Cupertino, CA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

56 of the Cupertino Municipal Code codifies the city's density bonus program under Government Code Section 65915. A housing development gains a net increase of at least five units and qualifies by committing at least 10 percent of units to lower income households, 5 percent to very low income households, 10 percent of units in a common interest development to moderate income households, or by building a qualifying senior citizen housing development. 030 scales the bonus with the affordability level: a 5 percent very low income set-aside earns a 20 percent bonus, rising toward a 50 percent bonus at 15 percent or more very low income units, with parallel scales for low income and moderate income common interest developments.

020C if it applies. 030C can receive a 15 percent bonus, increasing with the amount of additional affordable capacity the donated parcel creates, up to 35 percent. Developments including a qualifying child day care facility can receive either an additional density bonus in square footage or an equivalent concession. 040A, including reduced setbacks, reduced parking, or mixed-use zoning approval, with the number of allowed concessions scaling from one to four based on the affordability percentage. Granting a density bonus, incentive, or concession does not itself require a general plan amendment, zone change, or other discretionary approval, and City review runs concurrently with the underlying housing development application.