Sunnyvale, CA

Sunnyvale is not located in any Cal Fire Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. The city sits on the flat Santa Clara Valley floor without wildland-urban interface areas requiring…

Sunnyvale makes it unlawful for anyone to burn discarded materials anywhere in the city. Municipal Code Section 8.16.070, part of the Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials and Organic…

Sunnyvale outlaws fireworks entirely. Municipal Code Section 16.52.5601 declines to adopt Chapter 56 of the International Fire Code except for one clause it keeps specifically to ban…

Sunnyvale requires a fire department operational permit to store or use LP-gas under Municipal Code Section 16.52.105(q), which locally amends California Fire Code Section 105.5.29…

Sunnyvale requires property owners to maintain defensible space and remove dead vegetation as a fire hazard. The city conducts annual weed abatement inspections under Sunnyvale…

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

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

California Health and Safety Code 115920 and Sunnyvale code require pool barriers at least 60 inches tall with self-closing gates and at least two of seven safety features for…

Sunnyvale requires a building permit for any in-ground pool or spa, and for above-ground pools deeper than 18 inches, under the California Building Code as adopted by SMC Title 16.

Sunnyvale treats persistent barking as an animal nuisance under Municipal Code Section 6.02.040(a)(7): a dog that barks, bays, cries or howls continuously for ten minutes within any…

Sunnyvale bans outdoor loudspeakers and sound amplifiers between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. citywide. Operating one during those hours requires a permit from the chief of the department of…

Sunnyvale limits leaf blower use in or adjacent to residential areas to the hours of eight a.m. to eight p.m., under Municipal Code § 19.42.030(c)(4). Since January 1, 2000, every leaf…

Sunnyvale limits construction activity to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday under Municipal Code Section 16.08.030, with no construction on Sunday…

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

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

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

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

Sunnyvale bars feeding or attracting wild animals, including birds, citywide under Municipal Code Section 6.02.050, and also bans leaving or scattering food, seed, or other edible…

Sunnyvale does not ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats outright, but it requires an animal-establishment permit before anyone runs a pet shop, kennel, or grooming parlor, and it…

Sunnyvale bans livestock outright in residential zones and caps chickens and other small animals at six per property under Municipal Code Chapter 6.09. Roosters over four months old…

Sunnyvale has no citywide cat license or leash law, but Chapter 6.03 regulates how cats change hands: a kitten cannot be sold, adopted out, or transferred before eight weeks old…

Sunnyvale bans hunting, harming, trapping, chasing or throwing objects at any bird, animal or reptile in a city park, and separately bans taking eggs, nests or young. The only…

Sunnyvale requires an annual permit before anyone opens a grooming parlor, kennel, pet shop or similar animal establishment. Municipal Code Section 6.07.010 puts permitting authority…

Sunnyvale requires a discretionary use permit for any animal hospital or clinic in its four commercial zoning districts, and bars veterinary services outright from residential…

Sunnyvale caps residential apiaries at five hives per lot under Municipal Code Chapter 6.08. Hives must sit at least 25 feet from side or rear property lines and 100 feet from any…

Sunnyvale caps how many dogs and cats one dwelling unit may keep under Municipal Code Section 6.02.020, allowing only five listed combinations that top out at four animals total, from…

Sunnyvale does not impose breed-specific bans on pit bulls, Rottweilers, or other dogs. California Food and Agricultural Code 31683 preempts breed-specific licensing bans by local…

Sunnyvale has no citywide spay-or-neuter mandate for pet owners in Title 6. The only fixed-status requirement sits in Municipal Code Section 6.04.120(b)(5): any dog over eighteen…

Sunnyvale requires dogs to be confined to the owner's fenced property or kept on a leash no longer than six feet whenever they are in public, including streets, sidewalks, events, and…

Sunnyvale follows California Fish and Wildlife restricted species rules. Native wildlife, large constrictors, primates, and big cats are banned. Ferrets remain illegal statewide in…

