Planning | City of Cupertino, CA

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ALERT!

NOTICE OF SERVICE CLOSURES

THE PERMIT CENTER WILL BE OPEN ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27th, 2024, ON THE REGULAR FRIDAY VIRTUAL SCHEDULE.

IN OBSERVANCE OF THANKSGIVING, THE PERMIT CENTER WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2024 AND FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, 2024. NORMAL COUNTER SERVICES WILL RESUME ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND, 2024.

PLEASE NOTE: 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 target average plan review time frames are 20-30 business days for the initial plan review and 15-25 business days for each subsequent review.

Telephone/Online Consultation: Telephonic consultation is highly encouraged. Call 408.777.3308. Please note that in most cases, your inquiry can be efficiently and swiftly handled remotely with no need to visit City Hall. Please allow a minimum of two business days for a response to phone calls or emails.

In-person Counter Hours (As of 7/3/2023):
M & W : 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Tu & Th: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Virtual Counter Hours (As of 7/3/2023): (make an appointment below)
F : 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Submitting Plans: Hard copies of plans are no longer accepted by the City.

For courtesy preliminary review: Please use Accela to upload plans and information electronically at www.cupertino.org/aca to initiate an application for a courtesy, no-cost preliminary review of your proposal.
For Planning applications: Please talk to a Planner for instructions on how to make an application and upload plans. Planners have to take certain actions before plans can be uploaded. Plans must be uploaded using ProjectDox (cupertino.org/projectdox).

Phone: 408.777.3308
Fax: 408.777.3333
Email: planning@cupertino.org

Please consider the following suggestions to get information and manage your project as efficiently as possible:

1. Email your question to planning@cupertino.org - our team is on rotation to answer these emails daily and we will either respond with an answer or direct your inquiry to the right person.

2. Search the website for resources such as forms, public records, the Municipal Code, and major project updates.

3. Sign up for e-notifications to get updates on topics, events and projects that interest you.

4. Make an appointment by emailing your project planner or planning@cupertino.org or by calling 408-777-3308

5. Communicate with your project planner. All applications are assigned to a single planner who will guide you through the entire process, from the preliminary concept phase to building occupancy.

About the Planning Division

Cupertino's team of 6 planners serves an active community with thousands of property owners, contractors, sign makers, brokers, architects, designers, public agencies and many others.

About the Planning Division

The Planning Division provides efficient and responsive professional planning services to the community and implements city development policies, programs, and regulations. The primary responsibilities of the Planning Division are to assist the community to plan and foresee future land uses and policies and to review current development proposals for conformance with the City’s adopted policies and ordinances. The Planning Division administers land use regulations while striving to enhance the livability of Cupertino by fostering a healthy, prosperous and sustainable community environment.

The services and duties of the Planning Division are guided by several government codes, regulations, statutes and other procedural documents, including but not limited to:

The Planning Division serves as staff to the City Council on land use issues and to the following regular commissions and committees:

The Assistant Director of Community Development serves as the Hearing Officer for Administrative Hearings. Planning Division staff review and present projects to the Hearing Officer for a decision on certain projects as outlined in the Cupertino Municipal Code. These decisions are posted online here.

Agendas and minutes of these commissions, committees and meetings, when available, are posted online.

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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