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Title 19

Chapter 19.60 — ADULT BUSINESSES AND MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS

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

§ 19.60.010. Permitted uses—Zoning districts—M-S and M-3.

  • (a) Adult business establishments, as defined in Chapter 9.40, shall be allowed in addition to other uses permitted in the M-S and M-3 zoning districts, subject to the requirements of this chapter.

  • (b) Adult business establishments are prohibited uses in all other zoning districts.

  • (c) For purposes of this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the words, terms and phrases set forth in this chapter shall have the same meanings given them in Chapters 9.40 and 9.41 of this code.

  • (Prior zoning code § 19.76.010; Ord. 2623-99 § 1; Ord. 3064-15 § 5)

§ 19.60.020. Anti-skid row regulations.

  • (a) The purpose of this chapter is to provide reasonable regulations to prevent the adverse effect of the concentration or clustering of certain uses of real property, specifically adult business establishments. Such uses have serious objectionable characteristics when several of them are located in close proximity to each other. Such concentration tends to create a "skid-row" atmosphere and has a detrimental effect upon the adjacent area. Regulation of the locations of these uses is necessary to insure that such adverse effects will not contribute to the blight or downgrading of neighborhoods or interfere with the development and operation of hotels, motels, lodging houses and other businesses which are needed and desirable in the city.

  • (b) Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this code to the contrary, except the provisions of Section 19.60.040 relating to nonconforming uses, no lot or parcel or property in any zoning district or any building or structure thereon or any portion thereof shall be used for an adult business establishment at a location closer than two hundred feet to any other lot, parcel or property, within or outside the city boundaries, on which an adult business establishment is located.

  • (c) The regulations set forth in this section are intended to be in addition to and not in lieu of other regulations of this code applicable to any of the above specified uses, and, unless specifically provided, shall not be deemed to repeal or amend any other provision or provisions of this code which are applicable to the above mentioned uses or activities, nor be deemed to excuse noncompliance with any such other provisions.

  • (Prior zoning code § 19.76.020; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

§ 19.60.030. Prohibition of certain uses from residential zoned property, churches, schools and parks.

  • (a) The purpose of this section is to prevent the adverse secondary effects of the location of certain uses of real property, specifically adult business establishments, in any zoning district which is in close proximity to and/or serves residentially zoned property, churches, schools and parks. Regulations restricting the location of such uses with reference to residentially zoned property, and church, school or park property are reasonably necessary to prevent such deleterious effects, as described in the findings set forth in Section

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City of Sunnyvale, CA § 19.60.030

SUNNYVALE CODE

§ 19.60.040

9.41.010, and incorporated by reference herein.

  • (b) Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this code to the contrary, except the provisions of Section 19.60.040 of this chapter and subsection (c) of this section, no lot or parcel or property in any zoning district or any building or structure thereon or any portion thereof shall be used for an adult business establishment at a location closer than one thousand feet to any residentially zoned lot or parcel of property; or to any church, synagogue or place of worship; or to any public or private school providing educational services to students at any level from kindergarten through the twelfth grade, inclusive; or to any park, whether any such residentially zoned property, church, school or park is situated within or outside the city.

  • (c) For purposes of subsection (b) of this section, a lot, parcel, building or structure shall not be deemed to be closer than one thousand feet from another lot, parcel, building or structure when they are separated from one another by a state freeway.

  • (d) The regulations set forth in this section are intended to be in addition to and not in lieu of other regulations of this code applicable to any of the above specified uses, and, unless specifically provided, shall not be deemed to repeal or amend any other provision or provisions of this code which are applicable to the above mentioned uses or activities, nor be deemed to excuse noncompliance with any such other provisions.

  • (Prior zoning code § 19.76.030; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

§ 19.60.040. Application to existing establishments.

  • (a) An adult business establishment lawfully existing on a lot shall not be deemed to be in violation of Section 19.60.020(b) due to the subsequent establishment of an adult business establishment on another lot in violation of the locational limitations of Section 19.60.020(b), or in violation of Section 19.60.030(b) due to the subsequent establishment of residential zoning or a church, synagogue or place of worship, school or park within one thousand feet of such adult business establishment.

  • (b) For the purpose of determining compliance with Sections 19.60.010, 19.60.020 and 19.60.030 as to, between and with respect to adult business establishments in operation as of January 14, 1999, priority between such existing establishments shall be assigned in accordance with the dates upon which the establishments commenced such operation, priority being given to the establishment having the earliest of such dates, provided the adult business establishment was at all relevant times in full compliance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 9.40 in effect at the time, or as amended. In the event any dispute arises regarding the date, the applicant shall have the obligation to establish the date on which the adult business establishment commenced operation.

  • (Prior zoning code § 19.76.040; Ord. 2623-99 § 1)

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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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