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Title 19

Chapter 19.24 — OFFICE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONING DISTRICTS

Sunnyvale Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-07 · Sunnyvale

§ 19.24.010. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to implement the goals and objectives of the general plan toward the provision of office and public facilities uses within the city through establishment of a well defined pattern of office activity and public facilities which are conveniently located, efficient and attractive.

(Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 2683-01 § 2)

§ 19.24.020. Office and public facilities zoning districts.

  • (a) The O office zoning district is reserved for the construction, use and occupancy of administrative, professional and research offices, residential and other uses compatible with the administrative-professional character of the district.

  • (b) The P-F public facilities zoning district is reserved for the construction, use and occupancy of governmental, public utility and educational buildings and facilities, and other uses compatible with the public character of the district.

(Prior zoning code §§ 19.32.070(a), 19.32.080(a), 19.32.090(a); Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 2683-01 § 2)

§ 19.24.030. Permitted, conditionally permitted and prohibited uses in office, public…

  • (a) Table 19.24.030 sets forth those uses which are permitted, conditionally permitted, and prohibited in office and public facilities zoning districts, and the type of permit a use requires.

  • (b) It is a violation of this chapter to:

    • (1) Engage in a use that is conditional without complying with the imposed conditions;

    • (2) Engage in a prohibited use;

    • (3) Engage in a use requiring a miscellaneous plan permit, use permit or special development permit without obtaining the required permit.

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City of Sunnyvale, CA

SUNNYVALE CODE

§ 19.24.030

§ 19.24.030

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Table 19.24.030
Permitted, Conditionally Permitted and Prohibited Uses in Office and Public Facilities Zoning Districts
In the table, the letters and symbols are defined as follows:
P = Permitted use
UP = Use Permit required
MPP = Miscellaneous Plan Permit required
N = Not permitted, prohibited
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OFFICE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONING DISTRICTS O P-F
1. Office/Care Facilities
A. Administrative, professional, medical, and research and development offices P UP
B. Medical clinics MPP UP
C. Financial institutions such as banks and savings and loan associations MPP N
D. Hospitals N UP
E. Rest homes and convalescent hospitals UP UP
2. Public Facilities
A. Buildings and facilities used by government agencies for government purposes UP P
B. Buildings and facilities used by federal, state or local government agencies (except city of Sunnyvale), UP UP
for nongovernmental purposes
C. Public service buildings and accessory uses UP UP
D. Public utility buildings and service facilities UP UP
3. Personal Service
A. Child care centers with occupancy of 30 or fewer children MPP MPP
B. Child care centers with occupancy of 31 or more children UP UP
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City of Sunnyvale, CA

§ 19.24.030

ZONING

§ 19.24.030

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OFFICE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONING DISTRICTS O P-F
4. Education, Recreation and Places of Assembly
A. Education – Recreation and Enrichment N UP
B. Education – Primary and High School N UP
C. Education – Institution of Higher Learning UP UP
D. Recreational and Athletic Facilities N UP
E. Places of Assembly – Business Serving UP UP
F. Places of Assembly – Community Serving N UP
G. Cardrooms N N
H. Private golf courses N UP
I. Safe parking site See Chapter 19.66
5. Residential/Boarding/Lodging
A. Residential uses UP N3
6. Other
A. Adult business establishments N N
B. Outside display of merchandise or products N N
C. Electric distribution substations N UP
D. Electric transmission substations N UP
E. Massage establishments1 P P
F. Recycling centers2 UP UP
G. Salt extraction N UP
H. Storage or parking of commercial or industrial vehicles N N
I. Storage or parking of public utility vehicles N N
J. Storage of materials, supplies or equipment for commercial or industrial purposes N N
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City of Sunnyvale, CA

§ 19.24.030

SUNNYVALE CODE

§ 19.24.030

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OFFICE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONING DISTRICTS O P-F
K. Storage of materials, supplies or equipment for public utility purposes N N
L. Storage, warehousing, handling, processing or assembling merchandise or products N N
M. Payday lending establishment N N
Notes:
1 Subject to provisions of Chapter 9.41.
2 Recycling centers must be located in convenience zones, (the area within a one-half mile radius of a supermarket) as defined in Public Resources Code
Section 14509.4.
3 Except caretaker residence ancillary to a permitted use.
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City of Sunnyvale, CA § 19.24.030

ZONING

§ 19.24.040

(Prior zoning code §§ 19.32.070(b)(1)—(c), (f)(1)—(5), 19.32.080 (b)(1)—(e), 19.32.090(b)(1)—(5); Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 2649-00 § 3; Ord. 2683-01 § 2; Ord. 2802-06 § 8; Ord. 2887-06 § 6; Ord. 2906-09 § 3; Ord. 2947-10 § 6; Ord. 3002-13 § 7; Ord. 3065-15 § 6; Ord. 3077-16 § 5; Ord. 3125-17 § 5; Ord. 3150-19 § 3; Ord. 3233-24, 11/19/2024)

§ 19.24.040. Uses requiring use permits; office zoning district.

  • (a) In the office zoning district, the following uses shall be permitted only with a use permit:

    • (1) Any use consisting of a building or buildings with three or more dwelling units in single ownership on one lot, including any proposed units to be added to any existing use, the total of which equals or exceeds three units. Additions to existing uses with three or more units, including the addition of carports or garages, shall require a miscellaneous plan permit in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.82;

    • (2) Any use consisting of more than one main building on a single lot;

    • (3) Any use consisting of a building or buildings in any of the following forms of multiple ownership: condominium, as defined in Section 783 of the California Civil Code; community apartment project, as defined in Section 11004 of the California Business and Professions Code; a stock cooperative as defined in Section 11003.2 of the Business and Professions Code; or a planned development as defined in Section11003 of the Business and Professions Code.