Converting a garage or carport in Sunnyvale to a non-parking use needs a miscellaneous plan permit and, outside the ADU exception, requires replacing every lost space with a new…

Sunnyvale allows accessory dwelling units on residential lots subject to detailed numeric standards in Section 19.79.040: a 150 square foot minimum, height caps of 16 to 18 feet…

Sunnyvale bars any accessory dwelling unit approved on or after January 1, 2020 from ever being used as a short-term rental. Section 19.79.040(r) makes the ban a permanent condition of…

Accessory structures in Sunnyvale's single-family and duplex zoning districts cap out at 450 square feet each, with a hard citywide ceiling of 800 square feet total per lot, under…

Sunnyvale requires the property owner to live on site whenever a junior accessory dwelling unit is created. Section 19.79.050(d)(7) makes owner-occupancy of either the JADU or the main…

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

Sunnyvale bans daytime lawn watering and runoff under its year-round Water Conservation Restrictions ordinance. Municipal Code Section 12.34.020 prohibits irrigating outdoor…

Sunnyvale bans removing or damaging any 'protected tree,' meaning a tree 38 inches or more in trunk circumference measured 4.5 feet above grade, without a protected tree removal permit…

Sunnyvale Municipal Code Chapter 8.20 makes it unlawful for any owner, agent or lessee to let weeds remain on a building, lot or premises, including the abutting half of any adjoining…

Rainwater collection is legal in Sunnyvale under California AB 1750. Rain barrels under 50 gallons are exempt from permits. Larger cistern systems require plumbing permits for potable…

Artificial turf is allowed in Sunnyvale residential yards without a special permit. California AB 1572 will ban potable irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial sites starting…

Sunnyvale encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping and complies with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. No permit is required for native plantings in…

Sunnyvale has a strong Heritage Tree Ordinance under Municipal Code Chapter 19.94 requiring permits to trim large trees. Routine pruning is allowed but heavy cuts on protected trees…

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

Sunnyvale bans electrically charged fences and any barbed wire, razor wire, or injury-designed fencing on or near residential property, and prohibits new chain link fences in front…

Sunnyvale measures fence height from the highest adjoining grade in rear and side yards not on a street, and from the top of curb in front and reducible front yards, with by-right caps…

Sunnyvale requires a miscellaneous plan permit (MPP) or use permit (UP) for taller fences depending on yard location and height, under SMC Table 19.48.025. Front-yard fences over 4…

California Civil Code 841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) requires adjoining property owners to share the cost of boundary fences equally absent written agreement, and 30-day written notice…

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

Sunnyvale bans short-term rentals citywide except for city-approved hosted rentals. Under SMC 19.76.030 and 19.76.050, a host must apply for and receive Community Development Director…

Sunnyvale only permits hosted short-term rentals, meaning the host must physically reside on site throughout every lodger's stay. Section 19.76.040(a)(4) defines residing on site as…

Hosting platforms listing Sunnyvale short-term rentals must disclose tax and chapter requirements to hosts, notify hosts of city-reported violations, deactivate listings immediately…

Sunnyvale short-term rental hosts collect and remit a 12.5% transient occupancy tax on every stay under SMC 3.16.040(d), register for a TOT certificate under 3.16.070, and pay whatever…

Sunnyvale STR occupancy is capped at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional, not to exceed the building code maximum. Commercial events and parties are prohibited.

Sunnyvale STRs must provide at least one off-street parking space per rented bedroom and cannot use RV parking or overflow street parking for guests under SMC 19.76.

