Welcome To Santa Clara County
City Information (Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno,
Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale)
Phone Numbers (City Hall &
emergencies)
Phone Numbers for Utilities (phone, gas,
electricity, water, garbage and Cable)
General Information
DMV Information
Transportation (Airports,
Trains,
Buses)
Television Stations
Newspapers (Major & Community)
Sports Teams (Professional
& College)
Event Centers
Universities and Colleges
Community Colleges
School Districts
Major Shopping Centers
Post Offices
Libraries (County
& City)
Hospitals
Golf Courses (Private
& Public)
Local Wineries
Places to Visit (Inside / Outside)
Santa Clara County
Closing Costs
Moving Checklist
Ways of Holding Title
Welcome
to Santa Clara County!
The County of Santa Clara
and the greater Bay Area are one of the most popular travel destinations for
visitors from across the country and around the world. With our truly diverse
culture, natural beauty and attractions that rival most states, we offer the
perfect vacation and living spot for you and your family.
There are 15 cities ranging from Palo Alto in the north to Gilroy in the south. San
Jose is the largest city in the County, with a population of over
900,000, and is the administrative site of County Government.
A significant portion of the county's land area is unincorporated ranch and
farmland.
The County of Santa Clara
has a culture rich in its history, ethnic diversity (over 100 languages and
dialects are spoken), artistic endeavors, sports venues and academic
institutions. The County is home to three major universities - Stanford University,
Santa Clara University
and San Jose State University
- as well as excellent community colleges. In sports and recreation San Jose is home to teams for professional soccer- the
Earthquakes; minor league baseball- the San Jose Giants; and the San Jose
Sharks- the only professional ice hockey team in Northern
California. Numerous public and private golf courses are located
throughout the County. In addition to these recreational outlets the County of Santa Clara operates 27 parks covering
more than 50,000 acres including scenic lakes, streams and miles of hiking and
biking trails.
In addition to the wide variety of
business, educational, cultural and recreational opportunities within the
County, a short hour's drive can bring residents or visitors to the famous Lick
Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, the hills of San
Francisco or any number of white sand beaches along the Pacific
Ocean from Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay to Monterey and Carmel.
And wineries aren't just for Napa and Sonoma – there are many
wineries located in the heart of our County.
Today the County is a major employment
center for the region providing more than a quarter of all jobs in the Bay
Area. It has one of the highest median family incomes in the country and a wide
diversity of cultures, backgrounds and talents. The County of Santa Clara
continues to attract people from all over the World.
The County's population of nearly 1.7
million is one of the largest in the state, following Los Angeles,
San Diego and Orange Counties,
and is the largest of the nine Bay Area counties. Its population constitutes
about one fourth of the Bay Area's total population. The County of Santa Clara
is made up of people from diverse cultures, nationalities and racial groups.
The County, with its diverse population, high standard of living and strong
economic vitality has attracted people from all over the world.
Today the County
of Santa Clara is known as "Silicon Valley," the birthplace of the high
technology revolution. The County
of Santa Clara is also
unique because of its combination of physical attractiveness and economic
diversity. With its numerous natural amenities and one of the highest standards
of living in the country, the County has long been considered one of the best
areas in the United States
in which to live and work. (..back..)
City
Information
Campbell
www.ci.campbell.ca.us
Campbell
is the 'heart' in the 'Valley of Heart's Delight'. Set in the Southwest corner
of the Silicon Valley, Campbell
is an ideal location for homes, schools and businesses. Although it is part of
a major metropolitan area, the city has been able to retain a small town
feeling and offer personal attention to approximately 38,000 residents.
Reacting to the growth in Silicon Valley, Campbell has become a
community with a thriving business sector. With convenient freeway and mass
transportation access, impressive new office complexes, low property tax and
business license fees, Campbell is a perfect site for new businesses looking
for a winning combination of location and visibility.
Campbell's
location is very convenient. Its proximity to shopping, special services and
recreational opportunities is ideal for the resident or employee who wants to
run a quick errand, take a morning jog down the Los Gatos Creek Trail or go for
a delicious business lunch in one of its numerous fine restaurants. (..back..)
