First, you will need to determine the zoning district your property is located in. This can be done by entering in your address or Assessor’s Parcel Number in our Interactive Map. Once you know your Zoning District (pdf), you look up the permitted uses (that is, to verify whether conducting a business is allowed in your district).

If your residence is located in a residential zoning district that allows Home Occupations, you may conduct business from your home as long as you comply with a few regulations. For more information on the regulations for conducting a business from home within a single-family zoning district, please see Chapter 18.60.120 of the Zoning Code.

If your intended use is not listed, or if you are unable to determine your zoning district or permitted uses within your zoning district, please contact the Planning Division at 408-615-2450 or Planning@santaclaraca.gov.

Santa Clara City Hall (1500 Warburton Ave.) is open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Planning Counter at the Permit Center is closed on Thursday, 10 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. for staff meeting). The City of Santa Clara encourages scheduling virtual appointments for services. You may schedule virtual and in-person appointments through our Permit Center webpage.

Yes, but with some exceptions. For more information, please contact the Planning Division at (408) 615-2450 or Planning@santaclaraca.gov.

It depends. Protected trees shall not be removed without first obtaining a tree removal permit from the City. Protected trees include the following:

• Heritage trees in all zoning districts.
• All specimen trees with a diameter of twelve (12) inches or more when measured at fifty-four (54) inches above natural grade of the following species on private property:
• Aesculus californica (California buckeye);
• Acer macrophyllum (big leaf maple);
• Cedrus deodara (deodar cedar);
• Cedrus atlantica “Glauca” (blue Atlas cedar);
• Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree);
• Platanus racemosa (western sycamore);
• Quercus (native oak tree species), including:
• Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak);
• Quercus lobata (valley oak);
• Quercus kelloggii (black oak);
• Quercus douglasii (blue oak);
• Quercus wislizeni (interior live oak);
• Sequoia sempervirens (coast redwood); and
• Umbellularia californica (bay laurel or California bay).

• Approved development trees.
• A private tree which has a trunk with a diameter of thirty-eight (38) inches or more measured at fifty-four (54) inches above natural grade.
• A multibranched private tree which has major branches below fifty-four (54) inches above the natural grade with a diameter of thirty-eight (38) inches or more measured just below the first major trunk fork.

For Tree Removal Permit submittal requirements see the Planning Permit or Entitlement Application Process page and the Application Checklist (pdf). 

New business license requests require Planning approval through what is called a “Zoning Clearance”.

A summary of the process is below:

• Refer to Santa Clara City Code Chapter 18.126.020 (pdf) for more information.
• Submit a Planning Application through Permitting Online Portal with project description (see expanded steps below)
• Currently the City of Santa Clara is accepting applications for zoning clearance online as a “planning projects” through our Permitting Online Portal. To access the Permitting Online Portal please follow the link above to the portal. Before submitting your permit, you’ll have to create a log in for the Permitting Online Portal. Please submit all documentation in the Permitting Online Portal and a planner will be assigned to your permit as soon as possible.
• You’ll need to submit a Business License checklist (pdf) with your application.
• Complete fee payment.
• Planning staff will process and provide Zoning Clearance for the business license. 

Expanded explanation of the submittal process is below:

Permitting Online Portal Guide for Business License – Zoning Clearance

• Create a login
• Login using your new login credentials
• Click the Planning Tab at the top of the page under the Blue Banner
• Click create application
• Click the checkbox and continue application
• “Select Record Type”
• Choose Planning Project
• Continue Application
• “Step 1: work Location”
• Type the street number and the street name only and press search.
• Information should automatically appear in the boxes below
• Continue Application
• “Step 2: project Information”
• Type the business name, the business description
• Continue Application
• “Step 3: Contacts”
• Press Select from Account
• Continue Application
• “Step 4: Project Data > Project Entitlements”
• Skip this page
• Continue application
• “Step 4: Project Data > Project Details”
• Only fill out the first four boxes
• Type of application – “Other”
• Existing Type of Use – “Commercial or Retail”
• Proposed Type of Use – “Commercial or Retail”
• This Application is being Submitted pursuant to: “Not Applicable”
• Continue Application
• “Step 5: Authorized Agent”
• Click all three boxes
• Continue Application
• “Step 6: Documents > Additional Materials”
• Click all six boxes
• Continue Application
• “Step 6: Documents > Attachments”
• Upload from file the “property owner authorization form (pdf)” and the “Application Checklist (pdf)”
• Classify each file as either “Application Checklist” or “Property owner authorization form”
• Click “Save”
• Continue Application
• “Step 7: Review
• Click the box at the very bottom of the page
• Continue Application
• Fees will be invoiced once the Planning Division receives and reviews the files.

The City welcomes public comment on land use items. While public notices are sent to nearby properties with information on the pending project and how to provide comments, all members of the public may provide comment and/or view project plans by contacting the project planner. For more information on public noticing requirements, please view our Public Outreach Policy (pdf) adopted by the City Council in 2017.

