11) plus reach-code amendments requiring all-electric new construction, EV-ready parking, and heat-pump water heating in unincorporated areas effective 2023.
Santa Clara County pest control follows CA DPR and County Ag Commissioner rules under Food and Ag Code 11701. Licensees register yearly and notify neighbors before fumigation. Tenants get 24 hour notice.
Santa Clara County scaffolding follows CA Labor Code 7150 through 7157 and Title 8 CCR 1635 to 1662. Scaffolds over 36 feet need engineered plans. All must have guardrails, toeboards, and pre-shift inspection.
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 commercial rules.
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 surfaces must be lead-certified.
Santa Clara County has no mandatory retrofit ordinance for non-ductile concrete buildings in unincorporated areas. The County Office of Emergency Services maintains a voluntary inventory and supports ASCE 41-17 evaluation, while no countywide mandate parallels San Francisco or Berkeley.
California SB-721 (apartments) and SB-326 (HOA condos) require periodic inspection of exterior elevated elements like balconies, decks, and walkways. Santa Clara County Planning and Development enforces in unincorporated areas; first inspections were due January 1, 2025.
California Vehicle Code Section 22658 governs private-property towing; tow operators serving Santa Clara County Sheriff calls must qualify for the Official Police Garage rotation, meeting equipment, response time, storage, and rate-posting standards.
Unincorporated Santa Clara County restricts adult businesses to specific commercial zones under Title C, requiring buffers from schools, churches, parks, residences, and other adult uses, plus county business licensing and operator permits.
California Business and Professions Code Section 4600 et seq. preempts most local massage licensing through the CAMTC; Santa Clara County still requires a business license, zoning compliance, and adds local sanitation and inspection rules for unincorporated establishments.
Tattoo, piercing, branding, and permanent cosmetics in Santa Clara County require Department of Environmental Health Body Art permits; California Penal Code Section 653 prohibits tattooing anyone under 18 statewide.
Santa Clara County's Tobacco Retail License ordinance NS-300.789, among California's strongest, requires every tobacco and vape retailer in unincorporated areas to hold an annual license, caps density, and bans new tobacco retail near schools.
Smoke shops in unincorporated Santa Clara County must hold a Tobacco Retail License and comply with Ordinance NS-300.913, which bans the sale of all flavored tobacco and vape products including menthol, predating California's statewide ban.
California Business and Professions Code Section 21626 requires secondhand dealers to register with local law enforcement, hold tangible items 30 days, and report acquisitions daily; the Santa Clara County Sheriff administers registration for unincorporated areas.
Pawnbrokers in California operate under Financial Code Section 21000 et seq., requiring state licensing through the Department of Justice plus local law enforcement registration; Santa Clara County Sheriff handles reporting for unincorporated areas.
Santa Clara County Title C zoning prohibits commercial auto repair as a home occupation in residential zones; mechanics may service their own vehicles inside an enclosed garage but cannot operate a paid auto repair business from a home.
Santa Clara County Code Title B and California Penal Code Section 647 prohibit aggressive solicitation in unincorporated areas, including blocking pedestrians, threatening conduct, touching, or soliciting near ATMs, bus stops, and outdoor dining. Passive panhandling remains protected speech, but aggressive conduct is enforced by the Sheriff.
Santa Clara County Code Title D public-health provisions and California Penal Code Section 647(c) prohibit urinating or defecating in any public place or on private property visible from a public way. Violations are infractions starting around $250, enforced by the Sheriff and the County Public Health Department.
Skateboarding in unincorporated Santa Clara County is restricted to designated park facilities under Title M, while California Vehicle Code Section 21212 requires riders under eighteen to wear a helmet on any street, bikeway, or trail. San Jose, Sunnyvale, and other cities add downtown and plaza-specific bans.
Santa Clara County Code Title B and California Penal Code Section 415 treat loud or unruly gatherings as a public nuisance. Several cities, including San Jose and Sunnyvale, layer second-response cost-recovery ordinances that bill hosts, owners, and adult residents for repeat law-enforcement responses after a written warning.
Santa Clara County does not prohibit loitering itself because vague loitering bans violate the First and Fourth Amendments. Only narrow loitering-with-intent conduct is reachable under California Penal Code Sections 647(b) and 647(h), consistent with Papachristou v. Jacksonville and City of Chicago v. Morales.
Santa Clara County Smoke-Free Air Ordinance NS-300.821, codified in Title D, is among California's strongest county-level smoke-free rules. It bans tobacco, vaping, and cannabis smoking in unincorporated multi-unit housing, outdoor dining, public events, parks, and within thirty feet of doorways and air intakes.