Cupertino
www.cupertino.org
Alive with energy and rich in diversity, Cupertino is an amazing
mix of imagination and cooperation. Home to such high tech firms as Apple
Computer and Hewlett-Packard, Cupertino
boasts a vibrant economy, beautiful surroundings and a population full of
spirit and optimism. Cupertino
is known as “The Heart of the Valley.” Cupertino
has something for the business and holiday traveler alike. A booming community
in its own right, Cupertino lies at the center
of Silicon Valley's compass.
Within the borders you'll find a thriving
business community that's home to some of the greatest innovators in
technology. Along with one of the friendliest climates in the United States, Cupertino
boasts one of the most diverse and engaged communities in Northern
California. For outdoor recreation Cupertino offers more than 150 acres of
parkland including Blackberry Farm with its 9-hole golf course - one of the
most affordable urban golf courses around. For indoor recreation the Cupertino Sports
Center and Cupertino Senior
Center offer a range of
activities while the library presents events and activities for both kids and
adults. Restaurants in Cupertino
reflect the rich and ethnically diverse population bringing cuisine from around
the world to help you enjoy your stay. (..back..)
Gilroy
www.ci.gilroy.ca.us
Gilroy
gives visitors a friendly, small town character with affordable places to stay,
great restaurants, wineries, breweries, world class shopping, attractions and
recreational opportunities for the whole family. Gilroy is located in the southern-most tip of
Santa Clara/Silicon Valley and easily accessible from Highway 101 and Highway
152 which makes it a convenient stop for business and leisure travelers. But
whether you live in Gilroy or are just visiting,
as the “Gateway to the Central
Coast”, there is much to
do and see.
Gilroy's
claim to fame is being the "Garlic Capital of the World" where each
year Gilroy
plays host to over 125,000 visitors at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Shopping is
world-class with the Gilroy Premium Outlets - a 145-store factory outlet center
with famous name brands. Bonfante Gardens Theme Park entertains people of all
ages with its acclaimed Circus Trees, a 1927 Ilion’s carousel, waterfalls,
topiaries - all set within its 600-acre preserve. For the connoisseur of fine
wines, family-owned wineries are abundant and many offer picnic areas, tours,
seasonal events and gift shops.
Gilroy
is a "Tree City U.S.A." The city has a total
of 440 acres of parkland and has won more park design awards from the California Park
and Recreation Society than any other city in California. In addition to its extensive city
park system, within a 15 minute drive from the center of Gilroy is Mt. Madonna
Park, a 3,200-acre park with some of California's finest Coastal redwoods;
Henry Coe Park, the second largest state park in California with 80,000+ acres;
and the Adams-Chitactac Park, an original site of the
Ohlone Indians. Gilroy
is also surrounded by reservoirs, which provide a full complement of
water-related sports and recreational activities.
Gilroy
has developed from a rural, agricultural community to the fastest growing city
in the Silicon Valley. Growth has centered on
high-tech software and support industries as well as a number of manufacturing
and production industries. Thousands of jobs are filled in Gilroy from tourism, retail, manufacturing
and research and development. Gilroy
is proud of its growth and its ability to provide a high quality of life to
residents. (..back..)
Los Altos www.ci.los-altos.ca.us
Tree lined streets and a small village
atmosphere characterize Los Altos, which is
located in the heart of world-famous Silicon Valley.
The seven square mile city is developed with small businesses, schools,
libraries and churches. Incorporated in 1952, Los Altos is a general law city with five
elected council members who serve four-year terms. City Council meetings are
held the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Appointed commissions and
committees assist the Council in an advisory capacity. The Council appointed
city manager is responsible for financial and operational management of the
city's employees.
Los Altos
has international sister cities ties with Bendigo, Australia;
Skytyvkar, Russia; and Shih Lin, Taiwan.
Over 200 volunteers a year assist in providing city government services to the
community. In 1982 Los Altos
became a leader in recycling programs when it began curbside residential
collection of bottles, cans and newspapers. Since then motor oil, yard waste
and mixed paper have been added. City Council and Planning Commission meetings
are televised live on the city's cable television government access channel 18.
