GIS
Santa Clara County GIS provides public maps and geographic data for exploring parcels, streets, planning areas, imagery, and other location-based information. This article explains which County mapping service to use, how to locate downloadable data or request a dataset, and when to verify map information against official records.
Which GIS Office Handles Your Question?
The County has two GIS operations with different areas of responsibility. Geographic Information Services, associated with the County’s Technology Services and Solution Department, makes countywide GIS map data available to County departments, partners, and the public. Its site directs visitors to SCCMap, a portal of ready-made County maps, downloadable countywide data, and a form for requesting data that is not posted online.
The GIS team within the Department of Planning and Development maintains geographic information used for planning, development review, environmental analysis, and public information. Its Geographic Information Services page introduces mapping applications for parcel and zoning information, water and wastewater limitations, agricultural conservation properties, jurisdiction boundaries, and survey records. The team also maintains planning-related datasets and develops interactive maps.
Choose the office according to the information you need. For countywide parcel or street GIS files, imagery, or a general County map application, begin with Geographic Information Services. For a question about a planning map, zoning layer, environmental dataset, or an application maintained by Planning and Development, begin with that department’s GIS team. A map displayed by either office can help identify a location, but the map should not be treated as a substitute for the current public record behind a consequential property or planning decision.
Interactive Maps for Everyday Searches
SCCMap for Geographic Information
SCCMap is the County GIS site’s entry point for viewing geospatial information. It is designed for desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. The County identifies current versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Edge as supported desktop browsers. Its listed mobile options are Safari on iOS 10 or later, with iOS 11 or later recommended, and current Chrome on Android.
SCCMap is a sensible first stop when you want to inspect geographic information on a screen rather than obtain a dataset for your own analysis. Open the County’s SCCMap page and select its link to view the application. If the application does not work as expected, compare your browser and device with the County’s stated system requirements before assuming that a map or layer is unavailable.
County Maps Portal for Ready-Made Maps
The County Maps portal provides ready-made GIS maps and web applications specific to Santa Clara County. Visitors can browse or search for a map of interest and view it through the portal’s interface. This is useful when you have a subject in mind and want to see whether the County has already assembled an appropriate map, rather than working with separate data files.
The portal requires access to public internet service. The County lists the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, Android Browser, and Chrome for Android for its user environment. If you are viewing a map on a phone and need to inspect a number of layers or item details, a desktop browser may make the information easier to read. That is a matter of screen space, not a separate County access requirement.
Some portal maps also expose a REST endpoint that can be used in a web application. The endpoint belongs to an individual map or service; the portal page itself is not a single endpoint for every layer. Users who only need to view a map can stay in the portal interface.
Planning and Property Mapping Applications
Planning and Development’s interactive applications organize geographic information around specific questions. Its Property Explorer shows parcel boundaries, zoning information, and property characteristics. If your question concerns the mapped location of a parcel or the planning information associated with it, this application is more directly focused on that task than a broad catalog of countywide files.
The department also offers a Water and Wastewater Limitations map showing areas with service availability and limitations. A Williamson Act Properties map shows parcels enrolled in the agricultural land conservation program. A Cities and Special Districts map displays city boundaries, special districts, and governance areas. These applications address different subjects, so select the map that matches the question you are trying to answer rather than assuming every layer appears in Property Explorer.
For archived survey records, maps, and indexing information maintained by the County Surveyor, the department points users to its Surveyor Record Index. A survey record search serves a different purpose from viewing a parcel polygon on an interactive property map. If you need an archived survey document or its index entry, go to the survey record application rather than relying on the visible outline of a parcel.
Planning GIS Data Hub
The department’s Planning GIS Data Hub provides interactive maps, a data catalog, and documentation for geographic information maintained by Planning and Development. Its categories include planning and land use, administrative boundaries, environmental resources, natural hazards, and additional supporting layers. The hub describes downloadable formats including Shapefile, GeoJSON, CSV, and File Geodatabase.
The hub is useful when you need data for mapping or analysis instead of a visual answer from an application. Browse by subject, inspect the dataset and its documentation, and choose a format suited to your work. For example, a zoning or General Plan dataset belongs with planning and land use information, while city or district boundaries belong with administrative boundaries. The hub’s data is intended for informational use; its disclaimer says datasets may be updated, modified, or replaced without notice.
Countywide GIS Data and Updates
The County’s countywide GIS map data page identifies files available through the County of Santa Clara Open Data Portal. The listed Shapefile datasets include County Parcels, Air Parcels, Land Parcels, and Streets. The County Parcels layer combines air and land polygons. The County describes air parcels as approximate areas for parcels that are not spatially defined, such as condominiums. Land parcels represent parcels and closed rights of way within the county.
These distinctions matter when selecting a file. A countywide parcel layer is appropriate for examining the County’s combined mapped parcel information. The air and land files separate two different types of parcel geometry. Someone examining a condominium should pay particular attention to the County’s description of an air parcel as an approximate area; the shape alone does not establish the property’s legal extent.
The County says its parcel layer is updated annually around August, while its streets layer is updated quarterly. Those are publication patterns for the GIS layers, not assurances that a particular real-world change will appear on a particular day. Before using a download, look at the available dataset information and consider whether its update cycle fits your purpose. A recently changed parcel or street may require verification through a current primary record.
