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Santa Clara City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

62 R-1-4 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONE

17.62.010: PURPOSE:

To provide appropriate locations where medium density residential neighborhoods may be established, maintained, and protected. The regulations also permit the establishment, with proper control of uses such as churches, schools, libraries, parks, and permitted open spaces which serve the needs of families. The regulations are intended to prohibit those uses that would be harmful to a single-family residential neighborhood. (Ord. 2026-03)

17.62.020: PERMITTED USES:

Accessory buildings on lots where a main dwelling exists, or for which a building permit has been issued.
Home gardens and fruit trees, keeping of household pets, etc., but not agricultural industry, or business, or the keeping of domestic animals or fowl.
Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit, IADU as per Chapter 17.22 of city code.
Single-family detached dwellings and manufactured homes as defined herein. (Ord. 2026-03)

17.62.030: CONDITIONAL USES:

Child nursery, as defined herein. The dwelling shall be the permanent residence of the operator. The land use authority will determine the maximum number of children to be allowed, and other requirements, depending upon specific conditions relating to the request.
Churches, schools, parks, and open space.
Home occupation, as defined herein, and approved by the land use authority staff, or as may be recommended to the land use authority.
Public buildings.
Public utilities and buildings.
Residential Facility for the elderly. (Ord. 2026-03)

17.62.040: HEIGHT REGULATIONS:

No building shall be erected to a height greater than thirty feet (30'), or two-stories above finished grade. No accessory building shall be erected to a height greater than fifteen feet (15'). (Ord. 2026-03)

17.62.050: AREA, WIDTH AND YARD REGULATIONS:

 
District
Area
Width
Front
Side
Rear
R-1-4
4,000
45 feet
15/20 feet
5 - 5 feet
10/15 feet
 
The front yard setback is required to be a minimum of fifteen feet (15') to living space with a minimum of twenty feet (20') to garage from property line or back of sidewalk, whichever is closer to the structure. A rear yard setback of fifteen feet (15') is required if the front yard setback of the home is fifteen feet (15'). A rear yard setback of ten feet (10') is required if the front yard setback of the home is twenty feet (20'). The required driveway width is a minimum of twenty feet (20'). (Ord. 2026-03)

17.62.060: MODIFYING REGULATIONS:

   A.   The R-1-4 Zone is an infill zone that may be utilized for properties of five (5) acres or smaller in size. The maximum residential density shall not exceed eight (8) units per acre.
   B.   The R-1-4 Zone is intended to allow for single-family detached homes on smaller lots with drought tolerant low maintenance landscaping. Construction of single-family homes is limited to slab-on-grade construction.
   C.   Owner-occupied housing is intended for single-family homes in this zoning district. A deed restriction for ten (10) years is required for each single-family home to ensure owner occupancy, as well as CC&Rs that specifically address this requirement. This information is required as part of the subdivision review and approval process.
   D.   Drawings showing the development layout, lot landscaping, home plans, fencing, and other items determined by the TRC are required as part of the subdivision review process.
   E.   Parking shall comply with Chapter 17.32 of city code. One (1) additional off-street parking space is required on the property for an IADU as per Chapter 17.22 of city code.
   F.   A garage door may not exceed twenty feet (20') in width.
   G.   The side yard setbacks on a "street side" (corner lot) shall be fifteen feet (15').
   H.   Accessory buildings located to the rear of a main dwelling, and at least ten feet (10') away from the main dwelling may be built five feet (5') from the property line provided that: 1) projection beyond exterior wall shall not exceed twelve inches (12") into the area where openings are prohibited, 2) stormwater runoff from the building shall not run onto adjacent property, 3) all corner lots shall maintain required setbacks on street sides, and 4) construction shall comply with current International Residential Code (IRC) exterior wall and opening protection. No building, or swimming pool, shall be in any easement without city approval.
      1.   After first obtaining a building permit from the city building official, a carport or awning may be constructed in the required five-foot (5') side yard setback or ten-foot (10') rear yard area subject to the following conditions:
         a.   All three (3) sides of the carport/awning away from the dwelling shall be kept completely open. No storage areas shall be permitted in any part of the carport/awning.
         b.   The height of the carport/awning shall not exceed the height of the top plate of the walls of the first floor of the dwelling, or a maximum of ten feet (10') above the normal grade of the side yard setback.
         c.   A two-foot (2') setback shall be maintained from the side property line.
         d.   The roof shall be sloped away from the dwelling, and a rain gutter shall be installed along the roof edge on the side yard of the two-foot (2') setback to keep all roof runoff on the property of the owner of the carport/awning.
      2.   All construction materials shall be completely noncombustible and shall meet all applicable requirements of the international residential code.
         a.   Color of the construction materials shall be of earth tones or harmonize with the colors of the dwelling unit.
         b.   The carport/awning shall always be well maintained and shall be repainted from time to time as necessary.
      3.   The side of the carport/awning nearest the front street shall be set back a minimum of ten feet (10') behind the front face of the dwelling unit.
         a.   An accessory building shall be required to utilize building materials and colors to blend in with the construction of the primary dwelling unit on the property.
         b.   The lot width for cul-de-sac lots may be approved by the land use authority with less than forty-five feet (45') of frontage; however, this requirement shall be met at the twenty-foot (20') front setback line.
         c.   Other conditions that may be required by the land use authority to protect the intent and purpose of the zone.
         d.   The minimum square footage of any main residence shall be seven hundred fifty (750) square feet of living space on the main floor of a single-story home. For a two-story home there shall be a minimum of seven hundred fifty (750) square feet of living space on the main floor, and a minimum of five hundred (500) square feet of living space on the second floor.
         e.   The maximum square footage of any main residence shall be limited to one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet of living space for a single-story home. For a two-story home the maximum square footage of any main residence shall be limited to two thousand (2,000) square feet of living space. An additional one hundred (100) square feet of living space is allowed per five hundred (500) square feet of additional lot area up to a maximum of two thousand (2,000) square feet for a single-story home, with a maximum of two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet for a two-story home.
         f.   No trash, weeds, or other combustible material shall be allowed to remain on any lot outside of approved containers in any residential zone. No junk, debris, abandoned, inoperable, or dismantled automobile or automobile parts or similar material shall be stored or allowed to remain on any lot in any residential zone. (Ord. 2026-02)