In addition, this channel carries a 24-hour video bulletin board on city
services, activities and events. (..back..)
Los Altos Hills www.losaltoshills.ca.gov
The Town of Los Altos Hills is a premier
Silicon Valley residential community located adjacent to the City of Los Altos. Numerous Silicon Valley executives are residents of Los Altos
Hills where the market value for unimproved building sites is currently
estimated at $2M per acre. The minimum lot size is one acre. Many homes are
large with such amenities as pools, sports courts and secondary units. The
primarily residential community of Los Altos Hills is 8.4 square miles in area.
The Town is distinctive because of its rolling hills and picturesque valleys.
Numerous creeks and densely wooded areas provide pleasant visual diversity. The
Town's location contributes to a mild climate with only rare extremes of
temperature. Elevations above sea level rise from 200 to 1,300 feet, making Los
Altos Hills a natural buffer between the more heavily developed urban Bay Area
and the coastal Santa Cruz
Mountains. Los Altos
Hills became the 14th city in Santa
Clara County
on January 27, 1956 with a population then numbering 2,500. Today there are
more than triple that number of residents living in the Town. Zoning has
remained the same since its inception - a single
"residential-agricultural" zone with additional permitted uses such
as public and private schools, churches and synagogues, recreational clubs and
other facilities compatible with noncommercial communities. (..back..)
Los Gatos www.los-gatos.ca.us
Located just moments from the high-tech
heart of Silicon Valley, Los Gatos
is a captivating jewel that flourishes in its blend of yesterday's charm and
today's modern lifestyles. Tucked against the majestic Santa
Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos more than lives
up to its name as the "Gem of the Foothills." Quaint merchant
buildings house lively restaurants, coffeehouses, galleries and boutiques while
resplendent Victorians surround downtown's historic center. Miles of nature
trails beckon walkers, hikers and bikers while perfectly shaped benches invite
visitors to sit a spell and watch the activities of a farmer's market,
children's parade or the everyday goings on of a remarkable little town.
As transportation improved and more
travelers discovered Los Gatos
inevitably more people would grow to love the town and its environs. In 1915
Sunset magazine published a Los Gatos pamphlet,
saying, "To see Los Gatos
is to love the town. To enjoy the privilege of a few days' or weeks' stay
within the gates of that beautiful city of 3,500 souls is to wish to come
again. And to become a permanent resident there is to lie in paradise, if such
there be on this earth." While the town has grown many fold since those days
its beauty and charm still abound at every turn. (..back..)
Milpitas
www.ci.milpitas.ca.gov
Milpitas
is known as the “Gateway to Silicon Valley.” Milpitas is home to an
ethnically diverse group of residents and to a broad range of small and large
businesses and industries. Business, industry and people are attracted to Milpitas by its location,
fine school district, attractive residential neighborhoods, churches of
different faiths, access to major freeways, parks and recreation facilities,
health facilities, shopping centers, fine restaurants and major hotels with
banquet facilities.
The City of Milpitas is poised to move forward with new
opportunities for growth in its economy and in its diverse community. New
ventures in information technology have made this city a prime location to
start new businesses to be part of this changing community. Like their
predecessors before, looking to settle in a new country, Milpitas will be seen again as a leader
setting new standards in an ever-changing and smaller world. (..back..)
Monte Sereno www.montesereno.org
Monte Sereno is Santa Clara Valley's
smallest and most exclusive community with 3,483 residents living in 1,211
homes, nearly all of them worth at least a million dollars. Monte Sereno has no
downtown, no strip malls, in fact no shops at all. Monte Sereno's low profile,
however, is no problem for its residents, who live on half-acre lots without
sidewalks, streetlights or much government at all for that matter. Past city
clerks have doubled as postmaster and city managers also clocked in as
municipal engineers and dogcatchers. Residents can keep chickens in their
backyards, but few do. Tennis courts are common. Monte Sereno real estate is
among the most expensive anywhere, but well worth it to those who can afford
it. Where else can you find a rural mountain paradise a stone's throw from bustling
Silicon Valley?
