The Planning Division is responsible for regularly updating the ordinances within the Municipal Code that govern land use and development in San José, including signs. These are more commonly referred to as the Sign Code, Subdivision Code and Zoning Code:

• Sign Code (Title 23) - Regulates signage.
• Subdivision Code (Title 19) - Regulates the division of land.
• Zoning Code (Title 20) - Regulates development.

Some updates are routine while others reflect new initiatives approved by the City Council or the local codification of new state laws.

The San José Municipal Code and its chapters/titles can be found with this friendly URL: www.sanjoseca.gov/MunicipalCode

Updating any ordinance entails a public outreach process and public hearings. Each proposed update has a webpage that describes what is being proposed; any scheduled community meetings for gathering public input; any scheduled Planning Commission and City Council hearings; and staff contact information. 

Here are current 2024 proposed updates to ordinances that the Planning Division is working on:

• Zoning Ordinance Update (PP23-007)

APPROVED ORDINANCE UPDATES

Here are approved prior updates with completed decision-making process.  

• Affordable Housing on Sites with Assembly Use
• Cannabis Business Ordinance Updates
• Outdoor Dining Ordinance Update
• Parking and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance Update 
• Urban Village and Mixed-Use Zoning Districts
• Zoning Ordinance Update (Title 20)
• Zoning Code Quarterly Update
• Zoning Ordinance Update for Housing Element Residential Overlay
• Zoning Ordinance Update for North San Jose Overlay Districts

After the decision-making process is completed, these webpages are removed and a summary is placed in the Approved Amendments section of the respective Zoning Code or Sign Code webpage.