Community Development | City of Cupertino, CA

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ALERT!

NOTICE OF SERVICE CLOSURES

Holiday Schedule for Permit Center and City Hall Services

Permit Center:
The Permit Center will offer virtual services to members of the public on Monday, December 23rd, 2024. The City Hall lobby will remain open for walk-ins. However, in-person services will only be available by appointment on that day.

City Hall Services:
In observance of the Winter Holiday, all City Hall services will be closed from Tuesday, December 24th, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. Normal operating schedule for counter services at the Permit Center will resume on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.

Due to a high volume of permit applications and staff resources, the time frame for plan review is currently longer than normal. We appreciate your patience as we seek additional support. The current average plan review time frames are 20-30 business days for the initial plan review and 10-20 business days for each subsequent review.

Envisioning & Building Community Together

The Community Development department oversees Planning, Building, Housing, and Code Enforcement services.

Community Development Video

Find, subscribe, and keep track of permits and applications in the City of Cupertino with Agency Counter

Planning
408.777.3308
planning@cupertino.org

Building
408.777.3228
building@cupertino.org

Housing
408.777.3309
housing@cupertino.org

Code Enforcement
408.777.3182
code @cupertino.org

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FAQs

How do I get answers to my questions?
Cupertino’s Planning Division supports thousands within an active community of residents, property owners, contractors, sign makers, brokers, architects, designers, public agencies and many more. To help you get what you need as seamlessly as possible, please consider these options:
1. Email your question to planning@cupertino.org (save a trip, save time). This mailbox is monitored daily by our team and allows you to be directed to the right person and/or department.
2. Call 408.777.3308/3309. If you get voicemail during regular business hours, it’s only because the planner-on-duty at that time is assisting other community members. Be sure to leave your name, a call back number and, your question in brief, clearly, in the event you get to voicemail. Emailing: planning@cupertino.org, as an alternative is encouraged.
3. Check www.cupertino.org for resources such as, public records, meeting agendas, Muni Code and major project updates.
4. Sign up for e-notification and select the topics that interest you most: http://www.cupertino.org/visitors/enotification-signup.
5. Make an appointment. (Avoid walk-ins and a second trip!) This allows your planner to prepare information for you. You are also assured your planner is available rather than in a meeting, out in the field or assisting another person within the Cupertino community.
6. Contact your project planner and stay in touch about expected milestones. All applications are assigned to a single project manager who will help you from preliminary concept phase through to signing off on occupancy (finalizing your building permit). Work with the same person throughout the process for an efficient response. In the event of any staffing changes, you will be assigned a new project manager to guide you through the process.
7. Check cupertino.buildingeye.com for information on building and planning projects currently under review, under construction, or completed; or, if you simply want to know if your neighbor down the street has a permit for “that.”
8. Use Cupertino 311. Have concerns about unpermitted work, spotted a pothole, a listing street tree, a branch blocking the sidewalk, a trip hazard on a sidewalk or simply anything? Use the Cupertino 311 app (iOS or Android) or visit www.cupertino.org/cupertino311 to let the City know from wherever you are, except if you’re driving! (But please, do let us know when you get there.)

What is Usable Rear Yard and how is it calculated in R1 zoning districts?

What is the difference between Floor Area and Lot Coverage?

Floor area differs from Lot Coverage in that it only calculates floor area to the exterior of the wall, not overhangs, but also that it counts second story square footage.

Therefore, the lot coverage of a two story home may be almost half the square footage of it's Floor area and the lot coverage of a single story home may be quite close to it's Floor area.

More FAQs

Width of the lot at front yard setback line (20 feet)	75 feet
Minimum Usable Rear Yard Area (75 feet x 20 feet)	1,500 sq. ft.
Existing Usable Rear Yard Area (75 feet x 25 feet)	1,875 sq. ft.
Maximum Building Addition allowed (1,875 - 1,500 sq. ft.)	375 sq. ft.
Minimum setback allowed with Minor Residential Permit	10 feet