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Title 19 — ZONING

Chapter 19.16 — DESIGNATIONS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS

Cupertino Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-26 · Cupertino

19.16.010 Zoning Districts Designated.

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 Designaton and District Name Chapter
Number
A Agricultural Zone 19.24
A-1 Agricultural-Residental Zone 19.24
R-1 Single-Family Residental Zone 19.28
R-2 Residental Duplex District 19.32
R-3 Medium, Medium/High, and High Density Multple-
Family Residental Zone
19.36
R-4 High/Very High, Very High, and Highest Density Multple-
Family Residental Zone
19.38
RHS Residental Hillside District 19.40
R1C Residental Single-Family Cluster Zone 19.44

Table 19.16.010A – Base Zoning Districts

Table 19.16.010A– Base Zoning Districts
Zoning Map Designaton and District Name Chapter
Number
P Planned Development Zone 19.80
CG General Commercial Zone 19.60
ML Light Industrial Zone 19.72
BA Public Building Zone 19.76
T Transportaton Zone 19.76
BQ Quasi Public Building Zone 19.76
PR Park and Recreaton Zone 19.92
FP PrivateRecreatonDistrict 19.96
O-A Administratve and Professional Ofce District 19.68
OP Planned Ofce 19.68
MP Industrial Park 19.72
OS Open Space 19.88

Combining district(s) are identified in Table 19.16.010B below.

Table 19.16.010B - Combining Districts
Zoning Map Designaton and District
Name
Chapter Number
TH Townhome Combining District 19.46

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 - Specifc Plan Districts
Zoning Map Designaton Specifc Plan Name
Heart of the City Heart of the City

Land uses, parcel level zoning, and development standards within a specific plan zone shall be as prescribed in the specific plan.

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.

Residental District Restrictve Reference
Most restrictve
RHS
R1C
R-1
R-2
R-3
R-4
Less restrictve

(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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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Contents — Cupertino Zoning Code
Cupertino Zoning Code
  1. Title 19 — ZONING
    Overview
    1. Chapter 19.04 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
    2. Chapter 19.08 — DEFINITIONS
    3. Chapter 19.12 — ADMINISTRATION
    4. Chapter 19.16 — DESIGNATIONS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICTS
    5. Chapter 19.20 — PERMITTED, CONDITIONAL AND EXCLUDED USES IN AG…
    6. Chapter 19.24 — AGRICULTURAL (A) AND AGRICULTURALRESIDENTIAL (…
    7. Chapter 19.28 — SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-1) ZONES
    8. Chapter 19.36 — MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-3) ZONES
    9. Chapter 19.38 — MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL (R-4) ZONES
    10. Chapter 19.40 — RESIDENTIAL HILLSIDE (RHS) ZONES
    11. Chapter 19.44 — RESIDENTIAL SINGLE-FAMILY CLUSTER (R1C) ZONES
    12. Chapter 19.46 — TOWNHOME (TH) COMBINING DISTRICT
    13. Chapter 19.48 — FENCES
    14. Chapter 19.50 — EMERGENCY SHELTERS
    15. Chapter 19.52 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
    16. Chapter 19.56 — DENSITY BONUS
    17. Chapter 19.60 — GENERAL COMMERCIAL (CG) ZONES
    18. Chapter 19.68 — ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICE (OA & O…
    19. Chapter 19.72 — LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (ML) AND INDUSTRIAL PARK (MP)…
    20. Chapter 19.76 — PUBLIC BUILDING (BA), QUASI-PUBLIC BUILDING (B…
    21. Chapter 19.80 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (P) ZONES
    22. Chapter 19.84 — PERMITTED, CONDITIONAL AND EXCLUDED USES IN OP…
    23. Chapter 19.92 — PARK AND RECREATION (PR) ZONES
    24. Chapter 19.96 — PRIVATE RECREATION (FP) ZONE
    25. Chapter 19.98 — MARIJUANA
    26. Chapter 19.100 — ACCESSORY BUILDINGS/STRUCTURES
    27. Chapter 19.102 — GLASS AND LIGHTING STANDARDS
    28. Chapter 19.104 — SIGNS
    29. Chapter 19.108 — BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION AND RECYCLING C…
    30. Chapter 19.112 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
    31. Chapter 19.116 — CONVERSIONS OF APARTMENT PROJECTS TO COMMON I…
    32. Chapter 19.124 — PARKING REGULATIONS
    33. Chapter 19.128 — ADULT-ORIENTED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES
    34. Chapter 19.132 — CONCURRENT SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND GA…
    35. Chapter 19.136 — WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
    36. Chapter 19.140 — NONCONFORMING USES AND NONCONFORMING FACILITIES
    37. Chapter 19.144 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
    38. Chapter 19.148 — REQUIRED ARTWORK IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DEVELO…
    39. Chapter 19.152 — AMENDMENTS TO THE ZONING MAPS AND ZONING REGU…
    40. Chapter 19.156 — DEVELOPMENT PERMITS, CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS …
    41. Chapter 19.160 — TEMPORARY USES
    42. Chapter 19.164 — ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL OF MINOR CHANGES IN P…
    43. Chapter 19.168 — ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE REVIEW
    44. Chapter 19.172 — BELOW MARKET RATE HOUSING PROGRAM

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