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Cupertino, in short
Does my contractor need a City of Cupertino business license?
The City’s Building FAQ asks you to make sure your contractor has a City of Cupertino business license in addition to a State Contractor’s license, and says a final inspection cannot be scheduled until the contractor and all the subcontractors on your project have one. You do not have to hire a contractor at all: “Many homeowners do their own minor residential upgrades.”
The story of Cupertino
Cupertino, a city since 1955, which takes its name from a creek named in 1776, the City says.
The City’s history page says Pedro Font named the stream now called Stevens Creek Arroyo San Jose de Cupertino in 1776, and that a crossroads settlement called West Side grew up where Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Stevens Creek Road met. Vineyards gave way to orchards, then to VALLCO, De Anza College and Apple, and Cupertino became a city in 1955.
The City’s history page says the Tamyen (or Thamien), a division of the Ohlone, lived throughout the valley.
In 1776, the page says, Captain Juan Bautista de Anza led an expedition up the coast of California from Sonora, Mexico, and Pedro Font bestowed the name Arroyo San Jose de Cupertino on the stream that now is called Stevens Creek.
Many of Cupertino’s pioneer settlers planted grapes in the late 1800s, the City says, and John T. Doyle, a San Francisco lawyer and historian, founded the Cupertino Wine Co. in the 1880s, using the name given the creek by Pedro Font.
Around 1895, the page says, phylloxera, a root louse, struck the thriving wine industry and virtually destroyed 75% of the vineyards in five years; many growers switched to French prunes, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, walnuts and almonds.
De Anza College occupies a 112-acre site that was the location of the Beaulieu winery built at the turn of the 20th century by Charles and Ella Baldwin, the page says, and their mansion has become the California History Center.
Over time, the page says, a settlement called West Side sprang up at the Crossroads of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, now De Anza Boulevard, and Stevens Creek Road, now a boulevard; in 1904 the Cupertino name was applied to the Crossroads, the post office and the Home Union Store, which incorporated as The Cupertino Store.
The page says the Santa Clara Valley became known for the spring profusion of blossoms, and that many people passed through the Cupertino area first by electric railway and later by car to view them in the “Valley of Heart’s Delight”. Monta Vista was the name of the first housing tract in Cupertino, it adds.
In the late 1940s, the page says, Cupertino was swept up in Santa Clara Valley’s postwar population explosion.
In 1954, the page says, community leaders began a drive for incorporation, with the Cupertino-Monta Vista Improvement Association and the Fact-finding Committee playing important roles; voters approved it in 1955, and the City says Cupertino became Santa Clara County’s 13th city that year.
In the early 1960s, the page says, some of the city’s largest landowners created the VALLCO Business and Industrial Park; the name came from the principal developers, Varian Associates and four landowning families, and the business park later evolved into a retail shopping center.
The City lists four established Sister City relationships: Copertino, Italy, formalized in 1963; Toyokawa, Japan, in 1978; Hsinchu, Taiwan, in 2007; and Bhubaneswar, India, in 2012.
The Cupertino Historical Society was established in 1966, and its museum opened in 1990 as a feature of the then just opened Quinlan Community Center.
Even with VALLCO, the page says, Cupertino remained largely a town of ranches and estate vineyards until the mid-1960s, when De Anza College opened in 1967 and, soon after, computers came on the scene.
Apple Computer, now Apple Inc., arrived in Cupertino in 1977, the page says, and its Apple Park campus on Pruneridge Avenue stands not far from where co-founder Steve Jobs attended Homestead High School.
The Crossroads District now occupies the place where the city’s first post office, blacksmith shop and general store once stood, the City says.
Fire safety
Your fire department
The City says the Santa Clara County Fire Department, serving Cupertino, “provides full-service fire protection, emergency medical care, and safety services dedicated to our local community”. Its fire marshals handle inspections and code enforcement, the City’s page adds.
City page read Nov 1 2026
Where Cupertino stands on the State’s 2025 fire hazard map
Read from the State’s 2025 map for local areas, the Very High class covers about 14 percent of Cupertino’s area, the High class about 7 percent and the Moderate class about 6 percent; non-wildland land makes up most of the rest. To see the class at one address, the State’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer for Local Responsibility Areas has a search box labelled “Find address or place”, and its legend names the three classes: Very High, High and Moderate. The City’s Chapter 16.74 adopts its map by parcel. Santa Clara County Fire’s number on its wildfire page is (408) 378-4010.