California requires hosting platforms to warn hosts to check their lease and insurance before listing (Business and Professions Code 22592), and AB 537 requires short-term lodging…

Sunnyvale treats a family daycare home as a residential use allowed by right in every residential zoning district under SMC § 19.58.030. Small homes serve up to eight children and…

Home occupations in Sunnyvale cannot use standard commercial signage: Section 19.42.010(f) limits them to the residential name plate allowed under Section 19.44.050(k), a sign capped…

Home occupations in Sunnyvale cannot draw more than three vehicles a day, counting customers, vendors and delivery drivers combined, under Municipal Code Section 19.42.010(j). The…

Sunnyvale allows a home occupation in any zoning district, but only with a business license and director of community development sign-off confirming the use meets the fourteen…

Government Code section 51035 forbids any California city, county, or city and county from prohibiting a cottage food operation in a residential dwelling. The local agency must pick…

California lets home cooks sell meals from their own kitchen under a microenterprise home kitchen operation (MEHKO) permit, capped at 30 meals a day, 90 a week, and $100,000 in annual…

Sunnyvale's city traffic engineer can restrict stopping, standing or parking either by posting signs or by painting the curb, under Municipal Code Section 10.16.020. Once a sign or…

Sunnyvale marks commercial loading zones with a yellow curb line reading "LOADING ONLY." Vehicles may stop only to load or unload commercial deliveries, capped at twenty minutes for…

Sunnyvale's city council can designate residential preferential parking zones under Municipal Code Chapter 10.26 after finding that non-residential vehicles regularly crowd out…

Sunnyvale supports residential EV charging through streamlined permitting under AB 1236 and new construction EV-ready requirements in CALGreen. Commercial EV stalls must meet ADA and…

Sunnyvale allows overnight street parking on most residential streets subject to the 72-hour rule. Permit Parking Districts require a valid permit overnight.

Sunnyvale enforces abandoned vehicle removal through SMC Title 10 and CVC 22651(k) and 22669. Vehicles left over 72 hours on public streets or inoperable on private property may be…

Since January 1, 2005, Sunnyvale has required RVs, trailers and boats parked in a front yard to sit perpendicular to the street, unless the driveway's legal configuration makes that…

Street parking in Sunnyvale is governed by SMC Title 10 and California Vehicle Code. The 72-hour rule (CVC 22651(k)) applies, and posted permit zones restrict certain neighborhoods.

A commercial vehicle weighing ten thousand pounds or more cannot park in a Sunnyvale residential district for more than five hours under Municipal Code Section 10.16.160. Pickups and…

Sunnyvale allows parking in required yards, but caps front-yard vehicle parking at half the yard area, and restricts what can sit there. Only currently-registered, operable vehicles…

California doesn't ban private-property towing, but Vehicle Code Section 22658 controls how it happens. A posted sign at least 17 by 22 inches must warn drivers before a tow company…

Door-to-door commercial solicitors in Sunnyvale must obtain a peddler/solicitor permit and business license before conducting sales or service canvassing.

Sunnyvale solicitors must honor posted No Soliciting signs and leave property immediately when asked, with violations treated as trespass.

Sunnyvale bins cannot sit on the curb around the clock. Municipal Code Section 8.16.050 bars storing mixed waste, recycling or organics containers on any public street or sidewalk…

Sunnyvale residents and businesses must source-separate recyclables and organics from trash to comply with state laws AB 341, AB 1826, and SB 1383.

Sunnyvale defines yard trimmings broadly, covering everything from grass clippings to whole dead trees, and requires it to go out for collection within size limits set by the city's…

Sunnyvale residents can only set out large discards like furniture, appliances, mattresses or carpet rolls when the city runs a scheduled bulky-item program, and even then the window…

Dumping trash, debris or refuse anywhere in Sunnyvale outside a designated disposal site is a standalone violation under Municipal Code Section 8.04.060. The rule bans placing garbage…

Sunnyvale allows a debris box or dumpster on private property during building construction or remodeling only in conjunction with a valid building permit, and it must come off the lot…

Sunnyvale requires large food businesses to divert edible food from the trash instead of throwing it away. Municipal Code Section 8.16.210 phases in mandatory food recovery contracts…

Sunnyvale collects garbage, recycling, and organics weekly on the same day. Look up your day with the city's 'How to Get Rid of Anything' tool or the Sunnyvale Recycles Right app. On…

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

Davis-Stirling allows Sunnyvale HOAs to enforce CCRs through fines, suspension of privileges, and liens, but requires due process notice and a hearing under Civil Code 5855.

