Santa Clara, California Zoning Map
Zoning, overlays and hazards on every parcel — and an answer to what the code actually lets you build. Compiled from current zoning data for all 37 districts.
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What's in the Santa Clara dataset
Every field below is available for any Santa Clara parcel, on the map and through the AI.
Zoning
- District code & full name
- Category & ordinance article
- Parcel boundary & APN
- All 37 districts mapped
Use classes, resolved
- Read per zoning district
Building controls
- Maximum building height
- Floor area ratio (FAR)
- Front setback
- Side setback
Overlays, hazards & AI
- Flood hazard & environmental layers
- Ask the AI about any parcel
- Powered by live parcel data
Where uses are permitted in Santa Clara
Share of Santa Clara's zoned land where each use is permitted.
- Single-family
- 29.95%
- Multi-family
- 15.72%
- ADU
- 36.32%
- Two-family
- 35.63%
- Retail
- 43.14%
- Eating & drinking
- 42.20%
- Office
- 44.17%
- Hotel / motel
- 30.95%
- Industrial
- 24.11%
- Storage & warehouses
- 27.01%
Santa Clara, California Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?
Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type and which uses it permits.
| Zone Code | Category | Permitted Uses | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CC Community Commercial | Commercial |
| 21.1 ac | Standards & uses → |
CD Downtown Commercial | - | - | 0.1 ac | Standards & uses → |
CN Neighborhood Commercial | Commercial |
| 20.8 ac | Standards & uses → |
CR Commercial Regional | Commercial |
| 265.3 ac | Standards & uses → |
Showing 4 of 37 districts
Start from what you're trying to build
Each one runs against the live Santa Clara dataset and returns the districts, standards and approvals involved.
Where can I build multifamily in Santa Clara?
6 of 37 districts permit multifamily - by right, conditionally, or by variance.
Run it →Which sites allow a warehouse?
4 industrial districts (HI, LI, MH…) with height and access limits.
Run it →Are ADUs allowed in Santa Clara?
Allowed statewide under California law, subject to local development standards.
Run it →What does CC actually permit?
The full standards for one district, read straight from the source.
Run it →What should developers know about Santa Clara zoning?
Santa Clara sits at the heart of Silicon Valley, and its 37-district zoning code reflects a land use strategy built around technology employment and transit-oriented development. The largest single district by acreage is Planned Development (PD) at 1,266 acres, closely followed by Planned Development Master Community (PD-MC) at 437 acres - together these cover a substantial share of the city and give the planning department considerable discretion over project design and mix. The Low Intensity Office Research and Development zone (LO-RD) at 859 acres and the High Intensity Office Research and Development zone (HO-RD) at 426 acres confirm that R&D campus development is the dominant employment land use type, with Light Industrial (LI at 539 acres) and Heavy Industrial (HI at 351 acres) rounding out the industrial base.
Residential development centers on R1-6L Single Family Zoning (2,472 acres, the largest residential designation), with Medium Density Residential (R3) at 516 acres providing meaningful multifamily supply. A cluster of Mixed Use zones - MUCC (137 acres), MURC (106 acres), and MUNC (58 acres) - supports the mixed-use office-retail-residential typology that defines the transit corridor strategy. The Lawrence Station Area Plan (LSAP at 59 acres) and the Downtown node (DNTW at 27 acres) represent focused transit-oriented development planning areas. For developers, the prevalence of Planned Development designations means project approval involves a negotiated process rather than a simple by-right code check.
This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.
Santa Clara zoning: frequently asked questions
What does Planned Development (PD) zoning mean for a developer in Santa Clara?
PD and PD-MC together cover over 1,700 acres in Santa Clara, and both designations require a separate development plan approval rather than a ministerial code check. This means uses, intensity, design standards, and infrastructure are negotiated with the city on a project-by-project basis. Developers should budget for a more detailed entitlement process on PD-zoned sites and review any existing approved development plan that may already govern a specific parcel.
How does the Office Research and Development zoning relate to technology campus development?
LO-RD (Low Intensity, 859 acres) and HO-RD (High Intensity, 426 acres) are the primary designations for the Silicon Valley-style R&D campus typology. HO-RD parcels accommodate higher floor area ratios and more intensive campus uses relative to LO-RD. The High Density Flex (HDF) zone at 10 acres and the Lawrence Station Area Plan (LSAP) create additional flexibility for mixed office-residential projects near transit nodes.
Where are multifamily and mixed-use housing opportunities in Santa Clara?
R3 Medium Density Residential at 516 acres is the largest multifamily base zone. Mixed Use zones - MUCC (137 acres), MURC (106 acres), and MUNC (58 acres) - allow residential above or alongside commercial uses, particularly in transit corridors. The LSAP and Downtown (DNTW) areas are designed for higher-density mixed-use development. California's density bonus law and ADU statutes apply throughout the city, providing additional tools for increasing residential yield on compliant parcels.
What industrial development opportunities exist in Santa Clara?
Light Industrial (LI) at 539 acres, Heavy Industrial (HI) at 351 acres, and additional heavy industrial (MH at 29 acres) provide a meaningful industrial land base. The proximity of industrial zones to major R&D and technology campuses creates potential for flex industrial, data center, and advanced manufacturing uses. However, given the high land costs and demand pressure from technology employers, industrial-to-office or industrial-to-mixed-use conversions are also a common development pattern here.
How does the Regional Commercial (CR) zone compare to other commercial designations?
CR (Commercial Regional) at 265 acres is the largest single commercial district in the city and is associated with large-format retail and regional-draw uses, including the area around Levi's Stadium. Community Commercial (CC at 21 acres) and Neighborhood Commercial (CN at 21 acres) serve local retail needs at a smaller scale. Thoroughfare Commercial (CT at 3 acres) is minimal. Developers assessing retail or mixed-use opportunities should evaluate the CR zone first given its scale, but note that any large project will likely engage both city design review and transportation impact analysis.
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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Santa Clara planning department before acquisition or design.