State map data read Nov 1 2026 through this run’s shared tables, our own estimate from a sample of 80,327 points inside the city outline
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The City’s fire hazard map ordinance
Chapter 16.74 of the Municipal Code, cited as Ord. 25-2272, Exhibit A, 2025, says: “The purpose of this Chapter is to comply with state law to adopt the Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations issued by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in February 2025.” Section 16.74.030 says “The Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area Map indicating the Fire Hazard Severity Zones by parcel is adopted as shown below”. The City’s building page says: “The City Council adopted the minimum State Fire Marshal recommendations in June 2025.”
Code read in Chrome Nov 1 2026; the code text prints no adoption or effective date; the City’s page is undated
What the code means by the interface area
Section 16.74.020 defines the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area as “a geographical area identified by the state as a Fire Hazard Severity Zone in accordance with the Public Resources Code Sections 4201 through 4204 and Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, or other areas designated by the enforcing agency to be at a significant risk from wildfires”.
Code read in Chrome Nov 1 2026
Weeds on your lot: the City and the County
Grass must be trimmed. The City’s Weed Abatement Program is run in partnership with the Santa Clara County Department of Agriculture, and its page says Chapter 9.08 of the Municipal Code requires property owners to remove or destroy hazardous weeds on their property for fire protection. Every property in the program gets an initial inspection by the County after April 30, and the program is “entirely cost recovery”, the page says. If an owner does not remove the weeds by the deadline, the County is authorized to do so and to recover the cost of abatement from the owner.
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026; it prints no year
Brush in the hazard area
A separate Brush Abatement Program is managed by the Santa Clara County Fire Department. Section 16.40.200 of the Municipal Code requires property owners in the locally adopted Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area to “maintain effective defensible space by removing brush, flammable vegetation and combustible growth as required by the fire code official due to steepness of terrain or other conditions”. The County is authorized to remove the brush if the owner does not and to recover the cost, the page adds.
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026
Roofs and gutters, from the City’s weed and brush page
The brush program’s list says: “Remove pine needles, leaves, and other dead vegetation from roofs, eaves and rain gutters.” The weed program’s minimum standards say: “Clear leaves, pine needles, and debris from roof and gutters.” and “Keep vegetation cleared from under the eaves of houses.”
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026
The State’s separate Zone 0 rule: where it stands
The State’s rule for the first five feet around a home, also called Zone 0: adopted by the Board; in final review with the Office of Administrative Law; no effective date known.
Standing check of Oct 22 2026, read from the file Nov 1 2026
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Cupertino this month
Storm season: the City says sandbags are available in front of its Service Yard on Mary Avenue, that residents are encouraged to pick them up before storms arrive because supplies may be limited, and to take only the number needed to protect their property.
The Cupertino blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.
Culture and history
The Cupertino Historical Museum
The museum’s own site says: “Free Admission – Free Parking. We open Wednesday-Friday 10 am to 4 pm, pending docent availability.” The City’s page says: “Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., depending on volunteer availability. Call first to make sure the museum is open.”
Museum site and City History page read Nov 1 2026; the two pages’ hours differ, as printed
Blacksmith demonstrations
The City says the Baer Blacksmith Shop at McClellan Ranch Preserve hosts blacksmith demonstrations on the last Saturday of every month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. These are free events and no registration is required, the City says; the museum’s page gives the same hours.
Both pages read Nov 1 2026; the City’s page is undated
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McClellan Ranch Preserve
The City describes it as an “18-acre natural preserve, a former horse ranch from the 1930s and 40s”, where the original ranch house from Parish Ranch now serves as the headquarters of the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance. Its page names a 2 mile out-and-back trail on a paved ADA-accessible path between the preserve and Stevens Creek Boulevard, and says the education center is open every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026; the Saturday hours are as printed
Cherry Blossom Festival
The City’s news item calls the Cherry Blossom Festival “annual” and says it honors Cupertino’s Sister City of Toyokawa, Japan, and was held on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, 2026, at Memorial Park. The event included Japanese food and beverages, entertainment, demonstrations, cultural exhibits and arts and crafts.
