Santa Clara · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santa Clara

Santa Clara requires EV-ready parking in new homes and sets rules for beekeeping, horses and the number of dogs and cats. Rooftop solar and EV charger permits get expedited review against a city checklist.

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Key points

EV-ready parking: New one- and two-family homes with 2 or more garage spaces need one Level 2 and one Level 1 EV Ready Space.
Pets and bees: Santa Clara allows at most 3 adult dogs and cats combined and 2 bee hives per lot, more hives only with City Manager consent.

Each rule below is marked Santa Clara code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santa Clara code What Santa Clara's code adds
EV-ready new homes	1 Level 2 EV Ready Space and 1 Level 1 EV Ready Space. Applies: New one- and two-family homes and townhouses with private garages of 2 or more parking spaces. § 15.38.040 · code text In private garages with two or more parking spaces, install one Level 2 EV Ready Space and one Level 1 EV Ready Space. 1 Level 2 EV Ready Space. Applies: New one- and two-family homes and townhouses where a unit has only 1 parking space. § 15.38.040 · code text For each dwelling unit with only one parking space, install a Level 2 EV Ready Space. 25% of unassigned parking spaces must be Level 2 EV Ready. Applies: Spaces not assigned to a unit in new one- and two-family homes and townhouses. § 15.38.040 · code text 25% of the unassigned parking space(s) shall be Level 2 EV Ready Space(s). 75% of unassigned parking spaces must be Low Power Level 2 EV Ready. Applies: Spaces not assigned to a unit in new one- and two-family homes and townhouses. § 15.38.040 · code text 75% of the unassigned space(s) shall be Low Power Level 2 EV Ready Space(s). 1 Level 2 EV Ready Space per unit with parking. Applies: New apartment buildings under 20 units, and residential parts of mixed-use buildings under 20 units. § 15.38.040 · code text One parking space per dwelling unit with parking shall be provided with a Level 2 EV Ready Space.
EV charger permit	Apply electronically; electronic signatures are accepted. Applies: EV chargers that qualify for expedited permit processing. § 15.39.010 · code text the Building Official shall implement an expedited administrative permit review process for electric vehicle charging stations and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which electric vehicle charging stations shall comply in order to be eligible for expedited review. The Building Official approves and issues all needed permits when the application meets the city checklist and applicable laws. Applies: Permit applications that meet the city's adopted checklist. § 15.39.010 · code text A permit application that satisfies the information requirements in the City's adopted checklist shall be deemed complete and be promptly processed.
Solar permit process	Submit the application and documents with permit processing, plan review and inspection fees; only one inspection. Applies: Small home rooftop solar systems eligible for expedited review. § 15.90.020 · code text The Building Official is authorized and directed to develop and adopt a checklist of all requirements with which small residential rooftop solar energy systems shall comply to be eligible for expedited review. The applicant shall submit the permit application and associated documentation to the City together with any required permit processing, plan review and inspection fees. Once the application is confirmed complete and meets the checklist, the Building Official approves it and issues all required permits. Applies: Small home rooftop solar systems. § 15.90.020 · code text Upon confirmation by the Building Official of the application and supporting documentation being complete and meeting the requirements of the checklist, the Building Official shall approve the application and issue all required permits or authorizations.

Pets, chickens and bees

Santa Clara code What Santa Clara's code adds
Bees	Yes; no more than 2 hives per lot, unless the City Manager agrees in writing to more. § 6.28.030 · code text No more than two hives may be maintained on any lot or parcel, unless the City Manager, in his or her sole discretion, consents in writing to a higher amount. Hives at least 10 feet from side property lines, and not in required front or side setbacks. Applies: Closer only with written permission of the neighboring owner or occupant. § 6.28.030 · code text No hive may be kept or maintained within ten feet of any side property line on the lot or parcel upon which such hives are situated, or within twenty (20) feet of any dwelling unit other than that occupied by the person maintaining the hive or hives, unless the owner or persons in possession of the adjacent property have given written permission to the location of such apiary at a closer distance. Hives at least 20 feet from any home other than the beekeeper's. Applies: Closer only with written permission of the neighboring owner or occupant. § 6.28.030 · code text No hive may be kept or maintained within ten feet of any side property line on the lot or parcel upon which such hives are situated, or within twenty (20) feet of any dwelling unit other than that occupied by the person maintaining the hive or hives, unless the owner or persons in possession of the adjacent property have given written permission to the location of such apiary at a closer distance. Hives at least 20 feet from any public road. Applies: Applies to public roads. § 6.28.030 · code text No hive may be located closer than twenty (20) feet from any public road. Hives must be surrounded by a solid fence at least 6 feet high, no farther than 30 feet away. Applies: Entrances must face a building on site; fence not needed if hives are over 10 feet up on a building or a second-story-or-higher roof. § 6.28.030 · code text All hives must be oriented so that their entrances face a house or building on the premises and must be surrounded by a solid fence not less than six feet in height, located no farther than thirty (30) feet from such hives.
Large animals	Horses must be kept in an enclosure at least 40 feet from any inhabited or habitable home. Applies: Applies to horses. § 6.15.040 · code text No horse shall be kept or maintained within the city except in an enclosure the outer limits of which shall be at least forty (40) feet from any inhabited or habitable dwelling.
Pet limit	No more than 3 adult dogs and cats in total, over 4 months old, per street address. § 6.30.020 · code text No person shall keep or maintain more than a total of three adult dogs and/or cats (any combination) over four months of age, at any street address. No more than 1 unspayed female dog or 1 unspayed female cat per street address. § 6.30.020 · code text No person shall keep or maintain more than one unspayed female dog or one unspayed female cat, at any street address.

Other Santa Clara rules on this

Santa Clara's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Permit to remove a protected tree (§ 12.35.080)

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Santa Clara?

New one- and two-family homes with 2 or more garage spaces need one Level 2 and one Level 1 EV Ready Space.

Can I keep chickens or bees at my home in Santa Clara?

Santa Clara allows at most 3 adult dogs and cats combined and 2 bee hives per lot, more hives only with City Manager consent.

General information, not legal advice.

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