Santa Clara Zoning Code § 3.1 Summary of Regulating Topics

Throughout the Code, standards are grouped into the regulatory topics summarized on this page Each of these topics represents a section of the Code; the section number is noted alongside each title This topical organization enables the Code to systematically implement the vision as articulated in the Precise Plan and follow the approach described in the previous section, Section 2 Before referencing the standards found in the remainder of this Code, applicants proposing any new development in the Downtown Zone should familiarize themselves with Section 2 as well as the Santa Clara Downtown Precise Plan After covering each of these topics, the Code concludes with a glossary of the specialized terms which are used throughout

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

CH. 4: THE DOWNTOWN ZONE & CHARACTER OVERLAYS

A Downtown Zone is applied to the 10 blocks of the Plan Area to implement the standards of this Code and the vision of the Precise Plan Character Overlays are used to further calibrate the standards of the Code to the multiple unique environments within the Downtown Zone

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

CH. 6: BUILDING HEIGHT

Building heights are regulated in order to properly concentrate intensity at the heart of Downtown while scaling appropriately to the existing context

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
Building Footprint
Street Street

CH. 5: BUILDING PLACEMENT

Building placement standards ensure that new buildings are sited and oriented to appropriately define and engage new and existing streets, public spaces, courts, and paseos

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

CH. 7: BUILDING MASSING

Building massings are regulated to ensure that new large developments do not have massive, monolithic facades that feel overbearing to pedestrians Buildings are required to reflect the rhythm and scale of the historic Downtown

18 Attachment 1:105

Publication, Apr 2026

SANTA CLARA CODE

15 | Chapter 3: Overview of Standards

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
Private Frontage

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

CH. 8: FACADE DESIGN

This section ensures that building facades have an appropriate amount of windows and doors, and that those windows, doors, and other facade elements are organized into a rational composition of floors and bays

CH. 9: PRIVATE FRONTAGES

Private frontage standards regulate the building face and everything between that building face and the sidewalk Design is to be calibrated to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between the private property and the public realm

CH. 10: ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTIONS

Architectural projects are the elements which stick out from the facade into the private setback These elements enhance the relationship between the building and the public realm

Text read from an image; its layout may differ:
Parking
Garage
Wide Range of Upper
Floor Uses
Lafayette St Franklin St

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

CH. 11: SIGNAGE DESIGN

Signs will be a strength of Downtown buildings They will be beautiful and bring visual interest to the street while drawing patrons to businesses and other destinations within the Downtown Zone

CH. 12: BUILDING USE & PARKING

Use regulations ensure that upper floors have the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of activity in Downtown and that ground floors are occupied by uses which are appropriate to their Downtown context—regulated by Character Overlay This section also ensures the proper placement of parking within buildings

CH. 13: SITE STANDARDS & GUIDELINES

Site standard and guidelines regulate a wide range of private realm elements— including waste and utilities, site walls, lighting, and on-site open space—to ensure that such elements contribute to the Downtown environment while serving building occupants

18 Attachment 1:106

Publication, Apr 2026

ZONING

16 | City of Santa Clara Downtown Form-Base Code

4 The Downtown Zone & Character Overlays