City news item of April 27, 2026
A walk through Monta Vista
The museum’s walking guide is “A self-guided walk through Monta Vista, Cupertino’s second settlement. Start at the post office on Stevens Creek Boulevard and tap a pin to read each stop’s story.”
Page read Nov 1 2026
The Sister Cities signs
A set of directional signs in the Civic Center courtyard point toward Cupertino’s Sister Cities, the City says. More in The story of Cupertino, below.
From vineyards to orchards to computers
The City’s history page tells how grapes gave way to orchards, and then to De Anza College and computers. More in The story of Cupertino, below.
Community
Cupertino Historical Society
The Society is a private, nonprofit educational organization, and the museum is owned and operated by it. The City says it “keeps the City’s past and present heritage alive with information and artifacts that span settlement, agriculture, education, home life and business”.
Pages read Nov 1 2026
Santa Clara County FireSafe Council
The Council is a nonprofit that works with the County Fire Department. Its City Programs page lists additional programs only for Los Altos Hills and Saratoga residents, and says “If your city isn’t listed above, then there aren’t any additional programs being offered by your city.”
Page read Nov 1 2026; undated, footer 2025
See 1 more
Firewise USA
The City’s wildfire item names the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise USA, a program that “teaches communities how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take action to prevent losses”.
City item published January 14, 2025
City rules and regulations
Instant permits for a re-roof
The City’s instant permit page lists the re-roof for “Non-historic properties, no HOA, like-for-like, no Eichler, residential only”. An instant permit is “limited to Licensed Contractors with an active Accela Citizen Access (ACA) account”, the page says, and the City’s permit page gives its review time as “same day”. A type of work that is not on the instant list needs a Standard Building Permit.
Pages undated, read Nov 1 2026
Re-roof inspections
The City’s re-roof policy, which the contractor signs, says a Roof Tear-Off inspection is required and all dry-rotted wood is replaced before it, a Roof Plywood Nail inspection is required if new solid sheathing is installed, and a Roof Batten inspection is required for tile or metal shingles when the manufacturer’s instructions require it. No underlayment or roofing may go on before the required inspections are approved. The final inspection checks, among other items, “gutters/downspouts installed”, and that “All construction debris is to be removed.” Safe ladder access to the roof is to be provided for every re-roof inspection, per CAL OSHA requirements.
Policy revised 02/2024, as it prints; read Nov 1 2026
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The permit counter
The Building Division takes plans electronically, and its page says “Over-the-counter plan reviews are available between 10am-12pm Monday through Thursday.”
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026; hours as printed
Homes with an association
For its single-family cluster (R1C) and planned-development (P) districts, the City’s Residential Planning page says: “All improvements in this zoning district will need Homeowners’ Association approval in addition to permits from the City.”
Page read Nov 1 2026
Protected trees on private property
The species the Tree Protection page lists as specimen trees are the California buckeye, big leaf maple, blue Atlas cedar, deodar cedar, western sycamore, California bay laurel and the native oaks: coast live, blue, California black, valley and interior live. Required trees, which are planted or retained under a development application, building permit, tree removal permit or code enforcement action, and privacy protection trees are protected too.
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026
Pruning that counts as removal
The Code Enforcement page cites Chapter 14.18 of the Municipal Code and says “A permit is not required to prune a specimen or heritage tree, but remember pruning more than 25% annually of a protected tree constitutes removal according to the municipal code.”
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026
Trees in the public right-of-way
The City’s pages say “Do not plant, prune, or remove trees in the public right-of-way.” and “Note it is illegal to remove or trim any Public Tree.” The City does not evaluate privately maintained trees, and does not respond to a fallen private tree unless it is blocking an arterial street. It repairs and replaces concrete sidewalks that have been damaged by trees.
Pages undated, read Nov 1 2026
Need a hand with this? Roofing
Storms, flood and drainage
Free sandbags
The City says sandbags are available in front of its Service Yard on Mary Avenue, and another City page says to visit the self-serve sandbag station just outside the City Maintenance Yard parking lot to obtain “free pre-filled sandbags”. It asks residents to take only the number needed to protect their property, so supplies remain available for others, and says “Do not place sandbags in streets, gutters, or other locations that could obstruct drainage.” Valley Water says it offers “free, filled sandbags for residents of Santa Clara County”.
