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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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