For any residential development or construction, the first step is to determine the zoning district for your property 

Your zoning district and the corresponding Zoning Ordinance in the Cupertino Municipal Code determines what can be built on your property and which uses are allowed on your property. Zoning dictates the number of residential units that are allowed, as well as their size, height, setbacks and other features.

Please note that there may be overlay zoning applicable to your property. Please visit www.cupertino.org/gis and use the Gridics tool to determine these. Documents related to the overlay plans are linked through Gridics.

• Single Family (R1) Residential Development
  The Single Family zoning ordinance regulates detached single family dwellings. If your property is zoned R1, please visit this page: Single Family (R1) Residential Development

• Residential Hillside (RHS) Development
  The Residential Hillside zoning ordinance regulates detached single family dwellings on uneven or hilly terrain. If your property is zoned RHS, please visit this page: Residential Hillside (RHS) Development.

• Duplex (R-2) Development
  The Residential Duplex zoning ordinance regulates two dwelling units under the same ownership on one lot. If your property is zoned R-2, please visit this page: Duplex (R-2) Development.

• Multiple Family (R-3) Residential Development
  The Multiple-Family Residential zoning ordinance regulates three or more dwelling units on the same parcel, e.g. triplexes, fourplexes and apartments. If your property is zoned R-3, please visit this page: Multiple Family (R-3) Residential Development.

• Residential Single-Family Cluster (R1C) Zones
  The Residential Single-Family Cluster zoning ordinance regulates developments that use a more creative approach to land development. Please refer to the Single Family Cluster Zones Ordinance. All improvements in this zoning district, will need Homeowner's Association approval in addition to permits from the City.

• Planned Development (P) Zones
  The Planned Development (P) Zoning District allows flexibility to property owners and developers to propose any form of residential or mixed-use development. If a "P" precedes any combination of letters in the zoning designation of your property, please refer to the Planned Development (P) Zone Ordinance. All improvements in this zoning district, will need Homeowners Association approval in addition to permits from the City.

The Zoning Ordinance also regulates:

• Fences
• Accessory Structures, such as sheds, patios, gazebos, arbors, air conditioning units, etc.
• Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as second dwelling units, "granny units" or "in-law units"
• Parking
• Landscaping
• Tree Protection and Removal
• Signage

Projects are subject to planning permit fees per the City's adopted Fee Schedule for that fiscal year. In addition, projects are subject to mitigation fees such as residential mitigation impact fees (BMR) fee, parkland dedication of land and/or in-lieu of dedication fees, storm drain fees, transportation impact fees (TIF). Fee schedules are available online at: https://www.cupertino.org/finance.

 Projects are also subject to fees imposed by the following Special Districts. Links to their fees are below:

• Sanitary Sewer District:  https://www.cupertinosanitarydistrict.org/sewer-permits
• Cupertino Union School District: https://www.cusdk8.org/departments/business-services/developer-fees
• Fremont Union High School District: https://www.fuhsd.org/departments/business-services