HOAs in Sunnyvale levy regular and special assessments under Civil Code 5600. Annual increases over 20 percent or special assessments over 5 percent require member approval.

Before suing, Sunnyvale HOA members must use Internal Dispute Resolution or Alternative Dispute Resolution under Civil Code 5900-5965 of the Davis-Stirling Act.

Sunnyvale HOAs may enforce architectural guidelines under CCRs, but California Civil Code 4735 protects solar panels, EV charging, clotheslines, and low-water landscaping.

California's Davis-Stirling Act gives every HOA member the right to inspect and copy association records under Civil Code § 5205. Boards must produce current-year records within 10…

California voids any HOA governing-document clause that effectively bans or unreasonably restricts a clothesline or drying rack in an owner's exclusive-use backyard. Civil Code Section…

Civil Code section 4735 voids any HOA rule that bans low-water plants, turf replacement, or artificial turf, and bars fines for cutting back watering during a declared drought…

Civil Code § 4745 voids any HOA covenant or governing-document rule that prohibits or unreasonably restricts installing an EV charging station in an owner's unit or designated parking…

Civil Code § 4705 bars every California homeowners association from limiting a member's display of the United States flag on their own lot or within their exclusive-use common area…

California law caps homeowners association fines at $100 per violation or the amount listed in the association's published penalty schedule, whichever is less. Civil Code section 5850…

A California homeowners association cannot foreclose on a member’s home over unpaid dues until the delinquent assessments alone reach $1,800, or until the assessments secured by the…

Civil Code § 4741 bars every California homeowners association from adopting or enforcing a rule that prohibits, or unreasonably restricts, renting out a separate interest, and sets a…

Commercial drone operations in Sunnyvale require FAA Part 107 certification, proper airspace authorization, and a Sunnyvale business license for local operators.

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

Sunnyvale residents may display temporary political signs on private property under First Amendment protections, with reasonable limits on size and placement.

Sunnyvale confines digital billboards, called electronic message centers, to the city's regional retail zoning areas and, per § 19.44.160(c)(1), bans them everywhere else. Where…

Sunnyvale caps window signs at twenty-five percent of the total window area per building façade, per tenant space, under Municipal Code § 19.44.050(d). Because window signs fall on the…

Garage sale signs in Sunnyvale fall under the residential temporary-sign rule, § 19.44.190: no permit is needed, but total signage on the property cannot exceed sixteen square feet…

Sunnyvale gives food, lodging, and fuel businesses next to U.S. 101 or State Routes 85 and 237 bigger freeway-facing signage than the standard commercial allowance. Municipal Code §…

Sunnyvale does not currently require general rental property registration, but short-term rentals and specific multi-family programs may have notification requirements.

Sunnyvale has local Rent Stabilization plus statewide AB 1482 protections. Most multifamily rentals are capped at annual CPI-based increases with just-cause eviction requirements.

Sunnyvale tenants are protected by California AB 1482 just cause eviction requirements. Landlords must state an allowable reason for eviction after 12 months of occupancy.

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…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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…

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…

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…

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…

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%…

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…

Sunnyvale offers online solar permits under AB 1236 and SB 379. Residential rooftop PV typically earns same-day approval. Title 24 Solar Mandate requires solar on most new homes.

Sunnyvale streamlines permitting for small residential rooftop solar under Municipal Code Chapter 16.66, adopted to comply with state law AB 2188, Civil Code Section 714, and…

HOAs in Sunnyvale cannot prohibit rooftop solar under California Civil Code 714 (Solar Rights Act). Reasonable aesthetic rules are allowed only if they do not significantly reduce…

Sunnyvale follows federal EPA RRP Rule and California Title 17 for lead-safe work practices on pre-1978 homes. Contractors must be lead-certified for disturbances over 6 square feet…

