Santa Clara County · Land use · Rooming or boarding house
Where is a rooming or boarding house allowed in Santa Clara County?
In Santa Clara County, a rooming or boarding house is needs a permit in 5 (R1, R1E, R2, R3 and A1) and not allowed in 6 (Santa Clara County use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R1, R1E, R2, R3 and A1
- Not allowed: RHS, R1S, R3S, RS, OS/F and SCA
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Santa Clara County 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 rooming or boarding house can go
Santa Clara County's code calls this use “Rooming Houses, Fraternities, and Sororities”. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | Needs an use permit and architecture and site approval | § 2.30.020 |
| R1E | Needs an use permit and architecture and site approval | § 2.30.020 |
| R2 | Needs an use permit and architecture and site approval | § 2.30.020 |
| R3 | Needs an architecture and site approval (asa) | § 2.30.020 |
| A1 | Needs an use permit and architecture and site approval | § 2.50.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Not covered here: Combining districts (-os, -sm, -h, -bw, -d1, -d2 etc.) can change allowed uses; Chapter 2.10 use classification definitions are not in the packet; Other base districts of the county outside Chapters 2.20-2.50, if any. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Santa Clara County
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the R1 zone in Santa Clara County?
Only with an use permit and architecture and site approval. Santa Clara County's use table lists it that way in R1 (§ 2.30.020).
Can I have a rooming or boarding house in the RHS zone in Santa Clara County?
No. Santa Clara County's use table does not allow it in RHS (§ 2.30.020).
General information, not legal advice.
Ask about a rooming or boarding house at an address in Santa Clara County
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