New construction · Mountain View
Can I tear down and rebuild my house in Mountain View?
Tear-down and rebuild is allowed in Mountain View on most legally conforming parcels, but the path depends on the parcel's zoning, lot conformance, and any historic / hillside / coastal overlays. Daylight-plane and second-story side-setback rules dominate buildable envelope; protected trees commonly constrain siting.
What changes the answer in Mountain View.
Mountain View uses R-1, R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts plus precise plans across El Camino Real and downtown; FAR, daylight plane, and second-story setback rules drive R-1 envelope. Single-story R-1 SFRs are typically ministerial; two-story projects trigger neighbor noticing and may require design review depending on FAR and visible mass.
- Daylight-plane and second-story side-setback rules dominate buildable envelope; protected trees commonly constrain siting.
- Single-story R-1 SFRs are typically ministerial; two-story projects trigger neighbor noticing and may require design review depending on FAR and visible mass.
Source-backed note
Demolition + new construction are reviewed by City of Mountain View Community Development Department — Building Division alongside any required planning / coastal / hillside review.
Local authority: City of Mountain View Community Development Department — Building Division
Get a Mountain View-specific answer for your parcel.
Send us the address and we'll respond with a feasibility note that cites City of Mountain View Community Development Department — Building Division and the parcel's actual constraints — not a generic checklist.
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