  • (b) A use permit is required for the conversion of ownership of any existing building or buildings to any of the forms of multiple ownership set forth in subdivision (a)(3). For conversion from rental housing to community housing, Chapter 19.70 also shall apply.

  • (c) Any residential project that is allowed with a use permit in an office zoning district that has a General Plan Land Use Designation of Village Mixed Use shall comply with the residential density and other residential standards applicable to the site in the General Plan. The project shall also comply with all zoning standards that apply to residential uses in the lowest residential zoning district that would allow the density established by the General Plan for the site.

  • (d) By-right housing developments on sites identified in Chapter 19.73 require approval of a ministerial miscellaneous plan permit in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 19.82, even if a Use Permit is listed in Table 19.24.030.

  • (Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 3176-21 § 3; Ord. 3223-24, 2/6/2024)

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City of Sunnyvale, CA

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Contents — Sunnyvale Zoning Code
Sunnyvale Zoning Code
  1. Title 19
    Overview
    1. Article 2 — DEFINITIONS
    2. Chapter 19.39 — GREEN BUILDING REGULATIONS
    3. Chapter 19.56 — ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS
    4. Chapter 19.58 — FAMILY DAYCARE HOMES
    5. Chapter 19.88 — USE PERMITS
    6. Chapter 19.02 — ADOPTION AND PURPOSE
    7. Chapter 19.04 — GENERAL PLAN
    8. Chapter 19.06 — OFFICIAL PLAN LINES
    9. Chapter 19.12 — DEFINITIONS
    10. Chapter 19.16
    11. Chapter 19.18 — RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
    12. Chapter 19.20 — COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
    13. Chapter 19.22 — INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICTS
    14. Chapter 19.24 — OFFICE AND PUBLIC FACILITIES ZONING DISTRICTS
    15. Chapter 19.26 — COMBINING DISTRICTS
    16. Chapter 19.27 — SITE AND PROJECT-BASED SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICTS
    17. Chapter 19.28 — DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT
    18. Chapter 19.29 — MOFFETT PARK SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT
    19. Chapter 19.30 — LOT AREA AND LOT WIDTH
    20. Chapter 19.32 — BUILDING HEIGHTS, LOT COVERAGES AND FLOOR AREA…
    21. Chapter 19.34 — FRONT, SIDE AND REAR YARDS
    22. Chapter 19.35 — LAWRENCE STATION AREA PLAN DISTRICT
    23. Chapter 19.36 — EL CAMINO REAL SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT
    24. Chapter 19.37
    25. Chapter 19.38 — REQUIRED FACILITIES
    26. Chapter 19.39 — GREEN BUILDING REGULATIONS
    27. Chapter 19.40 — ACCESSORY STRUCTURES
    28. Chapter 19.42 — OPERATING STANDARDS
    29. Chapter 19.44 — SIGN CODE
    30. Chapter 19.45 — TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT
    31. Chapter 19.46 — PARKING
    32. Chapter 19.47 — OFF-SITE STADIUM EVENT PARKING
    33. Chapter 19.48 — FENCES, DISTANCES BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND EXTENS…
    34. Chapter 19.50 — NONCONFORMING BUILDINGS AND USES
    35. Chapter 19.52 — ART IN PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT
    36. Chapter 19.54 — WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES
    37. Chapter 19.56 — ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS
    38. Chapter 19.58 — FAMILY DAYCARE HOMES
    39. Chapter 19.60 — ADULT BUSINESSES AND MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
    40. Chapter 19.61 — TEMPORARY UNENCLOSED USES
    41. Chapter 19.64
    42. Chapter 19.65 — REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION PROCEDURES
    43. Chapter 19.66 — SAFE PARKING SITE
    44. Chapter 19.67 — INCLUSIONARY BELOW MARKET RATE OWNERSHIP HOUSI…
    45. Chapter 19.68 — MOBILE, ACCESSORY, AND SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY L…
    46. Chapter 19.69 — EXISTING BELOW MARKET RATE RENTAL HOUSING
    47. Chapter 19.70 — CONVERSION OF RENTAL HOUSING TO COMMUNITY HOUS…
    48. Chapter 19.71 — RESIDENTIAL TENANT PROTECTIONS PROGRAMS
    49. Chapter 19.72 — MOBILE HOME PARK CONVERSIONS
    50. Chapter 19.73 — BY-RIGHT APPROVAL
    51. Chapter 19.74 — PARK DEDICATION FEES FOR RENTAL HOUSING PROJECTS
    52. Chapter 19.75 — HOUSING IMPACT FEES
    53. Chapter 19.76 — SHORT-TERM RENTAL OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
    54. Chapter 19.77 — INCLUSIONARY BELOW MARKET RATE RENTAL HOUSING
    55. Chapter 19.78 — DUAL URBAN OPPORTUNITY HOUSING
    56. Chapter 19.79 — ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
    57. Chapter 19.80 — DESIGN REVIEW
    58. Chapter 19.81 — STREAMSIDE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW
    59. Chapter 19.82 — MISCELLANEOUS PLAN PERMIT
    60. Chapter 19.84 — VARIANCES
    61. Chapter 19.88 — USE PERMITS
    62. Chapter 19.90 — SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT PERMITS
    63. Chapter 19.92 — GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENTS
    64. Chapter 19.94 — TREE PRESERVATION
    65. Chapter 19.96 — HERITAGE PRESERVATION
    66. Chapter 19.98 — GENERAL PROCEDURES

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