Santa Clara City Zoning Code

To provide appropriate locations where low to medium density mixed lot residential neighborhoods may be established, maintained, and protected. Residential agriculture areas which preserve agricultural use of the land may also allow a variety of lot sizes. The regulations permit the establishment, with proper controls, of uses such as churches, schools, 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. 2026-12: Ord. 2012-11)

The uses permitted in the R-1-10 zone, except for small animals, on ten thousand (10,000) square foot lots in the mixed lot size zone.

Accessory uses on lots where a main dwelling exists, or for which a building permit has been issued.

Accessory Dwelling Unit, ADU as per Chapter 17.22 of city code.

Home gardens and fruit trees, keeping of household pets etc., but not agricultural industry, or l business, or the keeping of domestic animals or fowl.

Internal Accessory Dwelling units, IADU as per Chapter 17.22 of city code.

Single-family detached dwellings and manufactured homes as defined herein. (Ord. 2026-12: Ord. 2012-11)

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 the specific conditions relating to the request. Parking shall be required by the land use authority. All other requirements of the zone shall be complied with.

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 utilities and buildings.

Residential Facility for the Elderly. (Ord. 2026-12: Ord. 2012-11)

No main dwelling shall be erected to a height greater than thirty-five feet (35'), and no Accessory Dwelling Unit ADU shall be erected to a height greater than twenty feet (20'). (Ord. 2026-12: Ord. 2012-11)

 

 

Where a sidewalk and a driveway are located in the same setback of a dwelling, the garage setback shall be a minimum of twenty feet (20') from the back edge of the sidewalk to the garage. Where no sidewalk is located in the setback, or where a side entry garage has a minimum twenty foot (20') long driveway from the back edge of the sidewalk, the garage setback shall be the same as required for the dwelling unit. (Ord. 2026-12: Ord. 2017-07: Ord. 2012-11)

   A.   For all lots in the mixed lot zone the side yard setbacks on a street side shall be the same as for a front yard setback unless the development has no dwellings fronting on any side yard in the entire phase of development, in which case the side yard may be reduced to fifteen feet (15').

   B.   The percentage of mixed lot sizes shall be:

      40 percent that are 10,000 square feet,

      20 percent that are 9,000 square feet,

      20 percent that are 8,000 square feet, and

      20 percent that are 7,000 square feet.

   C.   An accessory structure or ADU shall use finish materials colored to blend with the primary structure. An accessory structure or ADU shall comply with the most recently adopted International Residential Code (IRC).

   D.   In the residential agricultural zone, mixed lot developments may be approved. However, the number of parcels shall not exceed the density, or number of lots allowed by the RA zone. All excess land must be maintained in some form of agricultural use, and may be maintained by the lot owners, leased to someone else, deeded to a conservation group, or to the city of Santa Clara at the city's option. The land may be requested to be placed in an agricultural protection zone as provided by the RA zoning district.

   E.   The minimum square footage of any main dwelling on any lot shall be one thousand (1,000) square feet of living space on the main floor of a single-story home, or one thousand two hundred fifty (1,250) square feet of living space on the main floor of any dwelling on a ten thousand (10,000) square foot lot.

   F.   This zoning district allows for subdivision design flexibility. The following items are required:

      1.   Drawings showing the development layout, lot landscaping, fencing and other items determined by the TRC are required as part of the subdivision review process.

      2.   Parking shall comply with Chapter 17.32 of city code. One (1) additional off-street parking space is required on the property for an ADU or an IADU as per Chapter 17.22 of city code.

      3.   The lot width for cul-de-sac lots may be approved by the land use authority with less than fifty feet (50') of frontage; however, this requirement shall be met at the twenty feet (20') front setback line.

      4.   Other conditions that may be required by the land use authority to protect the intent and purpose of the zone.

   G.   Private garages and accessory buildings located to the rear, and at least ten feet (10') away from the main dwelling may be built five feet (5') from the property line. All building code requirements shall be complied with. No detached garage shall be supplied with utilities except for electricity and water for a sink and/or toilet.

   H.   Maximum Height: twenty feet (20') for structures with flat roofs and twenty-five feet (25') for structures with pitched roofs.

   I.   All other modifying regulations of the R-1-10 residential zone shall apply to ten thousand (10,000) square foot lots in the R-1-10/RA mixed lot size zone.

   J.   In small projects not exceeding ten (10) units, the planning commission may approve any mixture of lot sizes that may or may not match the percentages of each lot size as found in subsection B of this section.

   K.   No lot may be less than seven thousand (7,000) square feet. The project must include more than one lot size, and the project must include two (2) or more lots that are ten thousand (10,000) square feet, or forty percent (40%) of lots if the total number is less than ten (10). (Ord. 2026-12: Ord. 2015-05: Ord. 2013-06: Ord. 2012-11)