San Jose · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in San Jose?
In San Jose, a church or other place of worship is allowed in 2 base zones (DC and DC-NT1), needs a permit in 17 (R-1, R-2, R-M, R-MH, CO and 12 more, 5 with a condition) and not allowed in 4 (San Jose use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Allowed: DC and DC-NT1
- Needs a permit: R-1, R-2, R-M, R-MH, CO, CP, CN, CG and 9 more
- Not allowed: TEC, IP, LI and HI
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the San Jose Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
San Jose's code calls this use “Church/religious assembly”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| DC | Allowed | USES ALLOWED |
| DC-NT1 | Allowed | USES ALLOWED |
| R-1 | Needs a conditional use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| R-2 | Needs a conditional use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| R-M | Needs a conditional use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| R-MH | Needs a conditional use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| CO | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 16: Public schools are subject to the regulations of this Title, subject to the provisions of California Government Code Section 53094 for classroom facilities. Note 20: The City Council is the decision-making body for Special Use Permit appeals for this use pursuant to Section 20.100.220 of this Title. Note 21: In the PQP public/quasi-public zoning district, the following uses may be allowed as a use supporting and incidental to a primary PQP use: a. Offices, retail, public eating establishments, and other commercial uses of similar character and intensity, with approval of a Special Use Permit; and b. Drinking establishments, off-sale of alcoholic beverages, arcade amusement games, poolroom/billiards establishments, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and data centers, with approval of a Conditional Use Permit. | USES ALLOWED |
| CP | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 16: Public schools are subject to the regulations of this Title, subject to the provisions of California Government Code Section 53094 for classroom facilities. Note 20: The City Council is the decision-making body for Special Use Permit appeals for this use pursuant to Section 20.100.220 of this Title. Note 21: In the PQP public/quasi-public zoning district, the following uses may be allowed as a use supporting and incidental to a primary PQP use: a. Offices, retail, public eating establishments, and other commercial uses of similar character and intensity, with approval of a Special Use Permit; and b. Drinking establishments, off-sale of alcoholic beverages, arcade amusement games, poolroom/billiards establishments, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and data centers, with approval of a Conditional Use Permit. | USES ALLOWED |
| CN | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 16: Public schools are subject to the regulations of this Title, subject to the provisions of California Government Code Section 53094 for classroom facilities. Note 20: The City Council is the decision-making body for Special Use Permit appeals for this use pursuant to Section 20.100.220 of this Title. Note 21: In the PQP public/quasi-public zoning district, the following uses may be allowed as a use supporting and incidental to a primary PQP use: a. Offices, retail, public eating establishments, and other commercial uses of similar character and intensity, with approval of a Special Use Permit; and b. Drinking establishments, off-sale of alcoholic beverages, arcade amusement games, poolroom/billiards establishments, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and data centers, with approval of a Conditional Use Permit. | USES ALLOWED |
| CG | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 16: Public schools are subject to the regulations of this Title, subject to the provisions of California Government Code Section 53094 for classroom facilities. Note 20: The City Council is the decision-making body for Special Use Permit appeals for this use pursuant to Section 20.100.220 of this Title. Note 21: In the PQP public/quasi-public zoning district, the following uses may be allowed as a use supporting and incidental to a primary PQP use: a. Offices, retail, public eating establishments, and other commercial uses of similar character and intensity, with approval of a Special Use Permit; and b. Drinking establishments, off-sale of alcoholic beverages, arcade amusement games, poolroom/billiards establishments, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and data centers, with approval of a Conditional Use Permit. | USES ALLOWED |
| PQP | Needs a special use permit — see note Note 16: Public schools are subject to the regulations of this Title, subject to the provisions of California Government Code Section 53094 for classroom facilities. Note 20: The City Council is the decision-making body for Special Use Permit appeals for this use pursuant to Section 20.100.220 of this Title. Note 21: In the PQP public/quasi-public zoning district, the following uses may be allowed as a use supporting and incidental to a primary PQP use: a. Offices, retail, public eating establishments, and other commercial uses of similar character and intensity, with approval of a Special Use Permit; and b. Drinking establishments, off-sale of alcoholic beverages, arcade amusement games, poolroom/billiards establishments, wineries, breweries, distilleries, and data centers, with approval of a Conditional Use Permit. | USES ALLOWED |
| CIC | Needs a conditional use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| UVC | Needs a special use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| UV | Needs a special use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| MUC | Needs a special use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| MUN | Needs a special use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| UR | Needs a special use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| TR | Needs a special use permit | USES ALLOWED |
| MS-C | Needs a conditional use permit | USE REGULATIONS |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: Planned Development (PD) and other zones outside the seven supplied chapters; MS-G cells where the three frontage columns differ. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in San Jose
Who this affects
HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the R-1 zone in San Jose?
Only with a conditional use permit. San Jose's use table lists it that way in R-1 (USES ALLOWED).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the TEC zone in San Jose?
No. San Jose's use table does not allow it in TEC (USES ALLOWED).
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the DC zone in San Jose?
Yes. San Jose's use table lists it as allowed in DC (USES ALLOWED).
General information, not legal advice.
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