California Assembly Bill 2147, the Freedom to Walk Act, amended Vehicle Code Section 21955 effective January 2023. Crossing midblock outside a marked crosswalk is now an infraction only when an immediate hazard of collision exists. The Santa Clara County Sheriff applies the statewide standard in unincorporated areas.
California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.3 prohibits smoking, vaping, or consuming cannabis in any public place, anywhere tobacco smoking is banned, and within one thousand feet of a school, daycare, or youth center while children are present. The Sheriff enforces a $100 infraction in unincorporated areas.
California Business and Professions Code Section 25620 makes possessing an open container of alcohol in any public place an infraction. Santa Clara County Code Title B separately bans drinking in unincorporated parks, beaches at Vasona and Calero reservoirs, and public rights-of-way without a permit. The Sheriff and park rangers enforce.
Santa Clara County Planning operates under the Comprehensive General Plan with mandatory state elements plus area-specific plans for South County, Rural Unincorporated Areas, and the Stanford Community Plan. These overlay Title C base zoning across all unincorporated land.
Projects setting aside affordable units in unincorporated Santa Clara County qualify for state-mandated density bonuses, parking reductions, and concessions under California Government Code Section 65915, implemented locally through Title C zoning provisions, with bonuses now up to 80 percent.
Valley Water (Santa Clara Valley Water District) sets countywide conservation rules requiring outdoor irrigation only on assigned days, banning watering during daytime hours, and tightening cuts during declared droughts. Retailers like San Jose Water enforce locally with surcharges.
Valley Water and partner retailers operate recycled water programs distributing tertiary-treated water through purple-pipe systems for irrigation and industrial use. South Bay Water Recycling and the SVAWPC supply Santa Clara County under California Code Title 22 standards.
Santa Clara County imposes a business license tax on businesses operating in unincorporated areas. Each SCC city operates an independent business tax with varying rate structures; San Jose's Business Tax Ordinance is largest, generating millions annually.
Santa Clara County has not adopted a Measure ULA-style mansion tax on high-value real estate transfers. The California Documentary Transfer Tax under Revenue and Taxation Code §11911 sets the baseline rate for SCC property conveyances.
Santa Clara County has not adopted a vacant-property tax on long-empty residential or commercial units. No SCC city has enacted a vacancy tax, leaving owners unaffected by Oakland-style or San Francisco-style penalties on prolonged vacancy.
Santa Clara County imposes limited inclusionary housing requirements in unincorporated areas. Major SCC cities including San Jose, Mountain View, Cupertino, and Palo Alto adopted their own commercial linkage fees and inclusionary ordinances at varying rates.
Santa Clara County has no countywide parking tax in unincorporated areas. San Jose imposes a 10% parking-tax on commercial parking facilities. Other SCC cities have not enacted similar taxes, making San Jose the primary venue for parking taxation.
Santa Clara County Title B noise standards measure complaints in dBA, which underweights low-frequency bass. Code enforcement may use dBC slow-response measurements when bass complaints persist, especially from car stereos, nightclub subwoofers, and residential parties.
Helicopter noise over Santa Clara County is regulated by the FAA, not by county ordinance. SCC Title B noise rules cannot bind aircraft in flight; complaints route to the FAA Western-Pacific Region or the operator's voluntary noise hotline.
Santa Clara County Title B limits construction equipment noise in unincorporated areas to weekday daytime hours and caps levels at the property line. Cities like San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Cupertino adopt their own stricter or comparable construction noise ordinances.
Truck noise on Santa Clara County roads is governed by California Vehicle Code sections 23130 and 27007, capping engine and stereo noise. SCC unincorporated commercial zones add early-morning loading restrictions enforced by Title B.
Helicopter routes across Santa Clara County are set by FAA NorCal TRACON, not by county or city ordinance. San Jose Mineta International publishes voluntary noise abatement procedures, and Reid-Hillview maintains preferred corridors over commercial zones.
San Jose Mineta International and Reid-Hillview Airport restrict aircraft engine run-ups during nighttime hours under voluntary noise abatement procedures. Pilots must use designated run-up pads, and ground operations are governed by airport rules under FAA Part 150 noise compatibility plans.
Hospital helipads in Santa Clara County operate under California Department of Public Health licensing and FAA flight rules. SCC Title B governs ground noise but cannot restrict emergency arrivals. Stanford, Valley Medical, and Good Samaritan operate active helipads.
Bars and nightclubs in unincorporated Santa Clara County must operate under a Conditional Use Permit with noise conditions. ABC licensing and 45 dBA night limits at residential apply.
HVAC noise in Santa Clara County must comply with 55/45 dBA residential limits at neighbor property lines. New installations often need acoustic screening and setback compliance.
Generators in Santa Clara County are allowed for emergency use during PSPS and outages, but routine testing must meet 55/45 dBA limits. Permanent standby units need building permits.