City pages undated, read Nov 1 2026; check before you go
Your roof gutters and downspouts, from the City’s storm page
The City’s storm preparedness page says: “Inspect your property for areas where water collects and identify potential drainage problems. Clear leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts.”
Page undated, read Nov 1 2026
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The street gutter is not your roof gutter
In the City’s sweeping lines the gutter is the street’s. Residential areas are swept twice a month, and during the heavy leaf-drop season the City doubles street sweeping frequency to help remove leaves, dirt, and debris from streets and gutters.
Pages undated, read Nov 1 2026
Before the rains
In the fall, before the rains start, the City says its maintenance crews vacuum out city storm drain inlets. Before a storm season it lists clearing storm drains, catch basins and trash capture devices, increasing street sweeping, maintaining mobile pump systems and reviewing plans to address known flooding issues.
Pages undated, read Nov 1 2026
The creeks
The General Plan says the four major creeks “collect surface runoff and channel it to the Bay”, and that “they also pose potential flooding risks if water levels exceed the top of bank as a result of heavy runoff”. The City and the Water District also developed a flood management program for the flood plain of Stevens Creek between Interstate 280 and Stevens Creek Boulevard.
Chapter undated, read Nov 1 2026
Check the flood map for your address
The City says the federal high-risk flood area in Cupertino is the one FEMA labels A or AE, and points owners to its own Service Finder and to FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to check an address. The City is in the National Flood Insurance Program and in FEMA’s Community Rating System, at Class 6, and FEMA’s community status book lists its current effective flood map as dated 05/18/09. To see which flood area and which map panel cover one address, use those two lookups; we did not read the panel number.
City page undated, read Nov 1 2026; FEMA’s community status book refreshed 2026-08-25
Flood insurance
The City says flooding can occur in areas outside mapped high-risk flood areas, and that “Standard homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover losses due to floods.”
Pages undated, read Nov 1 2026
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Programs, loans and insurance
Check with the City City storm-fee cost-share: check with the City
The City’s cost-share on its Clean Water and Storm Protection Fee, which pays for storm-drain maintenance and creek protection, is meant “to help reduce the financial impact the fee may have on low income property owners”, and income limits apply. Once approved, an owner reapplies every four years. The pages show no open or closed word and no closing date, and name no roof, gutter or downspout work, so check with the City before you plan on it.
Pages read Nov 1 2026; no closing date or open word on either
City help for roofs and gutters
The City has no roof or gutter program of its own, as far as its pages show. Its Homeowner Support page points to Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, whose “free Safe At Home and Critical Repairs programs are available for qualified homeowners in need across Santa Clara County”.
Pages read Nov 1 2026
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County-wide Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley: no-cost home repairs
Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley’s application page lists Cupertino among the places it serves in Santa Clara County, and says “Projects are funded on a limited basis and service is not guaranteed.” Applicants must own a home in the service area that is their primary residence and have a household income below 80% AMI; applications are reviewed first come, first served, and “Applications are accepted year-round, however that does not guarantee acceptance.” The pages we read name no roof or gutter work.
Page read Nov 1 2026
County-wide Valley Water rain barrels, cisterns and rain gardens
Valley Water’s page says: “If you have an existing gutter or downspout system not currently capturing rainwater, Valley Water will help you install rain barrels, cisterns, and rain gardens.” Its funding lasts until June 30, 2027, or until depleted, and all customers must receive written approval in the form of a Notice to Proceed before starting any work or purchasing qualifying equipment. The City says it uses a portion of its Clean Water and Storm Protection fee moneys to match these rebates, and tells Cupertino residents to work directly with Valley Water. The City’s Water Conservation page prints Valley Water’s table, with a total lifetime combined rebate of $3,000 per site for a single family or small multi-family property. Valley Water’s own application portal lists its base rates: a rain barrel of 40 to 199 gallons, up to $35 per barrel; a cistern of 200 gallons or more, $0.50 per gallon; a rain garden, $1.00 per square foot, up to $300. It lists higher cost-sharing rates only for Gilroy, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, Santa Clara and San Jose Municipal Water, and says all other sites get the base rebates.