Monte Sereno is one of the Santa Clara Valley's most desirable residential
communities. It boasts great weather, excellent schools, breathtaking mountain
views and a quiet village atmosphere. Just a short drive from the Santa Cruz beaches, Silicon Valley workplaces and the
cultural attractions of San Jose and San Francisco, Monte
Sereno offers the best of all worlds.
The City of Monte
Sereno was incorporated on May 14, 1957 and it relies on the
surrounding cities of Saratoga and Los Gatos for most of its
resources. The Los Gatos Police Department helps patrol the Monte Sereno area.
Monte Sereno’s claim to fame is that John Steinbeck wrote his famous novel “Of
Mice and Men” while living in Monte Sereno. (..back..)
Morgan Hill www.morgan-hill.ca.gov
Morgan Hill
is located in southern Santa
Clara Valley.
Parks and open spaces abound making Morgan
Hill one of the last communities in the region with a
charming, small town atmosphere. Morgan
Hill is on the way to everywhere and has something for
everyone to enjoy. For tourists and visitors Morgan Hill offers excellent
restaurants and accommodations, golf courses, spas, wineries, microbreweries,
outdoor recreation (e.g.: hiking, fishing, camping, skiing, boating); a quaint,
yet vital downtown, hot air ballooning, shopping and more! Visit the
“Countryside of Silicon Valley” to see why so many consider Morgan Hill a place to build their dreams.
Morgan Hill prides itself as a family
community and is home to festivals and celebrations such as the Taste of Morgan
Hill; Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival; December Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Ceremony; California's oldest 4th of July Parade and Festivities; Friday Night
Music Series; Certified Farmers Market; Downtown Safe Halloween program and
many more. Check out the annual "Calendar of Events" to plan for the
many festivities. Morgan Hill
offers great golf courses, lakes, outstanding country, state and national parks
for camping, hiking, horseback riding, water recreations and mountain biking. (..back..)
Mountain View www.mtnview.ca.us
Mountain View
is located in the heart of Silicon Valley bordered by Palo
Alto, Los Altos and Sunnyvale. Neighborhood parks, recreational
facilities, quality education and convenient shopping make Mountain View an
attractive community. The city maintains a strong and diversified local economy
and has nearly two million square feet of commercial development in the city.
Numerous high technology electronics companies, including several in the
Fortune 500, as well as bio-technology firms are located in Mountain View. With only 4% of Santa Clara
County's population
Mountain View is home to
11% of the county's top firms. Mountain
View enjoys a lively mix of retail stores, executive
offices, research and development firms and professional services. (..back..)
Palo Alto www.city.palo-alto.ca.us
More than 100 years old, Palo Alto is named for a majestic
250-year-old coastal redwood tree along San Francisquito Creek where early
Spanish explorers settled. The blend of business and residential areas anchored
by a vibrant downtown defines Palo
Alto’s unique character. A charming mixture of old and
new, Palo Alto’s tree-lined streets and historic
buildings reflect its California
heritage. At the same time Palo Alto
is recognized worldwide as a leader in cutting-edge technological development. Palo Alto is known as “Birthplace of the Silicon Valley”
and has an abundance of local pride and numerous neighborhood organizations
contribute to Palo Alto’s
charming historic and upscale commercial and residential areas.
Characteristic of Palo Alto is the care taken to protect open
space and parkland. Palo Alto
has a remarkable number of City-owned parks for its size (34 at last count) and
nearly one-third of its 26 square miles is open space. Palo
Alto’s San Francisco
Bay location and natural
environment offer the opportunity to enjoy bird and aquatic life in a natural
habitat. Proximity to Stanford University with its cultural and educational
offerings adds to the vibrance, innate charm and
beauty of Palo Alto.
Distinctive in every way Palo Alto
offers its business community a diverse and exciting environment in which to
work and live. (..back..)
San Jose www.ci.san-jose.ca.us
San Jose
is the third largest city in the state, following Los
Angeles and San Diego, and the 11th
largest city in the United
States (soon to be 10th). San Jose is rich in ethnic diversity and has
a beautiful climate. As the hub of Silicon Valley, San Jose is also the safest large city (500,000+)
in the U.S. Sunset magazine described the downtown as an "eminently walkable area with level streets, balmy weather and
well-marked attractions." "California
casual" is appropriate for daytime and most evening outings. A sweater or
light jacket is suggested for evenings with coats advisable for November
through March.