Santa Clara County imposes a Transient Occupancy Tax under Title B on hotel stays in unincorporated areas. Cities collect their own TOT at higher rates: San Jose 10%, Sunnyvale 12.5%, Mountain View 10%, with funds supporting general operations and tourism.
Santa Clara County and its cities have not enacted hotel worker retention ordinances similar to Los Angeles or Long Beach. Hotel workers in SCC rely on California Labor Code protections and union contracts rather than mandatory retention rules during ownership transitions.
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 the county, not hotels broadly, which fall under city wage rules.
Santa Clara County has no equivalent to Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18 anti-camping ordinance. SCC cities vary: San Jose enforces narrow obstruction rules, Sunnyvale prohibits public camping, while unincorporated SCC relies on Sheriff's discretion under state public-nuisance law.
Santa Clara County unincorporated has no sit-lie ordinance. SCC cities maintain limited rules subject to Martin v. Boise and Grants Pass v. Johnson constitutional limits, blocking enforcement when shelter capacity is unavailable.
Santa Clara County operates the CA-501 Continuum of Care coordinating encampment response across cities. Major operations including Vallco and Coyote Creek follow phased outreach, sanitation, and rehousing protocols rather than immediate sweeps.
Santa Clara County's Continuum of Care operates bridge housing through Project Homekey hotel conversions, navigation centers, and tiny-home villages. SB-9 and AB-2011 streamlining accelerate affordable conversions in commercial corridors with reduced CEQA review.
Filming on Santa Clara County roads or property requires a county film permit through the Office of the County Executive. Cities including San Jose, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale operate independent film offices with separate fees and insurance requirements.
Santa Clara County and most cities offer reduced or waived filming fees for verified student productions from accredited institutions. San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Stanford-area filming follows streamlined student permit processes with faster turnaround.
Parades on Santa Clara County roads require permits from Roads and Airports plus Sheriff coordination for traffic control. Cities including San Jose, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale issue parade permits independently under their own municipal codes.
Santa Clara County's permanent outdoor dining programs vary by city. San Jose Al Fresco transitioned pandemic parklets to a permanent program in 2024, while Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale operate parallel programs with separate design and permit standards.
Santa Clara County does not classify any palm species as heritage or protected by default. Palms only gain protection when individually designated as a heritage tree, located in a public right-of-way, or sited in a riparian protection zone managed by Valley Water.
Ailanthus altissima, the host plant of the spotted lanternfly, is a Cal-IPC high-rated invasive that Santa Clara County's Agricultural Commissioner monitors. Property owners are urged to remove seedlings promptly to slow spread along creeks and roadsides.
Santa Clara County does not have specific bamboo restriction ordinances. California does not regulate bamboo statewide. Bamboo that encroaches on neighboring properties may be addressed as a nuisance under California Civil Code.
Santa Clara County follows CDFA and Cal-IPC invasive plant lists. Notable invasive species in the area include yellow starthistle, French broom, pampas grass, and English ivy. The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority actively manages invasive species on public lands.
California AB 2561 (2022) protects front-yard vegetable gardens. Santa Clara County residents can grow food in front yards. The county and many cities encourage drought-tolerant landscaping, including edible gardens, through the MWELO and water district rebate programs.
Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation prohibits drone takeoff, landing, and operation in nearly all county parks. Limited exceptions exist for designated model-aircraft areas and for permitted commercial filming with advance Parks Department approval.
Major events at Levi's Stadium, SAP Center, and PayPal Park trigger FAA temporary flight restrictions banning drones within three nautical miles up to 3,000 feet. Violations carry federal criminal penalties in addition to civil fines.
Recreational drones in Santa Clara County are governed by FAA 14 CFR Part 107 and recreational rules, with restrictions near airports, parks, and the Lick Observatory.
Federal law preempts local airspace control. Drones near San Jose Mineta and Reid-Hillview airports must obtain LAANC authorization through the Federal Aviation Administration, follow controlled airspace altitude limits, and avoid temporary flight restrictions issued for emergencies.
Commercial drone operations in California follow uniform federal rules under 14 CFR Part 107 plus statewide California provisions in Civil Code 1708.8 and Public Utilities Code 21401, with local rules limited to ground-based regulation.
California AB-2188 and SB-379 require expedited permitting for residential rooftop solar and battery storage. Santa Clara County uses the federal SolarAPP+ platform under Title B for instant online plan-check approval of code-compliant systems.
California SB-43 enables Pacific Gas and Electric customers to subscribe to community solar projects without rooftop panels. Santa Clara County renters and condo owners can join the Green Tariff Shared Renewables and Community Solar Green Tariff programs.
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 under Rule 21 and NEM 3.0 net billing.
