Mountain View · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Mountain View

Mountain View sets its own list of businesses that may not run as home occupations. Residential accessory uses and structures have their own city section.

Ask about building on your lot in Mountain View See coverage

Key points

Home businesses: City rule: home occupations may not include vehicle repair, welding, mini storage, cannabis businesses, firearms sales or night clubs.
Accessory structures: Residential accessory uses and structures fall under the city's own section, § 36.12.35.

Each rule below is marked Mountain View code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Running a business from home

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Businesses not allowed	Adult entertainment establishments; dance or night clubs; medical services (not including chiropractors and counselors/psychotherapists); mini storage; storage of equipment, materials and other accessories for the construction and service trades; vehicle repair (body or mechanical), upholstery, automobile detailing and painting; welding and machining; cannabis businesses; sale, lease, delivery, transfer, commercial storage or commercial bailment of firearms or ammunition § 36.28.90 · code text The following uses are found to be not incidental to or compatible with residential activities, and are, therefore, prohibited as home occupations:

Lot splits under SB 9

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Standards	Lot splits may be denied for a specific, adverse health, safety or environmental impact with no feasible mitigation or avoidance. Applies: The chief building official must make a written finding based on a preponderance of the evidence. § 28.4.20 · code text the city may deny an application for an urban lot split if the chief building official makes a written finding, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the project would have a "specific, adverse impact" on either public health and safety or on the physical environment and for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact.

RV and boat parking

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Where it may be parked	Oversized vehicles may not park on streets 40 feet wide or less. Applies: Only on streets listed by city council resolution and posted with signs. § 19.79.4 · code text No person shall park any oversized vehicle on narrow streets less than or equal to forty (40) feet in width, or portions thereof, as set forth by resolution of the city council.
Parking on the street	No longer than 60 minutes. Applies: Oversized vehicles loading or unloading at an adjacent business or home, on the posted narrow streets (40 feet wide or less). § 19.79.4 · code text Any oversized vehicle actively engaged in the loading or unloading of materials, supplies or goods in the delivery of goods, wares, merchandise or other materials at an adjacent business or residence for no longer than sixty (60) minutes;

Solar panels and EV chargers

Mountain View code At least 1 low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle for each unit. 1 low power Level 2 EV charging receptacle at every assigned space.

All 11 Mountain View rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →

Tree removal

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Permit to remove	Yes, a permit is required. Applies: Willfully injuring, damaging, destroying, moving or removing a heritage tree. § 32.25 · code text No person shall willfully injure, damage, destroy, move or remove a heritage tree except pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit granted pursuant to this article.

Pets, chickens and bees

Mountain View code Written notice to the administrator within 5 days when an apiary is moved into or within the city. Chickens count toward the limit of 4 animals in all per premises; up to 25 with administrator approval.

All 6 Mountain View rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →

Park and impact fees for new homes

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
How the park fee is set	Fee = acres per new unit × number of new units × fair market value per acre. Applies: Acres per unit: .0081 low density, .0069 medium-low, .0060 medium and higher, .0045 mobile homes. New housing paying a fee instead of park land. § 41.9 · code text The following formula shall be used in calculating the in-lieu fees required to be paid under this chapter: A × B × C = F The city council adopts per-acre land value ranges by density; the value applies when the formal application is filed. § 41.8 · code text An appraiser shall determine the fair market value ranges for an acre of land in Mountain View, which shall be adopted by resolution of the city council for each density listed in Table 41.6.

Outdoor lighting

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Shielding	Lights must be designed and shielded to avoid off-site glare or nuisance. Applies: Perimeter and carport lighting at multifamily residential buildings. § 8.22.05 · code text Perimeter lighting shall be designed and shielded so as not to cause off-site glare or nuisance.

Family child care homes

CA state law California law
Zoning	A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)
Business license or fee	A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)
Local rules	Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)
Small home	Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)
Large home	7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)

Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)

Mountain View code Affordability lasts in perpetuity. Affordability lasts at least 55 years.

All 11 Mountain View rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →

Parking spaces required for homes

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Spaces for a single-family home	A garage or carport must be provided and permanently maintained for parking Applies: Each dwelling in any single-family residential zoning district § 36.32.20 · code text For each dwelling in any single-family residential zoning district, a garage or carport shall be provided and permanently maintained for parking.

Signs on homes

Mountain View code What Mountain View's code adds
Signs that need no permit	1 "open house" sign, at most 3 square feet Applies: On the premises for sale, lease or rent; posted only when a salesperson is present § 36.36.15 · code text In addition to other real estate signs permitted by this article, one "open house" sign not exceeding three (3) square feet is permitted provided it is located on the particular premises which is for sale, lease or rent, and posted only when a salesperson is present.

Historic homes

Mountain View code A historic preservation permit (HP permit) is required Ordinary repair and maintenance of architectural features is allowed

All 4 Mountain View rules on historic homes, with the code text →

Other Mountain View rules on this

Mountain View's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Residential accessory uses and structures (§ 36.12.35)
Floodplain management (Ch. 48)
Construction hours (§ 8.06.05)
Noise from air conditioners and pool equipment (§ 21.26)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Mountain View?

Residential accessory uses and structures fall under the city's own section, § 36.12.35. Mountain View also has a related rule: Residential accessory uses and structures (§ 36.12.35).

Can I run a business from my home in Mountain View?

City rule: home occupations may not include vehicle repair, welding, mini storage, cannabis businesses, firearms sales or night clubs.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: Lot splits may be denied for a specific, adverse health, safety or environmental impact with no feasible mitigation or avoidance. (The chief building official must make a written finding based on a preponderance of the evidence.) (§ 28.4.20).

Can I park an RV or boat at my home in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: Oversized vehicles may not park on streets 40 feet wide or less. (Only on streets listed by city council resolution and posted with signs.) (§ 19.79.4).

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: Yes, a permit is required. (Willfully injuring, damaging, destroying, moving or removing a heritage tree.) (§ 32.25).

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: Fee = acres per new unit × number of new units × fair market value per acre. (Acres per unit: .0081 low density, .0069 medium-low, .0060 medium and higher, .0045 mobile homes. New housing paying a fee instead of park land.) (§ 41.9); The city council adopts per-acre land value ranges by density; the value applies when the formal application is filed. (§ 41.8).

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: Lights must be designed and shielded to avoid off-site glare or nuisance. (Perimeter and carport lighting at multifamily residential buildings.) (§ 8.22.05).

Can I run a family child care home in Mountain View?

California law sets this for every city, including Mountain View: Zoning: A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(a)); Business license or fee: A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(b)); Local rules: Local limits on height, setbacks, lot size, health and safety must be the same as for every other home in the same zone (Health & Safety Code § 1597.45(e)); Small home: Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(c)); Large home: 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there (Health & Safety Code § 1596.78(b)).

How many parking spaces does a home need in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: A garage or carport must be provided and permanently maintained for parking (Each dwelling in any single-family residential zoning district) (§ 36.32.20).

What signs may I put up at my home in Mountain View?

Mountain View's code: 1 "open house" sign, at most 3 square feet (On the premises for sale, lease or rent; posted only when a salesperson is present) (§ 36.36.15).

General information, not legal advice.

Ask about a specific Mountain View property

Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.

Ask your question

More on Mountain View

Mountain View Municipal Code — full text

Renting & eviction in Mountain View

Buying & selling in Mountain View

Property taxes in Mountain View

Mountain View overview

Zoning districts in Mountain View

What you can build where in Mountain View