Urban Lot Splits
Santa Clara City Code § 18.24.070
in effectA. An application for a parcel map for an urban lot split within the R1-6L or R1-8L zones shall go through a streamlined review process pursuant to SCCC 17.05.430 if it meets all of the requirements of this section.
B. Subdivision Requirements. A parcel map for an urban lot split must meet all of the following requirements:
a. The parcel map subdivides an existing parcel to create no more than two new parcels of approximately equal lot area; provided, that one parcel shall not be smaller than forty percent (40%) of the lot area of the original parcel proposed for subdivision.
b. Both newly created parcels are no smaller than one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.
c. Both newly created parcels have a minimum twenty-four (24) feet of street frontage with a minimum average width of twenty-four (24) feet. For flag lots, the flagpole portion, whether this is part of the flag lot or an easement to the flag lot, shall have a minimum width of twelve (12) feet and a maximum width of fifteen (15) feet and the flag portion shall have a minimum depth of forty (40) feet.
d. Both parcels resulting from the urban lot split have access to, provide access to, or adjoin the public right-of-way through right-of-way frontage or recorded access easements (as a covenant of easement on the parcel map).
e. The approved parcel map shall include a notation that the parcels were created using the urban lot split provisions of this chapter and the resulting parcels cannot be further subdivided under this section.
f. The urban lot split conforms to all applicable objective requirements of the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)), except as otherwise expressly provided in this section.
g. The parcel being subdivided was not established through prior exercise of an urban lot split as provided for in this chapter.
h. Neither the owner of the parcel being subdivided nor any person acting in concert with the owner has previously subdivided an adjacent parcel using an urban lot split as provided for in this chapter.
2. Development Standards. Development standards for each new parcel resulting from an urban lot split shall conform to the requirements of this Chapter. Development standards shall be applied to each new parcel individually. New flag lots shall provide a fifteen (15)-foot minimum front setback (measured from the property line shared between the front lot and the flag lot).
3. Nonconforming Zoning Conditions. Correction of legal nonconforming zoning conditions shall not be required as a condition for ministerial approval of a parcel map application for the creation of an urban lot split.
4. Residency Requirement. An applicant for an urban lot split shall sign an affidavit stating that the applicant intends to occupy one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split. This requirement shall not apply to an applicant that is a “community land trust” as defined in Revenue and Taxation Code Section 402.1(a)(11)(C), or is a “qualified nonprofit corporation” as described in Revenue and Taxation Code Section 214.15.
5. Residential Use. Except as authorized by Section 18.60.120 (Home Occupations), any parcel created through this chapter may only be used for residential purposes and any unit created through this chapter shall not be used as a short-term rental (rented for a period of thirty (30) days or less).
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