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Cupertino City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 19

16: DESIGNATIONS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS

19.16.010 Zoning Districts Designated.

  1. The several classes of base districts into which the City is divided are identified in Table 19.16.010A below:
    Table 19.16.010A – Base Zoning Districts
    Zoning Map Designation and District Name
    Chapter Number
    A Agricultural Zone19.24
    A-1 Agricultural-Residential Zone19.24
    R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone19.28
    R-2 Residential Duplex District19.32
    R-3 Medium, Medium/High, and High Density Multiple-Family Residential Zone19.36
    R-4 High/Very High, Very High, and Highest Density Multiple-Family Residential Zone19.38
    RHS Residential Hillside District19.40
    R1C Residential Single-Family Cluster Zone19.44
    P Planned Development Zone19.80
    CG General Commercial Zone19.60
    ML Light Industrial Zone19.72
    BA Public Building Zone19.76
    T Transportation Zone19.76
    BQ Quasi Public Building Zone19.76
    PR Park and Recreation Zone19.92
    FP PrivateRecreationDistrict19.96
    O-A Administrative and Professional Office District19.68
    OP Planned Office19.68
    MP Industrial Park19.72
    OS Open Space19.88
  2. Combining district(s) are identified in Table 19.16.010B below.

    Table 19.16.010B - Combining Districts

    Zoning Map Designation and District Name

    Chapter Number

    TH Townhome Combining District

    19.46

  3. In addition to the base zoning districts identified in Table 19.16.010A and combining districts identified in Table 19.16.010B, the City may establish separate zoning districts in individual specific plans adopted to promote the orderly development of the plan area. These zoning districts are identified in Table 19.16.010C below:
    Table 19.16.010B - Specific Plan Districts
    Zoning Map DesignationSpecific Plan Name
    Heart of the CityHeart of the City
    Land uses, parcel level zoning, and development standards within a specific plan zone shall be as prescribed in the specific plan.
  4. All notations, references, and other information shown in the above-referenced specific plans are incorporated by reference and shall be deemed as much a part of this Title 19 as if the matter and information set forth in the plan were fully described in this chapter. All terms not otherwise defined in a specific plan shall have the meaning set forth in this Title 19. Notwithstanding the provisions or standards set forth in this Title 19, individual specific plans may establish additional or separate provisions and standards for said plan area, including, without limitation, standards for: regulating physical development, granting greater density bonuses than otherwise required, requiring below-market-rate housing production, and processing of subsequent applications. In the event of a conflict between the terms, conditions, requirements, policies, or other provisions of a specific plan and this Title 19, the specific plan shall take precedence.


(Ord. 19-2187, § 3 (part), 2019; Ord. 18-2177, § 3 (part), 2018; Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992; Ord. 24-2261, § 1 (part), 2024)


19.16.020 References to Base Zoning Districts.

Reference within the title to residential districts generally and as a grouping, includes all districts identified in the section. Where references are made to more restrictive or less restrictive residential districts, such references shall apply sequentially between the most restrictive and the least restrictive.

Residential District
Restrictive Reference
Most restrictive
RHS
R1C
R-1
R-2
R-3
R-4
Less restrictive

(Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992; Ord. 24-2261, § 1 (part), 2024)


19.16.030 Zoning Map and District Boundaries.

  1. The boundaries of districts established by this title shall be shown upon the zoning map. The zoning map, and all amendments, changes, and extensions thereof, and all legends, symbols, notations, references, and other matters shown thereon shall be a part of this title.
  2. The zoning map, as currently effective, and a record of all amendments, changes and extensions thereof, shall be maintained as a public record in the office of the Director of Community Development.
  3. The boundaries of each district as shown upon the zoning map, or amendments thereto, are adopted by the ordinance codified in this title, and the specific regulations established by this title for each general district and all other regulations applicable therein as set forth in this title are established and declared to be in effect upon all portions of lands included within the boundaries of each and every district as shown upon the zoning map.

(Ord. 19-2187, § 3 (part), 2019; Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992)


19.16.040 Areas Not Shown on Zoning Map.

All lands now or hereafter included within the incorporated territory of the City, which are not included within a general district shown on the zoning map of the City or are not shown as prezoned to a general district in accord with applicable provisions of this title, shall constitute R-1 single-family residence districts.

(Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992)


19.16.050 Use and Interpretation of Zoning Map.

The following rules shall apply in the determination of the boundaries of any district shown on the zoning map:

  1. Where boundaries are indicated as approximately following street and alley lines, or other identifiable boundary lines, such lines shall be construed to be the district boundary. Where such boundaries are indicated as within street or alley lines, or within identifiable rights-of-way or creeks, the centerline thereof shall be the district boundary.
  2. In unsubdivided property, and where a district boundary divides a lot, the location of the district boundary, unless the same is indicated by dimensions, shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the zoning map.
  3. A symbol, or symbols, indicating the classification of property on a zoning map shall in each instance apply to the whole of the area within the district boundaries.
  4. Where a public street, alley or right-of-way is officially vacated or abandoned, the regulations applicable to this abutting property shall apply equally to each half of such vacated or abandoned street, alley or right-of-way.
  5. Should any uncertainty remain as to the location or meaning of a boundary or other feature indicated upon a zoning map, said location or meaning shall be determined by the Director of Community Development.

(Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992)


19.16.060 Application of Regulation to Sites Divided by Zone Boundaries.

Whenever it is found that a lot or site is divided by a boundary between districts, the provisions of the zoning regulations applicable within each district shall apply only to the portion of this site situated in each separate district.

(Ord. 19-2187, § 3 (part), 2019; Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992; Ord. 25-2277, Exh. A (part), 2025)