Valley Water’s page read Oct 25 2026 (saved copy); City pages read Nov 1 2026
County-wide Valley Water Creekside Neighbor Rebate Program
Valley Water says it created the program “to assist creekside property owners”, and that applications “are accepted and evaluated on an ongoing basis in the order they are received”. It names four types of work: downed tree and blockage removal, sediment removal, outfall repair and erosion repair or bank stabilization.
Page read Nov 1 2026
County-wide Free defensible space inspection
The Santa Clara County Fire Department’s page invites you to “Sign-up for a complimentary defensible space inspection through our Fire Prevention Division.” It says its preparedness inspections “are designed to assist property owners in determining what can be done to their property to minimize fire hazards and maximize fire resistance”, and speaks to “a hillside community”; the page does not say whether homes on the valley floor may also ask. The City’s weed and brush page sends you to the Fire Prevention Division to schedule a courtesy property inspection.
Pages read Nov 1 2026; the sign-up line is from a saved copy of Oct 18 2026
County-wide Check back Home Ignition Zone assessment: check back
The City’s wildfire item says the FireSafe Council offers Home Ignition Zone assessments for individual homeowners: a trained representative walks your property with you for 60 minutes. The Council’s page says “We will review defensible space and home hardening principles and make recommendations for your property. You will receive a written copy of our recommendations.” It also says “HIZ program is open from April to September or until funds run out.”
City item published January 14, 2025; Council page undated, footer 2025
County-wide Silicon Valley Clean Energy rebates
Silicon Valley Clean Energy, Cupertino’s electricity supplier, says “Upgrade your home with electric appliances for comfort, efficiency, and health-claim up to $8,750 in rebates.” The page lists extra city-funded rebates for other cities but not for Cupertino, and says “The limited-time $500 incentive for a heat pump water heater has now expired.” None of its rebates is for a roof or gutter.
Home page (saved copy of Oct 25 2026) and rebates page read Nov 1 2026
County-wide BayREN EASE Home
The City names the program for Cupertino residents, and BayREN’s page says “BayREN covers 80% of the cost for essential weatherization upgrades, including insulation and duct sealing.” To qualify you live in a single-family home (four or fewer units) built before 2010, have a household income under or at 120% AMI and are a PG&E customer.
Page read Nov 1 2026
County-wide PG&E Energy Savings Assistance
PG&E’s page says “Improve the energy efficiency of your home at no cost to you.” Participants live in a house, mobile home or apartment at least five years old, and income guidelines apply. The page names no county or town; the City says Cupertino residents typically receive a monthly bill from PG&E.
Page copy of Oct 17 2026; income guidelines valid through May 31, 2027 as printed
County-wide Sacred Heart Community Service energy help
Sacred Heart offers income-eligible Santa Clara County households two energy assistance programs, and says that to qualify for help with your utility bills or free weatherization services, “you must be a resident of Santa Clara County”.
Page read Nov 1 2026
Cal Water bill discount, for the northeastern portion
California Water Service serves the northeastern portion of the city, and its page says “Cal Water offers a Customer Assistance Program (CAP – formerly LIRA) to customers who meet income guidelines”. It is a discount on the monthly service charge, and the page names no roof, gutter or drainage item.
Page read Nov 1 2026
Check back Earthquake Brace + Bolt: check back
The California Residential Mitigation Program, a joint body, runs Earthquake Brace + Bolt, and its 2025 Northern California ZIP list names Cupertino. When we read the program’s page on October 20, it said: “The EBB Program is currently closed.”
ZIP list printed 2025; registration page read Oct 20 2026
State-wide Check back California Safe Homes: check back
California Safe Homes is a State grant program created by a 2025 law, AB 888, and run by the Department of Insurance. No dated State page we read says it is open, and none gives an application window or a dollar amount.
Standing check last run Oct 8 2026; California sheet read Oct 20 2026
Who serves your home in Cupertino
- Fire: The Santa Clara County Fire Department. The City’s page lists three fire stations in Cupertino: the Cupertino, Monta Vista and Seven Springs stations.
- Water: Three systems serve Cupertino, the City’s Water page says: California Water Service in the northeastern portion, San Jose Water Company in the southeastern portion, and the City’s own system in the western portion. San Jose Water Company operates the City’s system under a lease executed in 1997 and amended in 2019, which on October 1, 2024 was extended 12 additional years to 2036. The page links a Water Service Provider Map.
