Santa Clara · Building on your lot
Building on your lot in Santa Clara
Santa Clara requires EV-ready parking in new homes and sets rules for beekeeping, horses and the number of dogs and cats. Rooftop solar and EV charger permits get expedited review against a city checklist.
Key points
- EV-ready parking: New one- and two-family homes with 2 or more garage spaces need one Level 2 and one Level 1 EV Ready Space.
- Pets and bees: Santa Clara allows at most 3 adult dogs and cats combined and 2 bee hives per lot, more hives only with City Manager consent.
Each rule below is marked Santa Clara code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Solar panels and EV chargers
Santa Clara code New one- and two-family homes with 2 or more garage spaces need one Level 2 and one Level 1 EV Ready Space.
All 9 Santa Clara rules on solar panels and EV chargers, with the code text →
Pets, chickens and bees
Santa Clara code Santa Clara allows at most 3 adult dogs and cats combined and 2 bee hives per lot, more hives only with City Manager consent.
All 8 Santa Clara rules on pets, chickens and bees, with the code text →
Park and impact fees for new homes
Santa Clara code The fee is at most the market value of land that would be dedicated; council sets and reviews it yearly. The value may be set by appraisal if the developer objects to the City's market value.
All 5 Santa Clara rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text →
Family child care homes
| Zoning | A small or large family child care home is a residential use and a use by right under all local ordinances, including zoning |
|---|---|
| Business license or fee | A city or county may not charge a business license, fee or tax to run a family child care home |
| 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 |
| Small home | Up to eight children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
| Large home | 7 to 14 children, counting the provider's own children under 10 who live there |
Affordable units in new housing (inclusionary)
Santa Clara code Affordable for-sale units stay affordable at least 20 years. Affordable rental units stay affordable at least 55 years.
All 14 Santa Clara rules on affordable units in new housing (inclusionary), with the code text →
Home alarm permits and false alarms
| Alarm permit |
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|---|---|
| When a permit can be revoked |
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Trash and recycling carts
Santa Clara code Subscribe to and maintain residential recycling services for each individual household in the dwelling An exception may be granted
All 5 Santa Clara rules on trash and recycling carts, with the code text →
Other Santa Clara rules on this
Santa Clara's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Permit to remove a protected tree (§ 12.35.080)
- Floodplain management rules (Ch. 15.45)
- Noise limits from fixed sources (§ 9.10.040)
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I run a family child care home in Santa Clara?
California law sets this for every city, including Santa Clara: 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)).
Do I need a permit for a home alarm in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara's code: Required; annual permit and renewal fee (§ 8.40.030); In excess of 8 false alarms during any 12-month period (§ 8.40.200).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a specific Santa Clara property
Ask GoCodebook how these rules apply to your address and get an answer that cites the section.
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