Chapter 19.28 — DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT
§ 5.1
Sunnyvale Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-27 · Sunnyvale
5.1.3 of the DSP. For blocks where the allowa-ble lot coverage is indicated as "Per SDP"¶
means that lot coverage shall be evaluated on a project-by-project basis through the special development permit process. Covered porches, stoops, and stairways may extend up to six feet into any required front yard.
Table 19.28.090(a)
Development Standards for Commercial Core District Block 18
Block 18
Land Use Designation Downtown Mixed Use
Minimum lot size Per SDP
Maximum lot coverage Per SDP
Maximum height As provided in the DSP document
Minimum Front Setbacks
Mathilda Ave. 0 ft.
McKinley Ave. 0 ft.
Taaffe St. 0 ft.
Sunnyvale Ave. 0 ft.
Iowa Ave. 0 ft.
Minimum Interior Setbacks
Side 0 ft.
Rear 0 ft.
Minimum landscaped area All areas not devoted to driveways and access zones
Minimum useable open space 50 sq. ft./unit
Table 19.28.090(b)
Development Standards for North of Washington District Blocks 1, 1a, 2, 21 and 22
Block 1 Block 1a Block 2 Block 21 Block 22
Land Use Office Downtown Commercial Transit center Office Designation Mixed Use Heritage Landmark District
Minimum lot size 0.50 ac. 0.30 ac. No minimum No minimum 0.75 ac.
Maximum lot Per SDP Per SDP Per SDP Per SDP Per SDP coverage
Maximum height As provided in the DSP document
Minimum Front Setback
Mathilda Ave. and 0 ft. N/A N/A N/A N/A Mathilda Pl.
Washington Ave. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. N/A N/A
Olson Way N/A 0 ft. N/A N/A N/A
Taaffe St. N/A 0 ft. N/A N/A N/A
Evelyn Ave. 0 ft. N/A 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft.
Aries Way 0 ft. 0 ft. N/A N/A N/A
Sunnyvale Ave. N/A N/A 0 ft. N/A 0 ft.
Altair Way 0 ft. 0 ft. N/A N/A N/A
Carroll St. N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Frances St. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. N/A N/A
Murphy Ave. N/A N/A 0 ft. N/A N/A
Minimum Interior Setbacks
Side 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft.
Rear 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft. 0 ft.
Minimum All areas not All areas not None All areas not All areas not landscaped area devoted to devoted to devoted to devoted to driveways and driveways driveways and driveways and surface access and surface access zones access zones zones access zones
Minimum useable N/A 50 sq. ft./unit N/A N/A N/A open space
Table 19.28.090(c)
Development Standards for Sunnyvale/Carroll District Blocks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 23
Block 3 Block 4 Block 5 Block 6 Block 7 Block 23
Land Use Commercial Downtown Downtown High Downtown Downtown Designation Very High Very High Density and Mixed Use Very High Density Density Medium Density Residential Residential Density Residential Residential
Minimum lot size No 0.5 ac. 0.25 ac. 0.25 ac. No 0.50 ac. minimum minimum
Maximum lot Per SDP Per SDP Per SDP 60% 60% 45% coverage
Maximum height As provided in the DSP document
Minimum Front Setback
Washington Ave. 0 ft. 12 ft. N/A 12 ft. 12 ft. N/A
Sunnyvale Ave. 0 ft. N/A N/A N/A N/A 18 ft.
Evelyn Ave. 0 ft. 18 ft. 18 ft. N/A N/A 18 ft.
Bayview Ave. N/A 12 ft. 12 ft. N/A N/A N/A
Carroll Ave. 0 ft. 12 ft. N/A 12 ft. 12 ft. N/A
McKinley Ave. N/A N/A 13 ft. N/A 12 N/A
Minimum Interior Setbacks
Side 0 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. 6 ft. 0 ft. 6 ft.
Rear 0 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft. 0 ft. 20 ft.
Minimum All areas Minimum Minimum Minimum All areas Minimum landscaped area not devoted 20% of lot 20% of lot 20% of lot not devoted 20% of lot to area area area to area driveways driveways and access and access zones zones.
Minimum useable N/A 50 sq. 50 sq. 50 sq. 50 sq. 50 sq. open space ft./unit ft./unit ft./unit ft./unit for ft./unit residential uses
Table 19.28.090(d)
Development Standards for South of Iowa District Blocks 8, 8a, 8b, 9, 9a, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 20
Blocks 8a, 9,
10, 11 and 12 Block 8, 9a Blocks 8b Block 13 Block 20
Land Use Low-Medium Medium Low Density Office and Office and Designation Density Density Residential service retail High Density Residential Residential and low- Residential medium density residential
Minimum project 0.25 ac. 0.14 ac. 0.30 ac 0.4 ac. No Minimum size
Minimum lot size 2,600 sq. ft. N/A N/A N/A N/A
Maximum lot 60% 60% (Block 8) 40% Per SDP 60% max coverage 40% (Block 9a)
Maximum height As provided in the DSP document
Minimum Front Setbacks
Mathilda Ave. N/A N/A N/A 0 ft. 0 ft.
McKinley Ave. 13 ft. 13 ft. 13 ft. N/A N/A
Carroll Ave. 15 ft. N/A 15 ft. N/A N/A
Iowa Ave. 13 ft. N/A 13 ft. 0 ft. N/A
Sunnyvale Ave. 18 ft. 18 ft. N/A N/A N/A
Taaffe St. 18 ft. N/A N/A 10 ft. N/A
Frances St. 18 ft. N/A N/A N/A N/A
Murphy Ave. 18 ft. N/A N/A N/A N/A
Olive Ave. 13 ft. N/A 13 ft. 10 ft. 10 ft.
El Camino Real N/A N/A N/A N/A 30 ft.
Minimum Interior Setbacks
Side 4 ft. 4 ft. 4 ft. 0 ft. 6 ft.
Rear 20 ft. 20 ft. 20 ft. 0 ft. 20 ft.
Minimum 20% of lot area 20% of lot area 20% of lot area All areas not All areas not landscaped area devoted to devoted to driveways and driveways and surface access access zones zones
Minimum useable 500 sq. ft./unit 500 sq. ft./unit 500 sq. ft./unit 500 sq. ft./unit 380 sq. ft./unit open space
Table 19.28.090(e)
Development Standards for West of Mathilda District Blocks 14, 15, 16, and 17
Blocks 14, 15 and 16 Block 17
Land Use Designation Downtown Very High Density Low Medium Density Residential Residential
Minimum lot area 0.75 acre 8,000 sq. ft.
Maximum lot coverage Per SDP 40%
Maximum height As provided in the DSP document
Minimum Front Setbacks
Mathilda 0 ft. 12 ft.
McKinley Ave. 10 ft. N/A
Iowa Ave. 10 ft. 10 ft.
Charles Ave. 10 ft. 10 ft.
Washington Ave. 10 ft. 10 ft.
Evelyn Ave. N/A 18 ft.
Olive Ave. 10 ft. N/A
Minimum Interior Setbacks
Side 6 ft. 4 ft.
Rear 10 ft. 20 ft.
Minimum landscaped area Minimum 20% of lot area Minimum 20% of lot area
Minimum useable open space 50 sq. ft./unit 500 sq. ft./unit
(Ord. 3162-20 § 2)
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