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 approved after 45 days.
California Penal Code §632 requires two-party consent for confidential audio recording. Santa Clara County doorbell-camera owners may legally record video of visitors but must avoid recording private audio conversations without disclosure or consent.
California Civil Code §1798.90 (SB-34) sets minimum privacy rules for automated license plate reader systems. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office posts an ALPR usage and retention policy and limits sharing of plate data with outside agencies.
Residential security cameras are legal in Santa Clara County without a permit. California's all-party consent law applies to audio recording. Video recording in public and on your own property is legal, but cameras must not target private areas.
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. Violations are misdemeanors with civil damages of $5,000 per violation.
Santa Clara County allows fences up to 6 feet in side and rear yards. Front-yard fences are limited to 3 feet (solid) or 4 feet (open). Fences under 7 feet do not require a building permit. Retaining walls over 4 feet require permits and engineering.
Santa Clara County has no countywide HPOZ. A handful of cities run their own heritage districts, including Mountain View's Whisman and Old Mountain View, plus Palo Alto's Professorville, where overlay design review applies to exterior changes.
Santa Clara County maintains a Heritage Resource Inventory under SCC Ordinance NS-1200.27. Landmarked properties receive county Historical Heritage Commission review before alteration, demolition, or relocation, and qualify for state Mills Act tax relief.
California Government Code §50280 lets local governments grant property tax reductions to owners of designated historic properties who sign ten-year preservation contracts. Santa Clara County and several cities offer Mills Act programs, with savings averaging 40 to 60 percent.
Demolition of a designated Santa Clara County heritage resource triggers full CEQA review and a Heritage Commission stay of up to 180 days. Loss of historic fabric is treated as a significant environmental impact requiring mitigation or mandatory findings of override.
Santa Clara County operates no countywide systematic rental inspection program. San Jose runs the Multiple Housing Program inspecting buildings of three or more units. Other cities and unincorporated areas rely on complaint-driven enforcement.
California Code of Regulations Title 17 §17920.10 defines lead hazards as substandard housing. Santa Clara County Public Health's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program coordinates blood-lead screening, source identification, and abatement orders for lead-impacted homes.
Santa Clara County prohibits blocking public sidewalks with vehicles, overgrown vegetation, merchandise, or debris under county ordinances and CVC 22500(f).
California Streets and Highways Code 5610 makes abutting property owners responsible for sidewalk repair in unincorporated Santa Clara County, with county-issued repair notices.
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 accrue 12 percent.
Santa Clara County HOAs follow Davis-Stirling at Civil Code 4000 to 6150. Boards must hold open meetings with 4 day notice, post agendas, and allow member comment. Executive sessions are narrow.
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 consistent standards.
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 typically involves mediation before court.
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. Selective enforcement is a defense.
California HOAs may fine members for rule violations, but only under a published schedule of fines and after strict due-process steps. Civil Code section 5855 requires written notice and a hearing before any monetary penalty, and section 5725 bars fines from becoming a foreclosable lien on the home.
California overrides HOA governing documents on several owner protections. The Davis-Stirling Act and related Civil Code sections bar HOAs from prohibiting solar systems, U.S. flag displays, drought-tolerant landscaping, EV charging stations, and most noncommercial signs, even where local city rules are silent.
In Santa Clara County, one-story detached accessory structures (sheds) not exceeding 120 square feet do not require a building permit if they have no utilities. Larger sheds require permits. All sheds must comply with zoning setbacks.
Decks under 200 square feet, under 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving a required exit door do not require a permit. Larger or elevated decks require building permits in Santa Clara County.
Fences under 7 feet do not require a building permit in Santa Clara County. Retaining walls over 4 feet require permits. Front-yard fences are limited to 3-4 feet depending on whether solid or open.
Renovation work involving structural changes, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical modifications requires a building permit in Santa Clara County. Cosmetic work does not. ADU conversions follow streamlined state permitting requirements.
Santa Clara County Code Enforcement handles violations in unincorporated areas through the Department of Planning and Development. Reports can be filed online or by calling (408) 299-5770. Within cities, each municipality has its own enforcement division.
Santa Clara County prioritizes code enforcement complaints by severity. Health and safety hazards receive expedited response within 1-3 days. Standard violations are investigated within 5-15 business days with compliance periods of 30-90 days.
Common violations in Santa Clara County include building or occupying structures without permits, unpermitted grading, illegal accessory dwelling units, cannabis cultivation violations, and improper land use in agricultural and hillside zones.
California Retail Food Code (Health and Safety Code 113700-114437) sets uniform mobile food facility permit, equipment, and food safety standards enforced by counties statewide.
California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946) preempts most local bans on sidewalk vending, allowing only objective health, safety, and welfare regulations.