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.
Unlike Los Angeles, Santa Clara County operates no countywide Historic Preservation Overlay Zone over unincorporated land. Within incorporated jurisdictions, three cities maintain HPOZ-style overlays. Mountain View designates two districts under MVMC §36.27, requiring Heritage Preservation Commission review for visible alterations, demolitions, and new construction. Palo Alto's Professorville district under PAMC §16.49 imposes Historic Resources Board approval for exterior changes to contributing structures. Saratoga and Los Gatos use individual landmark designations rather than overlays. Outside these districts, county heritage rules rely on the SCC Heritage Resource Inventory administered by the Department of Planning and Development.
Unpermitted exterior alterations or demolition inside a city HPOZ district trigger stop-work orders, restoration mandates, and per-day administrative fines that can exceed $1,000 plus mandatory CEQA review for repeat infractions.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Santa Clara County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, the County Noise Ordinance (Title B, Division B11, Chapter VIII of the County Ordinance Code) sets exterior noise limit...
Santa Clara County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, fence height is regulated by the County Zoning Ordinance administered by the Department of Planning and Development. Fe...
Santa Clara County, CA
ALL fireworks - including state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks - are illegal in unincorporated Santa Clara County. The County has banned the sale, posses...
Santa Clara County, CA
Residential pools and spas in unincorporated Santa Clara County are governed by California Health and Safety Code Sections 115920 through 115929 (the Pool Sa...
Santa Clara County, CA
Unincorporated Santa Clara County allows movable tiny homes as a substitute for one Accessory Dwelling Unit under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.10.015(E), adopt...
Santa Clara County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, sheds are regulated as accessory buildings under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.20.020. A shed whose combined length plus w...
See how Santa Clara County's hpoz rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.