- Sewer: The Cupertino Sanitary District, which says it “provides sewer service to over 23,000 customers within the communities of Cupertino, portions of Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Los Altos and unincorporated areas within Santa Clara County”. The City’s utilities page also names Sunnyvale Sanitary for the part of the city it serves. The District’s FAQ says the maintenance and repair of the private house sewer lateral, the cleanout and the point of connection to the street lateral are the responsibility of the property owner.
- Garbage, recycling and compost: Recology South Bay, which the City lists for garbage, recycling and compost collection.
- Electricity: Silicon Valley Clean Energy supplies it, its page says, and “PG&E delivers it on their existing power lines.”
- Gas: PG&E is the gas provider the City names.
- Schools: “Most K-12 students in Cupertino are served by the Cupertino Union School District and the Fremont Union High School District.” Children in a section of northeast Cupertino are served by the Santa Clara Unified School District, the City says.
- Storm drains and creeks: The City’s storm drainage system is “composed of street gutters, storm drain inlets, and pipes that connect the inlets to local creeks”; those gutters are the street’s, not your roof’s. Valley Water has done bank repairs on Calabazas Creek in Cupertino between Miller Avenue and Bollinger Road, finished in the fall of 2023, its project page says.
Useful links: Cupertino Union School District · Fremont Union High School District · Santa Clara County Fire Department · City of Cupertino: Building Permits · City of Cupertino: Fee Schedules · City of Cupertino: Storm and Flood Preparedness · City of Cupertino: Street Trees · City of Cupertino: Weed and Brush Abatement · Cupertino Sanitary District · Valley Water · Silicon Valley Clean Energy · Santa Clara County FireSafe Council · Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley · Cupertino Historical Society and Museum
The homes of Cupertino
Cupertino’s median home was built in 1973, and about 64 percent of its homes were built before 1980, our own calculations from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 tables. About 58 percent are single-family houses that stand apart, and about 61 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
1959 and earlier
The older homes
About 17 percent of the homes were built in 1959 or earlier, and about 1 percent before 1940, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
1960 to 1979
The boom years
About 47 percent of the homes were built from 1960 to 1979, about 27 percent in the 1960s and about 20 percent in the 1970s, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
1980 to 1999
The middle years
About 22 percent of the homes were built from 1980 to 1999, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
2000 and later
The newest homes
About 14 percent of the homes were built in 2000 or later, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
1960s to 1980s
A suburban model
The General Plan says Cupertino grew from a lightly settled agricultural community of 2,500 people into a mostly suburban community during Silicon Valley’s expansion from the 1960s through the 1980s, with predominantly single-family residential subdivisions.
Foothills to boulevards
Homes differ by part of the city
The General Plan describes the western area by the foothills as semi-rural, with steep terrain, larger residential lots and access to open space; west of Highway 85, residential neighborhoods have a more uniform pattern with smaller lots; and the area east of it has significant multi-family development in and around the major boulevards.
Early 1960s
Eichler homes
The City says Eichler is the predominant architectural style in one small area of the city, and developed an Eichler Design Handbook with that neighborhood’s residents to keep the style; its 2001 account says the Fairgrove neighborhood has 220 Eichler homes built in the early 1960s.
In the hillsides
Hillside homes
A separate Residential Hillside Ordinance regulates single family residential development in the hillsides in a manner that preserves their natural setting, the City says.
Historic listings
The City’s inventory
The City keeps an inventory in four categories, Historic Sites, Commemorative Sites, Community Landmarks and Historic Mention Sites, and says “only a few historic buildings and resources are preserved today”.
Across the city
A mix of home types
About 14 percent of the homes are single-family attached, about 7 percent are in buildings of two to four units and about 22 percent are in buildings of five or more units, by our calculation from the Census Bureau’s table.
Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation
The story of Cupertino
History and character
The City’s history page says the Tamyen (or Thamien), a division of the Ohlone, lived throughout the valley.
In 1776, the page says, Captain Juan Bautista de Anza led an expedition up the coast of California from Sonora, Mexico, and Pedro Font bestowed the name Arroyo San Jose de Cupertino on the stream that now is called Stevens Creek.
