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.
Santa Clara County's zoning ordinance (County Code Title C, Division C12) creates the A (Exclusive Agriculture) zone and AR (Agricultural Ranchlands) zone for unincorporated farmland. The A zone applies to prime flatland in Coyote Valley, San Martin, and Gilroy with minimum 20-acre parcels and permits crops, orchards, dairies, and one farmhouse per parcel. AR covers hillside grazing lands with 160-acre minimums to discourage rural subdivision. Williamson Act contracts (Land Conservation Act of 1965) layer on top: enrolled landowners receive reduced property-tax assessments in exchange for 10-year minimum contracts restricting parcels to agriculture. SCC has roughly 360,000 acres under Williamson Act contract.
Operating prohibited uses triggers Title C zoning enforcement: notice to abate, civil fines up to $1,000 per day, and code-enforcement liens. Williamson Act contract breach triggers cancellation fees of up to 12.5% of unrestricted value.
See how Sunnyvale's agricultural zoning protection rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.