Sunnyvale bars anyone from operating, maintaining, or using a Community Care Facility, Day Care, or Child Care Center until it satisfies every state and local fire and life-safety law…

Sunnyvale adopts the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code, as amended into the 2025 California Plumbing Code, as its plumbing code under Municipal Code Section 16.24.020. A permit and fee are…

Sunnyvale requires a permit for building, structural, electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing work and for alterations covered by the 2025 California Building Code as locally amended…

Sunnyvale adopts the 2023 National Electrical Code, as amended into the 2025 California Electrical Code, as its electrical code under Municipal Code Section 16.32.020. Section…

Sunnyvale requires an automatic residential fire sprinkler system in every new townhouse unit and every new one- and two-family dwelling under Municipal Code Section 16.17.080…

Sunnyvale's Green Building Code, Municipal Code Chapter 16.43, requires any installed wood stove or pellet stove to meet EPA New Source Performance Standards and carry a certification…

Sunnyvale caps new houses and additions in the R-0, R-1 and R-2 zoning districts at 45 percent floor area ratio or 3,600 square feet of gross floor area, whichever is less, plus 45/40…

Sunnyvale's building official can order extra inspections beyond the standard sequence, requires an inspection record card to be posted on site before permitted work begins, and may…

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…

Operating a massage establishment in Sunnyvale requires a permit from the Department of Public Safety, on top of the standard business license. Every massage therapist must hold…

Sunnyvale requires every adult business to hold a license from the Director of Public Safety under SMC Chapter 9.40, and confines these uses to the M-S and M-3 zoning districts. SMC…

Sunnyvale allows residents to service or repair their own vehicles at home only under tight limits set by Municipal Code Section 19.18.050: daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., no more…

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

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

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

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

Sunnyvale regulates every subdivision, fill, grading, utility installation, and building project inside a mapped flood hazard area under Municipal Code Chapter 16.62. The rules apply…

Sunnyvale's Chapter 12.60 stormwater ordinance bans any discharge to the storm drain system that isn't composed entirely of stormwater, unless a specific exemption applies, under…

Every construction site in Sunnyvale must run effective erosion, sediment and runoff controls through all phases of work under Municipal Code Section 12.60.310(c), part of the…

Sunnyvale's floodplain code adds a one-foot freeboard margin above FEMA's base flood elevation for the structures it regulates directly. Detached garages and accessory storage…

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…

Sunnyvale grants density bonuses above a residential zone's maximum allowable density under Municipal Code Section 19.18.025, tied directly to State Density Bonus Law (Government Code…

Development in Sunnyvale's Downtown Specific Plan district must follow the DSP document's architectural and design guidelines plus block-by-block setback and open space standards, and…

Sunnyvale requires a city engineer-issued encroachment permit before anyone builds, plants or places anything in the public right-of-way, under Municipal Code Section 13.08.030…

Sunnyvale requires an encroachment permit from the city engineer before anyone obstructs, blocks or places anything in the public right-of-way, including sidewalks, under Municipal…

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

Sunnyvale requires a miscellaneous plan permit from the director of community development before anyone can vend from a pushcart on a public sidewalk, tying each vendor to one fixed…

Food trucks in Sunnyvale need a Santa Clara County health permit, a business license, and must comply with SMC Title 5 and SB 946 vending rules on sidewalks.

Sunnyvale permits food truck and sidewalk vending in commercial and industrial zones and limits operations near schools, parks, and residences under SMC Title 19 and SB 946.