San
José has become a popular destination
for tourists and business travelers. Visitors find many amenities in the City's
revitalized downtown area including fine accommodations, world-class
restaurants and shops. Whether you're looking for world-class cultural arts,
nightlife, professional sports (including the NHL's San Jose Sharks), theme
parks, wineries, shopping, and of course, great hotels and restaurants, San Jose is a great place
to be. (..back..)
Santa Clara www.ci.santa-clara.ca.us
The mission of the City of Santa Clara is to promote
a living and working environment that allows for the best quality of life by
serving the community with resourceful, efficient, progressive and professional
leadership. Santa Clara is known as the “Mission City”
and is the third largest city in Santa
Clara County.
Santa Clara is home to the famous Santa Clara University, home of the Broncos. Santa Clara has about 30
parks and playgrounds, one city golf course and a nine-hole course. The city
offers an International
Swim Center
famous for training Olympic winners. Also, the San
Francisco 49ers train in Santa
Clara during the football season. (..back..)
Saratoga
www.saratoga.ca.us
Saratoga
is located in Santa Clara County 26 miles east of the Pacific
Coast, ten miles southwest of San Jose and fifty miles south of San Francisco. The city is situated in the
foothills of the Santa Cruz
Mountains at an elevation
of 500 feet. Saratoga is at the entrance to a
historic pass in the redwood-forested Santa Cruz Mountains.
Artifacts have been found along Saratoga Creek where the Ohlone Indians camped
while on their way through the pass to the ocean beyond. Today the City of Saratoga, with a
population of around 30,000, strives to maintain the elements of its natural
beauty and colorful past through careful zoning policies and historic
preservation. Today it retains that close-knit and quiet feel, and has settled
comfortably into a well-placed residential community. (..back..)
Sunnyvale
www.ci.sunnyvale.ca.us
Known as the "Heart of Silicon
Valley," the city of Sunnyvale is located
about 10 miles west of San Jose and 50 miles
south of San Francisco.
Founded in 1912 Sunnyvale
became a charter city in 1949. Plenty of work in the high-tech field is found
in Sunnyvale, which has been recognized as one
of America's
best managed cities. Sunnyvale's primary
attractions are museums like the Lace Museum and the Sunnyvale Historical
Museum. Sometimes the
tech geeks who populate Sunnyvale
get tired of tinkering, semiconductoring and solving
math problems. And when that happens they can just sit back and watch the ducks
or they can punk out at the skate park, check out some local history at the museum
and modern houses in the neighborhoods or explore their repressed literary
sides in the social environs of the library, all for free. (..back..)
Phone
Numbers for Emergency Call 911
|
City
|
City Hall
|
Fire
emergency
|
Police
emergency
|
|
Campbell
|
408-866-2101
|
408-378-4010
|
408-866-2121
|
|
Cupertino
|
408-777-3200
|
408-378-4010
|
408-299-3233
|
|
Gilroy
|
408-846-0400
|
408-848-0370
|
408-846-0300
|
|
Hollister
|
831-636-4300
|
831-636-4325
|
831-636-4330
|
|
Los
Altos
|
650-948-1491
|
408-378-4010
|
650-948-8223
|
|
Los Altos Hills
|
650-941-7222
|
408-378-4010
|
408-299-3233
|
|
Los
Gatos
|
408-354-6834
|
408-378-4010
|
408-354-5257
|
|
Milpitas
|
408-586-3000
|
408-586-2800
|
408-942-4200
|
|
Monte Sereno
|
408-354-7635
|
408-378-4010
|
408-354-5257
|
|
Morgan
Hill
|
408-779-7271
|
408-378-4010
|
408-779-7316
|
|
Mountain
View
|
650-903-6300
|
650-903-6365
|
650-903-6350
|
|
Palo
Alto
|
650-329-2100
|
650-329-2184
|
650-329-2406
|
|
San
Jose
|
408-277-4000
|
408-277-4444
|
408-277-8900
for 311
408-277-8911
for 911
|
|
Santa
Clara
|
408-615-2200
|
408-615-4900
|
408-984-3194
|
|
Saratoga
|
408-868-1200
|
408-378-4010
|
408-867-9715
|
|
Sunnyvale
|
408-730-7500
|
408-730-7111
|
408-730-7100
|
(..back..)
