Specific to Waste and Utility Placement
Santa Clara City Code ch. 18.26, Downtown Form-Based Code § 13.2
in effectA. Utility Access and Equipment
1. Utility access and equipment such as back-flow preventers, transformer boxes, telecommunications pedestals, gas and electric meters, and other utilities shall be placed either: within or adjacent to alleys and be accessed from the alley; in underground vaults; or in utility rooms/closets within buildings—subject to the requirements and approval of the associated utility company. If such locations are infeasible, these services shall be in inconspicuous locations along the sides or rears of project sites and shall be thoroughly screened from public view. Such utility equipment shall not be located above grade in the street, sidewalk, sidewalk planters/planting strip, or within the front building setback area.
B. Mechanical Access & Equipment
1. All mechanical and electrical equipment – including, but not limited to, air-conditioning units, antennas, garage door motors – whether roof-mounted, ground-mounted or otherwise, shall be screened from public view or located so as not to be visible from streets or open spaces. Such equipment and related screening should be designed with materials and colors that conform to and are an integral part of the design of the building.
a. Mechanical equipment that generates noise, smoke or odors, shall not be located on or within 10 feet of a public right of way or any on-site common open spaces.
b. Noise and odor-generating equipment and containers should be located in areas that will not create a nuisance to adjacent properties. Such bins should be covered when possible. Openings to a trash enclosure should be shielded from public rights of way.
C. Telecommunication Devices
1. Telecommunication devices (such as satellite dishes or other equipment) should be screened from public view or located so as not to be visible from streets. Applicants are encouraged to work with satellite providers to locate satellite dishes out of view on building roofs and/or on rear yard or side yard facing facades, especially along alleys, if adequate signal strength and quality can be achieved. In multi-family and multi-tenant buildings, conduits should be provided from such a location to each unit or designed into the building structure.
D. Wet Utilities
1. Wet utilities should typically be located in the street, but may be located in the alley to address topographical, efficiency or other engineering reasons. If “wet” and “dry” utilities are co-located in the alley, proper trench separation and utility access must be ensured. On lots with no alley, all “wet” utilities should be located in the street or public right-of-way. Utility meters and entrances should also be provided below-grade in the street or sidewalk and should be flush with the surrounding grade.
E. Service Entrances & Waste/Recycling Disposal Areas
1. Service entrances, waste/recycling disposal areas, and other similar service areas should be located adjacent to the alley and take their access from it. On lots with no alley, these areas should be located as far away as possible from— and screened from views from—the public right of way.
2. Waste/recycling disposal shall not be staged on the street. Waste and recycling shall be retrieved via push/pull or interior to the building.
FIGURE 13-1 | APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT Example of an appropriately placed double standpipe connection in the base of a building at the sidewalk.
Example of mechanical equipment well-screened by an architectural element incorporated into the building's composition.
Wherever possible, mechanical/utilities equipment should be placed in alleys. In this example, they are further shielded by architectural elements and a hedge.
FIGURE 13-2 | INAPPROPRIATE PLACEMENT Example of
| AVOID | |
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inappropriately placed ground-level utilities in a parkway.
Example of
| AVOID | |
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inappropriately placed utility boxes in a parkway.
Example of
| AVOID | |
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inappropriately placed check valves and other utility devices in the front yard of a commercial building.
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