Many of Cupertino’s pioneer settlers planted grapes in the late 1800s, the City says, and John T. Doyle, a San Francisco lawyer and historian, founded the Cupertino Wine Co. in the 1880s, using the name given the creek by Pedro Font.
Around 1895, the page says, phylloxera, a root louse, struck the thriving wine industry and virtually destroyed 75% of the vineyards in five years; many growers switched to French prunes, peaches, apricots, cherries, plums, walnuts and almonds.
De Anza College occupies a 112-acre site that was the location of the Beaulieu winery built at the turn of the 20th century by Charles and Ella Baldwin, the page says, and their mansion has become the California History Center.
Over time, the page says, a settlement called West Side sprang up at the Crossroads of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road, now De Anza Boulevard, and Stevens Creek Road, now a boulevard; in 1904 the Cupertino name was applied to the Crossroads, the post office and the Home Union Store, which incorporated as The Cupertino Store.
The page says the Santa Clara Valley became known for the spring profusion of blossoms, and that many people passed through the Cupertino area first by electric railway and later by car to view them in the “Valley of Heart’s Delight”. Monta Vista was the name of the first housing tract in Cupertino, it adds.
In the late 1940s, the page says, Cupertino was swept up in Santa Clara Valley’s postwar population explosion.
In 1954, the page says, community leaders began a drive for incorporation, with the Cupertino-Monta Vista Improvement Association and the Fact-finding Committee playing important roles; voters approved it in 1955, and the City says Cupertino became Santa Clara County’s 13th city that year.
In the early 1960s, the page says, some of the city’s largest landowners created the VALLCO Business and Industrial Park; the name came from the principal developers, Varian Associates and four landowning families, and the business park later evolved into a retail shopping center.
The City lists four established Sister City relationships: Copertino, Italy, formalized in 1963; Toyokawa, Japan, in 1978; Hsinchu, Taiwan, in 2007; and Bhubaneswar, India, in 2012.
The Cupertino Historical Society was established in 1966, and its museum opened in 1990 as a feature of the then just opened Quinlan Community Center.
Even with VALLCO, the page says, Cupertino remained largely a town of ranches and estate vineyards until the mid-1960s, when De Anza College opened in 1967 and, soon after, computers came on the scene.
Apple Computer, now Apple Inc., arrived in Cupertino in 1977, the page says, and its Apple Park campus on Pruneridge Avenue stands not far from where co-founder Steve Jobs attended Homestead High School.
The Crossroads District now occupies the place where the city’s first post office, blacksmith shop and general store once stood, the City says.
Cupertino, roof and gutters
Cupertino’s land ranges from an urban flatland to semi-rural and rural foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the west, the City’s General Plan says. Four major creeks run through the city to the Bay, it adds: Permanente, Stevens, Regnart and Calabazas. “Stevens Creek and its streamside are among the natural elements that have the most influence on Cupertino’s character.”
Yearly rain is about 13.5 inches, by NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for the two weather stations nearest City Hall, Moffett Federal Airfield and the San Jose airport: 13.45 inches at one and 13.48 at the other, a mean of 13.47. By our own calculation from the same stations’ monthly normals, November through April brings about 91 percent of the year’s rain.
The City lists thirteen tree species for planting as street trees, evergreen and deciduous: among them the coast live oak, the London plane, the Chinese pistachio, the red maple and the maidenhair tree. In its descriptions the deciduous ones turn in fall: the flowering pears to purple red, the Chinese pistachio to orange, red and crimson, the red maple to a brilliant scarlet red and the maidenhair tree to gold.
We have been working on Bay Area roofs and gutters since 2002. If yours hasn’t had a look in a while, we’d be glad to come by.
Landmarks and parks
Cupertino Historical Museum
The Society’s museum, whose own site says its collection spans over 100 years of Cupertino’s history and contains more than 5,000 items.
McClellan Ranch Preserve
The City says its visitors see milk and livestock barns and the water tower from the Parish Ranch.
Baer Blacksmith Shop
The City calls it a “meticulously recreated” shop, originally located at De Anza and Stevens Creek Boulevard.
Blackberry Farm
A City facility whose page menu lists aquatics, picnic areas and swim lessons.
Cupertino Civic Center
The City says City Hall and the Cupertino Library flank the Community Hall.
