Title 19 — ZONING 

Chapter 19.24 — AGRICULTURAL (A) AND AGRICULTURALRESIDENTIAL (A-1) ZONES 

Cupertino Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Cupertino

19.24.010 Purpose. 

Agricultural (A) zones are intended to preserve agriculture or forestry activities in areas suited to that purpose, and to include therein incidental residential development of a rural character.

Agricultural-residential (A-1) zones are intended to preserve agriculture or forestry activities in areas suited to that purpose, and to include therein residential development of a semirural character.

(Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 2056, (part), 2010; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992)

19.24.020 Applicability of Regulations. 

No building or structure or land shall be hereafter erected, structurally altered, or enlarged in an agricultural (A) zone or agricultural-residential (A-1) zone, otherwise than in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.

Notwithstanding the above, request for reasonable accommodation may be made by any person with a disability, when the strict application of the provisions in this chapter, act as a barrier to fair housing opportunities, pursuant to Chapter 19.52.

(Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1601, Exh. A (part), 1992)

19.24.030 Permitted, Conditional and Excluded Uses. 

Permitted, Conditional and Excluded Uses that may be conducted from property zoned agricultural (A) or agricultural-residential (A-1), are identified in Section 19.20.020.

  • (Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011)

19.24.040 Site Development Regulations. 

A. Lot Area Zoning Designations. Minimum lot area shall correspond to the number (multiplied by one thousand square feet) following the A zoning symbol. Examples:

Zoning Symbol Number Minimum Lot Area Square Feet
A/A1 215 215,000
A 400 400,000
A1 43 43,000

B. Minimum Lot Area:

Agricultural (A) Zones Agricultural- Residental (A-1)
Zones
1. Minimum
Lot size
215,000 square feet (with or
without incidental residental use)
215,000 square feet (with no
incidental residental use)
2. Incidental
residental
use
43,000 square feet per dwelling unit. Dwelling units in farm labor
camps for temporary laborers, and accessory dwelling units shall not
be counted for the purpose of determining required lot area under this
secton.

C. Required Lot Shape. Each lot in an A zoning district shall have such shape that a square with a side of two hundred feet can be inscribed in this lot.

(Ord. 16-2159, §6, 2016; Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011)

19.24.050 Building Development Regulations. 

Table 19.24.050 sets forth the rules and regulations pertaining to the development of structures on property zoned Agricultural (A) and Agricultural- Residential (A-1).

Table 19.24.050: Building Development Regulations 

Agricultural (A) Agricultural-Residental (A-
1)
A. Lot Coverage, Floor Area Rato and Building Setbacks
1. Lot Coverage 40% of net lot area 40% of net lot area
2. Floor Area Rato - 45%
3. Minimum Setbacks
a. First Floor:
i. Front-yard 30 feet 30 feet
ii. Side-yard 20 feet 20 feet
Agricultural (A)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
iii. Rear-yard 25 feet
b. Second Floor:
i. Front-yard 30 feet
ii. Side-yard 20 feet
iii. Rear-yard 25 feet
c. Second-story Decks and Patos:
i. Front-yard 22 feet
ii. Side-yard 20 feet
iii. Rear-yard 25 feet
B. Height of Principal Buildings and Structures
1. Maximum Height * 28 feet
2. Zoning districts with
"i" sufx **
Limited to one story (not
3. Excepton for Hillside
Areas
Planning Commission may approve heights greater
than 28 feet upon making all the following fndings:
a. The subject property is in a hillside area and
has an average slope of ten percent or greater;
b. Topographical features of the subject
property make an excepton to the standard
height restrictons necessary or desirable;
c. In no case, shall the maximum height exceed
thirty-fve feet for a principal structure or
twenty feet for an accessory structure;
d. In no case, shall the maximum height of a
structure located on a prominent ridgeline, as
defned by Secton 19.40.050(H) relatng to
RHS zoning districts, on or above the four-
hundred-ffy-foot contour, exceed twenty feet.
C. Permited Yard Encroachments
1. Extension of a Legal
Non-conforming Wall
Plane
a. Where a building legally constructed according to
existng yard and setback regulatons at the tme of
constructon encroaches upon present required frst
foor setbacks, one encroaching side of the existng
structure may be extended along existng building
lines.
b. Only one such extension shall be permited for the
life of the building.
c. Encroachments into a required yard which are the
result of the grantng of a variance may not be further
extended.
d. Further encroachment into a required setback is
not allowed. I.e., a non-conforming setback may not
be further reduced.
e. In no case shall any wall plane of a frst-story
additon be placed closer than three feet to any
property line.
2. Architectural Features a. May extend into a required yard a distance not
exceeding three feet.

Agricultural-Residential (AAgricultural (A) 1) b. No architectural feature, or combination thereof, whether a portion of a principal or accessory structure, may extend closer than three feet to any property line. D. Accessory Structures (including attached patio As allowed by Chapter 19.100, Accessory Buildings/Structures covers) The setback and height restrictions provided in this chapter may be varied for a structure utilized for passive or active solar purposes, provided that no such structure shall infringe upon solar easements or E. Solar Design adjoining property owners. Variation from the setback or height restrictions of this chapter may be allowed only upon issuance of a Administrative Conditional Use Permit subject to Chapter 19.12. Notes: * - Fireplace chimneys, antennae, or other appurtenances are excluded from the restriction. ** - Pertains to all buildings in a designated area as prescribed by the City Council by affixing the designation "i" to the zoning district symbol.

(Ord. 17-2165, § 8, 2017; Ord. 2085, § 2 (part), 2011)