The County of Santa Clara Open Data Portal is the download destination identified for countywide GIS data. The countywide GIS page also identifies map service access and County imagery. If you only need to view an existing map, an interactive application may be simpler. If you need a file to analyze, combine with your own geographic data, or load into mapping software, look for the relevant downloadable dataset.
Requesting GIS Data Not Posted Online
Geographic Information Services provides a GIS map data request form for data that is not posted on the Open Data Portal. Check the available downloads first so that your request identifies a dataset you cannot already obtain there. The form requests your name, organization, mailing address, daytime phone number, and an email address that will receive confirmation. It also allows additional email addresses.
The form includes choices for ortho imagery and LiDAR. For ortho imagery, it asks for a year and a file format, with GeoTIFF, JP2, and MrSID among the listed formats. For LiDAR, it asks for a year and product selection. Listed products include a classified point cloud, digital elevation and terrain models, contours, intensity rasters, a digital surface model, hydro-flattening breaklines, and 3D building wireframes. Select the data type and format that correspond to the work you intend to do.
Describe the Area of Interest
The request form asks you to select an area of interest. Its examples include a named place, such as Stanford University, and a radius around an address. A specific location gives the County a clearer basis for identifying the requested coverage than a general description of a neighborhood. Review your area selection before submitting, especially when requesting large imagery or LiDAR products.
The form requires a selection in both its ortho imagery and LiDAR menus. It warns that choosing “Not Needed” in both menus produces an error. Review both menus even if you are interested in only one type of data.
Delivery for Large Requests
Data requested through the online form is normally made available through a download URL sent to the email address provided. For data exceeding 100 GB, the County states that delivery is by an external hard drive supplied by the customer, with a prepaid return label required. The form says further instructions for data above the cloud download limit will be provided after submission. Its disclaimer also assigns requestors the cost of shipping and handling and the risk of damage or loss to devices they provide to the County.
Read the form’s GIS data disclaimer and acknowledgment before submitting. If the request is meant to support a property, development, or other decision that depends on precise current information, plan to verify the resulting data against the appropriate primary public record.
Map Services for Web Applications
Developers who need to display a County map service in their own web application can locate an individual service’s REST URL through the Maps portal. The County’s REST endpoint instructions describe the route: open the portal, choose “View gallery” under Map Collection, Ortho Imagery Collection, or Search Tools, and locate the desired map or layer.
From that item, open the three-dot menu and select “View item details.” The item detail page displays the web service URL at the bottom right for copying into an application. Choose the endpoint for the actual map or layer you intend to use. A service URL is useful for connecting an application to a map service; it is distinct from downloading a Shapefile or requesting a large imagery delivery.
When GIS Data Needs Verification
The County provides its countywide GIS data “as is” and advises users to consult current public primary information sources to verify it. Geographic data changes over time and can differ from official County records. The request form specifically notes that GIS data can be inconsistent with the official County assessment roll file produced by the Office of the Assessor. A mapped parcel boundary or attribute should therefore be treated as geographic information, not as a replacement for the current assessment roll or another governing record.
This distinction is especially useful when a search produces two pieces of information that appear to conflict. First identify what each source represents: a GIS layer, a planning application, an archived survey record, or an official property record. Then verify the point that matters with the primary record for that subject. Do not assume a map’s visual precision means its data has the same status or update timing as an official record.
For a planning question, the same principle applies to the Planning GIS Data Hub. Its maps and datasets help people examine land use, boundaries, environmental resources, and hazards, but the hub describes them as informational and does not guarantee their accuracy, completeness, or suitability for a particular purpose. Review the dataset’s available documentation and direct questions about a Planning and Development map or dataset to that department’s GIS team.
GIS Departments and Offices
Geographic Information Services — 180 W Tasman Drive, San Jose, CA 95134
Department of Planning and Development — 70 W. Hedding St., East Wing, 7th Floor, San José, CA 95110 — (408) 299-5700
GIS FAQs
Where can I download building footprints?
The County lists a 2D Building Footprints dataset for download through its Open Data Portal. Start with the County’s GIS data request page, which points to the existing download. Check the dataset description before using the footprints for a site plan: a mapped building outline does not establish a surveyed location, a permit status, or a property boundary.
Can I get a small LiDAR download?
Yes. The County’s request page identifies downloadable Santa Clara County point cloud LAS and digital elevation model products through the government-operated USGS 3DEP LidarExplorer. Each download covers one tile of approximately 0.22 square miles. Locate your area first, then check whether the available tiles cover all of it; a project crossing tile edges may require several downloads. If you need a different LiDAR product or a larger area, use the County request form and specify the product and area you need.
Why does the GIS request form show an error?
The form requires a choice in both the ortho imagery and LiDAR menus, even when you need only one product. Selecting “Not Needed” in both produces an error. Choose the product you want in one menu and “Not Needed” in the other, then confirm that you have entered an area of interest and completed the required fields. The County also states that JavaScript must be enabled to use the form.
Can I use a County map in my own application?
Many maps in the County Maps portal have an individual REST endpoint. The County’s endpoint instructions explain how to open a map’s item details and copy its web service URL. Check the specific item you intend to display; the portal does not provide one URL that represents every map or layer.