To submit comments for a Public Hearing:

Written comments and/or materials or comments in electronic format for specific projects can be directed to Planning@santaclaraca.gov. Comments may also be submitted in person at the Community Development Department (1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050). You can also send an e-mail to the planner assigned to a project by checking our current Development Projects Listing.

It is encouraged to submit public comments early to allow the Planning Commission adequate review time. Written public comments will be received up until 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Oral public comments may be made during the corresponding public hearing.

If you have questions about accessing links or commenting issues, please call us at 408-615-2450.

Preliminary Applications are reserved for SB 330 projects, large or complex multi-family residential, mixed-use, or non-residential projects. It is strongly encouraged for applicants to discuss their submittal with a planner prior to submitting. 

For other projects, individuals may discuss their proposals with a Planner in person at the City's Permit Center, via telephone at (408) 615-2450 or via email at Planning@santaclaraca.gov.

General Plan and Zoning Code information may be obtained in any of the following ways:

• View the General Plan and Specific Plans on this website.
• View the Zoning Code (pdf) on this website.
• Visit us at the Permit Counter at City Hall (1500 Warburton Avenue) or contact us at 408-615-2450 or Planning@santaclaraca.gov.

A single-family residence in a single-family zoning district is allowed to be up to twenty-five (25) feet in height and may have no more than two stories. For more information, please see Chapter 18.10 of the Zoning Code.

The City of Santa Clara Housing & Community Services Division does not maintain an affordable housing waiting list. Please contact the leasing office of the property you want to rent at to get availability or application process information for that particular property.

The find the list of all the properties offering affordable housing in the City of Santa Clara follow this link: Affordable Housing Resources Guide (pdf).

For corner lots, the narrowest street frontage of the lot is the front property line, and the longest street frontage of the lot is the side property line, regardless of location of the entrance into the house or orientation of the house to either street.

If it is a large project, you may find the plans for the project online at our Development Activity webpage. Otherwise, interested individuals are welcome to contact the planner noted on the posting sign, the Planning Division at 408-615-2450, Planning@santaclaraca.gov, or stop by City Hall Permit Center to speak to the project planner regarding the proposed project.

To view information on major projects, visit the Development Activity webpage.

Please refer to our resource web page for Accessory Dwelling Units.

For single-family residential properties, fences are generally limited to three (3) feet in height in the required front yard or street. Behind the required front yards and corner street side yards, fences are generally limited to six (6) feet in height with one (1) foot of open/non-solid lattice material on top. However, corner lots, unusually shaped lots, and Planned Development (PD) zones have different requirements.

For more information, please refer to the Regulations Covering Erection of Fences (pdf) handout or Chapter 18.34 of the Zoning Code or contact the Planning Division at 408-615-2450 or Planning@santaclaraca.gov.

A use of land or a structure which was legally established according to the zoning and building laws of the time, but which does not meet current zoning and building regulations. In other words, a use of land or a structure that was legal at the time but not anymore. As such, no change or further action is necessary. However, if a change is proposed by the property owner, then the new land use or structure must comply with the current laws. Please refer to Chapter 18.90 of the Zoning Code for more information.

Using the interactive Map Santa Clara, along with the street address or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN), you can find the zoning and general plan information, along with contours, aerials, and other property-related information.

Depending on the type of sign, you may need a sign permit, conditional use permit or minor use permit, in addition to applicable building and electrical permits. For more information, please refer to Chapter 18.42 of the Zoning Code or contact the Permit Center at 408-615-2420.

Size additions are dependent on a formula called maximum building coverage. This formula refers to the percentage of the total area of your lot that is covered by any buildings. Per Chapter 18.10 of the Zoning Code, a single-family residence’s maximum building coverage is 40%. Therefore, you may make an addition to your home as long as it does not cause your maximum building coverage to exceed 40% and meets all other relevant regulations.

If you have any questions on what your current building coverage is or how to calculate your maximum building coverage, please contact the Planning Division at 408-615-2450 or Planning@santaclaraca.gov.

Please refer to Chapter 18.38 of the Zoning Code for information on parking.

Mobile food vendors can operate in Commercial, Mixed-Use, Office and Industrial zoning districts. Longer durations are permitted only with a Zoning Clearance or Minor Use Permit.

Check MapSantaClara to see what the zoning of the property you are interested is.

• No permit when operating less than two hours (Any allowed district).
• Zoning clearance (Accessory Use) is required when operating more than two hours, but less than four hours.
• Minor Use Permit is required when operation more than four hours or locating within 100 feet of a residentially zoned parcel.

Consult Santa Clara City Code Chapter 18.60.280 for specific regulations for mobile food vendors. 

When submitting for a Zoning Clearance or a Minor Use Permit for mobile food vendors on private property through the Permitting Online Portal, submit the Property Authorization Form (pdf) and the Application Checklist (pdf).

Please refer to the Development Entitlement document itself, and specifically the section entitled, "conditions", "permit expiration", "time limit", or "term."

Santa Clara City Hall is located at 1500 Warburton Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

Directions

City Hall Map