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Title 19

Chapter 19.45 — TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT

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

§ 19.45.010. Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to further the transportation goals of the Sunnyvale General Plan and the Sunnyvale Climate Action Plan by promoting the adoption of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Programs in industrial, office, and multi-family residential developments; promoting and increasing work-related transit use, ridesharing, walk-ing and bicycling to minimize the number of employees traveling in single-occupant vehicles to and from work at the same time and during peak-hour periods; and improving the mobility and general efficiency of circulation and transportation systems by reducing single-occupant vehicle trips and total vehicle miles traveled within the community and the region. (Ord. 3094-16 § 2)

§ 19.45.020. Applicability.

TDM Programs shall be required in all new developments and redevelopment meeting the criteria set forth in this chapter. Developments in an area subject to a specific plan shall comply with any additional or different TDM requirements imposed by that specific plan. (Ord. 3094-16 § 2)

§ 19.45.030. High-intensity industrial and office development.

  • (a) Applicability. A TDM program shall be required for the following developments:

    • (1) High-Intensity Industrial Development in the M-S or M-3 Zoning District. Highintensity industrial development means any project that creates new floor area exceeding floor area ratio (FAR) thresholds defined in Table 19.32.020 (Building Height, Lot Coverage and Floor Area Ratio) or exceeding seventy percent FAR in industrial intensification sites defined in Section 19.32.070 (Floor area ratio (FAR)); and

    • (2) Industrial and office developments utilizing green building incentives, as described in Chapter 19.39 (Green Building Regulations) and the Green Building Tables adopted by resolution.

  • (b) Goals for Peak-Hour Trip Reduction. TDM programs must meet the following goals in peak-hour trip reduction for the entire project site:

    • (1) Industrial-Intensification Sites. High-intensity industrial and office development that exceeds seventy percent FAR in an industrial intensification area must demonstrate that peak-hour vehicle-trip rates for the project do not exceed the projected peak-hour trip generation of a seventy percent FAR project.

    • (2) Green Building Incentives. Industrial and office development that use the voluntary incentives in the Green Building Tables must demonstrate that peak-hour vehicle-trip rates are not greater than the number that would be generated by development of the site at the floor area ratio thresholds defined in Table 19.32.020 (Building Height, Lot Coverage and Floor Area Ratio).

  • (c) Standard M-S and M-3 FAR Zoned Sites. The approving body may require a TDM

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City of Sunnyvale, CA § 19.45.030

ZONING

§ 19.45.040

program for projects requir-ing a use permit for floor area ratio exceeding those thresholds defined in Table 19.32.020 (Building Height, Lot Coverage and Floor Area Ratio).

  • (d) TDM programs required by this section shall be administered and enforced by the director of public works pursuant to Chapter 10.60 of this code.

  • (Ord. 3094-16 § 2)

§ 19.45.040. Multi-family residential Transportation Demand Management Program.

  • (a) Applicability. A TDM Program is required of all new developments and redevelopments of ten or more residential units, including residential components of mixed-use developments.

  • (b) Standards. The city council shall adopt standards for the multi-family residential Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program which shall contain specific requirements necessary for compliance. These standards shall be updated from time to time to reflect best practices in the field of transportation demand management.

  • (c) Administrative Procedures.

    • (1) The director of community development shall adopt administrative procedures containing any rules and guidelines necessary or appropriate to achieve compliance with the requirements of this section.

    • (2) The procedures for compliance documentation shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

      • (i) Upon submittal of an application for any discretionary planning entitlement (if required) for any covered project, application materials shall include a TDM plan that documents how the development will comply with the requirements of the multi-family TDM Program.

      • (ii) Upon submittal of an application for a building permit, building plans shall show any physical improvement measures required by the approved TDM plan for the project.

      • (iii) Prior to final building inspection and occupancy, evidence shall be provided to the director of community development to confirm that all required physical improvements and programmatic measures in the approved TDM plan for the project have been installed or implemented.

  • (d) Noncompliance. The director of community development shall enforce the provisions of this section. In addition to any other remedies authorized by law, if the director determines that the project during construction does not or is unlikely to comply with the approved TDM plan, a stop work order may be issued. The stop work order shall remain in effect and final certificate of occupancy withheld until the director determines that the project will be brought into compliance with the approved TDM plan.

  • (e) Hardship or Infeasibility Exemption. If a project applicant believes that circumstances exist presenting an unreasonable hardship to meet the requirements of this section, the applicant may apply for an exemption in their development application. In applying for an exemption, the burden is on the applicant to show significant hardship. The exemption request shall be decided by the approval authority for the development permit. Hardship

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City of Sunnyvale, CA

SUNNYVALE CODE

§ 19.45.040

§ 19.45.040

  • exemptions shall only be granted in unusual circumstances based upon a showing of good cause and a determination that the public interest is not served by compliance or other compelling circumstances. An unreasonable hardship shall be defined as practical infeasibility, difficulties, or results inconsistent with the general purposes of this chapter.

  • (f) Modifications of TDM Plan. Any modification of an approved TDM plan requires a miscellaneous plan permit under Chapter 19.82 of this code. A request to modify a TDM plan may only be granted if it is designed to be at least as effective as the original TDM plan in meeting the objectives and purposes of this chapter.

  • (g) Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the director of community development may appeal the decision to the planning commission pursuant to Section 19.98.070.

  • (Ord. 3094-16 § 2)

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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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