Phone Numbers For Utilities (phone,
gas, electricity, water, garbage and Cable
|
City
|
Phone
Company
|
Gas &
Electricity
|
Water
|
Garbage
|
Cable
|
|
Campbell
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-279-7900
|
408-354-2100
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Cupertino
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-279-7900
|
408-993-9440
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Gilroy
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-846-0420
|
408-842-3358
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Hollister
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
831-636-4301
|
831-637-5113
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Los
Altos
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
650-917-0152
|
650-961-8040
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Los Altos Hill
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
650-948-1217
|
650-961-8040
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Los
Gatos
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-279-7900
|
408-354-2100
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Milpitas
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-586-3100
|
408-432-0444
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Monte Sereno
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-279-7900
|
408-354-2100
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Morgan
Hill
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-779-7271
|
408-842-3358
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Mountain Vie
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
650-903-6317
|
650-967-3034
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Palo
Alto
|
800-310-2355
|
650-329-2161
|
650-329-2161
|
650-493-4894
|
800-945-2288
|
|
San
Jose
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-279-7900
|
408-354-2100
|
800-945-2288
|
|
South S.J.
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-227-9540
|
408-354-2100
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Santa
Clara
|
800-310-2355
|
408-615-2300
|
408-615-2000
|
408-727-5365
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Saratoga
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-279-7900
|
408-354-2100
|
800-945-2288
|
|
Sunnyvale
|
800-310-2355
|
800-743-5000
|
408-730-7681
|
408-730-7400
|
800-945-2288
|
(..back..)
Santa Clara County
General Information
County
Phone
Numbers
Emergency calls – 911 Police/Fire/Ambulance
Telephone Information 411
Telephone Operator 0
Time 408-767-8900
Santa
Clara County
Web Page: www.sccgov.org
Registrar of Voters
408-299-8683 1553 Berger Dr.
Bldg 2 San Jose,
CA 95112 Online voter registration: www.ss.ca.gov/elections/votereg1.html
Earthquakes:
Check the beginning of your local phone book for more information on
preparedness and safety tips or go to http://earthquake.usgs.gov
Smoking: There is no
smoking allowed inside buildings.
Allergies: The
spring and fall are the high pollen times. During the spring, the grasses pop
their buds and many trees release pollen. In the fall, the Diablos
dry out the trees and cones and pollen fills the air.
Bay Area Backroads:
Television show on the interesting and out of the way places of the Bay Area
www.bayareabackroads.com Radio Stations: For a complete listing please see the
“EYE” section of the Mercury News Friday Paper.
Employment:
California
Employment Development Department (EDD) 297 W. Hedding St., San Jose, CA 95110 (800) 480-3287 www.edd.ca.gov
Animal Care:
Human Society Silicon Valley 2530 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, CA 95050 (408)
727-9881 www.hssv.org
(..back..)
DMV
Information www.dmv.ca.gov 1-800-777-0133
License: You are required
by California law to obtain a California driver’s
license within 10 days of establishing your residence. To obtain a license, you
must complete the following:
• A written test on the
rules of the road. (MANDATORY)
• An eye test
(MANDATORY)
• A driving test (Only
if you do not have a valid license in another state or if your license has been
revoked or expired for one year
• You must also be at
least 18 years of age
Vehicle Registration:
You must register your out-of-state vehicle upon entry. To avoid penalties, you
have only 20 days to resolve this matter. The Registration Fee of $28 and the
CHP Fee of $2 to $6 are due for the vast majority of vehicles registered for
use on the highway, plus any additional fees, paid annually. You must show
proof of insurance before registering your car. (MANDATORY)
Registration cost includes:
• Registration fees
• License plate charge
• Sales tax – (if car
was purchased within the last 90 days)
When registering, be sure to have:
• California smog certificate (upon entering
state, and every two years thereafter.)