Sunnyvale requires pedestrians to cross streets by the shortest route straight across, at right angles to the curb, unless they use a marked crosswalk. Crossing any other way, or…

Sunnyvale makes it unlawful to host, permit or allow a social gathering at a residence where ten or more people under 21 are present and alcohol is being possessed or consumed. A first…

Drinking alcohol or carrying an open container on Sunnyvale streets, sidewalks, parkstrips, alleys, public parks or other public property is unlawful under Municipal Code Section…

Sunnyvale makes it unlawful to loiter in a median strip on any street, highway or other city-maintained public right-of-way. The code defines loitering broadly as lingering for any…

Sunnyvale's smoking ordinance defines "smoke" to expressly include "marijuana smoke," so the citywide list of no-smoking locations in Municipal Code Section 9.28.030, including public…

Riding a skateboard on the roadway portion of any Sunnyvale street is unlawful citywide under Municipal Code Section 10.12.035. In retail commercial districts, the ban extends further…

Sunnyvale bars smoking in a long list of outdoor and unenclosed public spaces, including outdoor dining areas, public parks, stadiums and outdoor theaters, service-area lines, and the…

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

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

Sunnyvale caps lot coverage for single-story homes in the R-0, R-1 and R-2 districts at 45 percent of the lot and two-story homes at 40 percent, under Table 19.32.020 of Municipal Code…

Sunnyvale sets minimum front, side and rear yard setbacks by zoning district in Table 19.34.030 of the zoning code. A standard R-1 single-family lot needs a 15-foot front yard, 6 feet…

Sunnyvale caps single-family homes in the R-0 and R-1 districts at 30 feet and two stories, per Table 19.32.020 in Municipal Code Chapter 19.32. Multi-family R-3 buildings top out at…

Sunnyvale zoning classifies built-in barbecues, outdoor fireplaces and accessory cooking areas as "Open Outdoor Equipment," an accessory-structure category under Municipal Code Chapter…

Sunnyvale outlaws letting broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers or irrigation systems leak potable water under Municipal Code Section 12.34.020(a)(1). The Director of Environmental…

Sunnyvale requires new or rehabilitated landscape areas of 500 square feet or more to hit water-efficient design standards under Municipal Code Section 19.37.050. Owners choose Option…

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

Sunnyvale charges a 12.5% transient occupancy tax on rent for any hotel, motel, or other structure rented for lodging under 30 consecutive days, a rate unchanged since January 1, 2019…

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…

Sunnyvale's Alarm Systems chapter, which otherwise requires a permit and charges false-alarm fees, expressly excludes audible alarms mounted on privately owned motor vehicles…

Sunnyvale bans nighttime deliveries, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., to any commercial or industrial establishment whose loading area sits adjacent to a residential use. The city's Municipal Code…

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

Sunnyvale's business license tax under Chapter 5.04 isn't tiered by industry or gross receipts: every business pays the same schedule based on its number of employees or rental units…

Sunnyvale bans camping, storing camp gear, or leaving unattended property in any park, street, or other public property under SMC § 9.63.030 and § 9.63.040. Officers must give an oral…

Sunnyvale's parks and recreation director sets the daily hours each city park, building, road and ground stays open to the public and must post those hours conspicuously on site…

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

Sunnyvale requires a special event permit before anyone sponsors or conducts a parade, block party, street fair or other event that closes a public street or draws crowds beyond a…

Restaurants adding outdoor seating in Sunnyvale need a Miscellaneous Plan Permit, and putting tables in the public right-of-way in the Downtown Specific Plan district is specifically…

Reserving a Sunnyvale park facility or area for a private gathering requires an exclusive use permit from the director of parks and recreation under Municipal Code Section 9.62.120…

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

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

Sunnyvale requires every outdoor light, spotlight, floodlight and reflector to be shielded or fitted with special lenses so it cannot glare or shine directly onto a public street or…

Sunnyvale requires illuminated signs next to residential areas to be shielded so light points downward and away from neighboring properties, with zero spillover onto adjacent land…

Sunnyvale requires a minimum of one city tree per lot in new development and bars anyone from planting in the public right-of-way, including the parkway strip, without a permit from…

A tree the Sunnyvale city council designates a heritage landmark under Chapter 19.96 needs two permits before it can come down: a protected tree removal permit and a landmark…

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

Sunnyvale code enforcement can declare a vacant lot a public nuisance under Municipal Code Section 9.26.030 when it accumulates combustible weeds, litter or trash, or when a vacant…

Sunnyvale treats abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative vehicles left on private or public property as a declared public nuisance under Municipal Code Chapter 9.24, adopted…

Sunnyvale does not receive measurable snow, but property owners are responsible for keeping adjacent sidewalks clean, clear of obstructions, and in good repair.

