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Park and impact fees for new homes in Santa Clara

Santa Clara's own rules on park and impact fees for new homes, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Clara Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Clara's code says

Santa Clara code What Santa Clara's code adds
How the park fee is set
  • The fee is at most the market value of land that would be dedicated; council sets and reviews it yearly.
    Applies: Residential projects that pay a fee instead of dedicating parkland.
    § 17.35.040 · code text
    the maximum amount of such fee shall be determined by the fair market value of the amount of land that would otherwise be required to be dedicated
  • The value may be set by appraisal if the developer objects to the City's market value.
    Applies: When the developer objects to the City's value.
    § 17.35.040 · code text
    If the developer objects to this determination of fair market value, the developer may elect to have the value established by appraisal.
Parkland per 1,000 residents
  • The parkland standard is 3 acres for each 1,000 residents.
    § 17.35.030 · code text
    the parkland dedication standard is three acres per one thousand (1,000) residents
When the fee applies
  • Subdivisions of over 50 parcels may have to both dedicate land and pay a fee.
    § 17.35.050 · code text
    In subdivisions of over fifty (50) parcels of land, in condominium developments of more than fifty (50) dwelling units, and in residential developments not involving a subdivision, a combination of land dedication and fee payment may be required.
  • Condominium projects of more than 50 units may have to both dedicate land and pay a fee.
    Applies: Residential projects that are not subdivisions may also have to do both.
    § 17.35.050 · code text
    In subdivisions of over fifty (50) parcels of land, in condominium developments of more than fifty (50) dwelling units, and in residential developments not involving a subdivision, a combination of land dedication and fee payment may be required.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What park or impact fees apply to a new home in Santa Clara?

Santa Clara's code: The fee is at most the market value of land that would be dedicated; council sets and reviews it yearly. (Residential projects that pay a fee instead of dedicating parkland.) (§ 17.35.040); The parkland standard is 3 acres for each 1,000 residents. (§ 17.35.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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Ask GoCodebook how Santa Clara's park and impact fees for new homes rules apply to your situation and get an answer that cites the section.

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