Moving to Cupertino, CA?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.