How we can help in Cupertino
Why Sunshine Gutters and Roofing
- Family-owned since 2002, trusted by thousands of returning Bay Area homeowners
- Licensed (CSLB #1053780), bonded, with $2 million in general liability coverage
- Our own crew, never subcontractors
- We keep track of local regulations, fire safety rules and insurance programs
- We show you what we found, with photos, so you decide what happens next
Cupertino questions
What Cupertino homeowners ask us
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Cupertino?
The City’s pages treat a re-roof as a permitted job: its Building FAQ lists what single family homes can have built without a permit, and the list has no roof covering or re-roofing item; it closes: “If the item of alteration or construction is not listed above a permit is required.” The City also lists the re-roof among the permits you can get online. If you wish, we can also pull the permit for you, as most of our customers ask us to.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my property in Cupertino?
For some trees, yes: the City has designated certain classes of trees on private property in all zoning districts as Protected Trees, which “can only be removed after obtaining approval through the tree removal permitting process”. Its Tree Protection page says public noticing is required for tree removal applications, and that you may also be responsible for the cost to purchase, plant and maintain replacement trees or for an in-lieu tree replacement fee.
Where may leaves and gutter water go in Cupertino?
The City’s street-sweeping page says: “Deposit leaves on private property into your brown or green cart – DO NOT rake, blow, or pile leaves into the street.” For the water from your roof gutters, it advises: “Clean your rain gutters and attach flexible pipe extensions to drain water into landscaping.”
Who looks after the street tree in front of my Cupertino home, and who clears the storm drain?
Property owners with street trees next to their property are asked to notify the City of any tree maintenance need through Cupertino 311, choosing the Trees topic. On storm drains, the City says: “Keeping storm drains clear is a shared responsibility that can help reduce localized flooding and keep neighborhoods safer during storms.”
What our customers say
Get a free estimate
We usually respond promptly within the day. Phone first for emergencies: (510) 525-0880.
Where we work
Cupertino neighbourhoods we serve
Heart of the City
The General Plan calls the Heart of the City Special Area “a key mixed-use, commercial corridor in Cupertino”, about 635 acres along Stevens Creek Boulevard between Highway 85 and the eastern city limit.
Crossroads
The General Plan says the Crossroads subarea, between Stelling Road and De Anza Boulevard, is “the historic core of Cupertino”.
Vallco Shopping District
The General Plan describes it as “Cupertino’s most significant commercial center, formerly known as the Vallco Fashion Park”.
Monta Vista Village
The General Plan calls it “an older neighborhood which served as an attractive farming and second home community since the late 1800s”.
North De Anza
The General Plan’s North De Anza Special Area covers 150 acres, including the portion of North De Anza Boulevard generally between Interstate 280 and Stevens Creek Boulevard.
South De Anza
The General Plan’s South De Anza Special Area covers the portion of South De Anza Boulevard between Stevens Creek Boulevard and Bollinger Road, and the western portion between Highway 85 and Prospect Road.
Oak Valley
The General Plan places it “in the northwestern corner of Cupertino in a natural hillside transition with plentiful private and public open space”.
Creston-Pharlap
The General Plan describes it as a single-family residential area that includes the last remaining unincorporated pocket within the Cupertino urban service area.
Inspiration Heights
The General Plan says it “is situated in the western foothills of Cupertino and offers uninterrupted vistas of the San Francisco Peninsula”.
Monta Vista North
The General Plan says it is “generally bounded by Stevens Creek Boulevard to the north, Regnart Creek/Road to the south, Foothill Boulevard to the west and Highway 85 to the east”.
Monta Vista South
The General Plan says it is located along the southern edge of Cupertino and bounded by Regnart Road/Creek to the north and, across Prospect Road, the City of Saratoga to the south.
Rancho Rinconada
The General Plan places it in the southeastern portion of Cupertino, and says the Rancho Rinconada Park and Recreation District operates a swim and recreation center at its southern end.
Fairgrove
The General Plan places it in the southeastern portion of Cupertino and says the neighborhood is zoned “R1e-Eichler Single Family”.
Garden Gate
The General Plan says it is “predominantly defined by single-family residential homes with pockets of duplexes and apartments”, much of it developed in the early 1950s.
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