Sunnyvale bans the sale of any flavored tobacco product citywide. Municipal Code Section 9.28.070(e) makes it unlawful for any tobacco retailer to sell, offer for sale, or possess with…

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…

Sunnyvale's zoning code caps garage sales at any one residence to twice per calendar year, with each sale lasting no more than three consecutive days. The limit is written into…

Sunnyvale designates historic properties as "local landmarks" or "local landmark districts" through its heritage preservation commission under Municipal Code Chapter 19.96. Once…

Sunnyvale's city council establishes bicycle lanes, routes and bikeways by resolution, and the traffic engineer marks them with signs and roadway striping under Municipal Code Chapter…

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

A low-speed vehicle in California may not be driven on any roadway with a speed limit above 35 miles per hour. Vehicle Code section 21260 permits it to cross a faster road only where…

Sunnyvale caps operational noise under Municipal Code Sec. 19.42.030. At an adjacent single-family or duplex property line the limit is 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA nighttime. Industrial…

Sunnyvale has no "data center" use category. A data center locates in the M-S and M-3 industrial districts, classified as an office/R&D or light-manufacturing use - permitted by right…

Sunnyvale prohibits all commercial cannabis retail activity including dispensaries, delivery-only businesses, cultivation, manufacturing, and testing within city limits.

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…

Sunnyvale's zoning code defines a "cardroom" as any establishment where a card game is played for currency, check, credit or anything of value, then bans the use outright. Table…

California Penal Code § 326.5 lets only tax-exempt nonprofits, mobilehome park associations, senior groups, and school-affiliated charities run bingo, and only under a local city or…

California law exempts private home card games from gambling regulation entirely. Penal Code § 337j(e)(2)(D) excludes any card game played in a private home or residence from the…

California has no legal sports betting, in stores or online. Penal Code section 337a criminalizes bookmaking, pool-selling, and placing or accepting any bet on the result of a sporting…

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

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

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

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

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

California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However…

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

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

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

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

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…

California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, $16.90 per hour for all employers as of January 2026. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher…

California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours…

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

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

California prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified…

California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that…

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…

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

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

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

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

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

Sobriety checkpoints are lawful in California and stopping at one is a statutory obligation, not a courtesy. Vehicle Code § 2814.2(a) requires a driver to stop and submit to a sobriety…

California is one of the few states that answers this by statute rather than by case law alone. Penal Code § 148(g) says that photographing or making an audio or video recording of a…

California has no general stop-and-identify statute. The old Penal Code § 647(e), which required a person lawfully detained to give "credible and reliable" identification, was held…

California has no statute that requires you to consent to a search of your car, and none that requires an officer to warn you that you may refuse. What the Legislature and the voters…

California works from a closed list: Vehicle Code section 24003 says no vehicle may carry any lamp or illuminating device not required or permitted by the code, so an accessory light…

California measures dash cam placement in square inches. Vehicle Code section 26708(b)(13) lets a video event recorder occupy a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield…

Lane splitting is lawful in California. Vehicle Code section 21658.1, added by AB 51 in 2016, defines it as driving a motorcycle with two wheels in contact with the ground between rows…

California does not let you put a cover over your license plate. Vehicle Code section 5201(c) allows exactly two things: a full car cover on a lawfully parked vehicle, and a license…

No section of the California Vehicle Code makes it an offense for a private motorist to own, carry or use a radar detector. The prohibition in Vehicle Code section 28150 reaches only…

California permits metal studded tires only between November 1 and April 30, and only where the studs are tungsten carbide or another suitable material and the metal touching the road…

California never publishes a "legal VLT" for front side windows because it does not permit aftermarket darkening there at all. Vehicle Code section 26708(d) allows only clear…