"H" Definitions

Santa Clara City Code § 18.160.080

in effect

Hazardous Materials. Materials that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment. Hazardous Materials Storage. The storage ofmaterials that, because of its quantity, concentration, or physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment. Height (structure). For structures, Height is a vertical distance from the “grade” to the highest point of the coping that defines the volume of the building of a flat roof, or to the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the highest gable of a pitched or hipped roof. Historic Fabric. Architectural form and character-defining features, such as siding, brick, stone, roofing or other materials visible on the structure, that are characteristic of the period of significance and therefore assist in portraying the style and historic significance of the HRI property from its most important time period. Historic Resource Inventory. Means the City of Santa Clara Historic Resource Inventory, which is incorporated into the 2010-2035 General Plan as Appendix 8.9 (“Historic Resource Inventory” or “HRI”), as may be amended from time to time. HRI Property. A building, structure, object, or site currently included in the Historic Resource Inventory (HRI), which was designated as architecturally or historically significant by the City of Santa Clara pursuant to this chapter, or which the City added to the HRI prior to the effective date of this chapter. Historic Resources Survey. The process of systematically identifying, researching, photographing and documenting HRI properties within a defined geographic area and placed on a State of California DPR 523 series form. All surveys shall be conducted in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation: Standards and Guidelines for Identification and Evaluation, as may be amended. Historic and Landmarks Commission. Or “HLC” means the Historical and Landmarks Commission (HLC) established pursuant to SCCC 2.120.100. Home Occupation. An accessory commercial activity or business service conducted on the site of a residential dwelling unit, in a manner clearly incidental and secondary to the residential character of the dwelling and surrounding residential neighborhood, and in compliance with the provisions of Section 18.60.120 (Home Occupations). Home occupations do not include business-type activities conducted solely by residents of a unit that are limited to the use of a desk, telephone, and/or personal computer, including telecommuting, which are allowed in all residential zones. Host. A person who occupies as his or her primary residence the same residential dwelling unit as a short-term rental. Hosted. Means that a host has a physical presence at his or her primary residence in the same unit as a short-term rental during the entire period that the short-term rental is rented. Hotel/Motel. Facility with guest rooms or suites, provided with or without kitchen facilities. Hotels generally provide access to most guest rooms from an interior walkway, and typically include a variety of services in addition to lodging; for example, meeting facilities, personal services, restaurants/food service, etc. Motels generally provide access to most guest rooms from an exterior walkway. Also includes accessory guest facilities (e.g., accessory retail uses, indoor athletic facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc.)

Source: City of Santa Clara Zoning Code (santaclaraca.gov PDF)URL: https://www.santaclaraca.gov/our-city/departments-a-f/community-development/planning-division/zoningFetched: 10/24/2026