• Out of state title and
registration
• The vehicle you are
registering
• Proof of insurance
Smog Certificates:
All automobiles in California
require a smog certification every two years which is required when you
register. California
tends to have very strict smog standards. Certification charges vary. Vehicles
with a year model 30 years old or older are exempt from the smog certification
requirements.
Seat Belt Law:
California
law requires that all persons in a vehicle must have proper seat belts.
Helmet Law:
A driver and any passenger shall wear a safety helmet meeting requirements
established pursuant to Section 27802 when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven
cycle or motorized bicycle. The fine for this violation can range from $10 up
to $250.
Youth Helmet Law:
A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a non-motorized
scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor
ride upon a bicycle, a non-motorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger,
upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways
Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a
properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently
established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who
rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the
bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.
A violation of this section is an
infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $25.
Child Safety Seats:
The new law says that children must be secured in an appropriate child
passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seats) until they are at least 6
years old or weigh over 60 pounds.
School Bus:
When you come upon a school bus stopped on either side of the road with
flashing red lights, you must stop.
The flashing red lights are located at the
top front and top back of the bus. Schoolchildren will be crossing the road to
or from the school bus. Remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing.
You may be fined up to $1000 and your driving privilege could be suspended for
a period of one year.
Automobile Insurance:
Automobile insurance is required and must provide at least these coverages:
$15,000 personal injury
(or death) for one person
$30,000 for multiple
injuries (or deaths)
$5,000 for property
damage
Drinking:
With a .08 alcohol level you may not drive, otherwise it will be considered a DUI.
Legal age to buy and consume alcohol is 21. Hours in which you may purchase
alcohol is 6 am to 2 pm.
DMV Offices are located at:
• Campbell: 430 Darryl Dr
• Los Gatos: 600 N. Santa Cruz Ave
• Mountain View: 595 Showers Dr
• San Jose: 180 Martinvale Ln
• Downtown San Jose: 111 West Alma Ave
• Santa Clara: 3665 Flora Vista Ave
• Gilroy: 8200 Church St
• Redwood City: 300 Brewster Ave
(..back..)
|
Airports:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oakland
International
|
www.flyoakland.com
|
510-563-3300
|
|
|
San
Francisco International
|
www.flysfo.com
|
650-821-8211
|
|
|
(Mineta) San Jose International
|
www.sjc.org
|
408-277-4759
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Trains:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amtrak
|
www.Amtrak.com
|
800-872-7245
|
|
|
Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
|
www.bart.gov
|
510-465-2278
|
|
|
Cal Train
|
www.caltrain.com
|
800-660-4287
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Bus:
|
|
|
|
|
|
AC Transit (Alameda County)
|
www.actransit.org
|
510-891-4700
510-477-0192
|
|
|
Greyhound Bus Lines
|
www.greyhound.com
|
800-231-2222
|
|
|
Muni
(San Francisco
Municipal Railway)
|
www.sfmuni.com
|
415-673-6864
|
|
|
Sam Trans (San Mateo County)
|
www.samtrans.com
|
800-660-4287
415-817-1717
|
|
|
VTA (Santa Clara County)
Valley Transportation Authority
|
www.vta.org
|
408-321-2300
800-894-9908
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Major Newspapers:
|
|
|
|
|
San
Jose Mercury News
750
Ridder Park Dr.
San Jose, CA
95190
|
www.mercurynews.com
|
408-920-5000
|
|
|
Oakland
Tribune
401
13th St Oakland,
CA 94604
|
www.oaklandtribune.com
|
510-208-6300
800-595-9595
|
|
|
San Francisco Chronicle
901
Mission St. San
Francisco, CA 95103
|
www.sfgate.com
|
415-777-1111
|
|
|
Sacramento
Bee
2100
Q Street Sacramento,
CA 95816
|
www.sacbee.com
|
916-321-1000
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Community Newspapers:
|
|
|
|
|
Business Journal
96
N. Third St. #100 San
Jose, CA 95112
|
www.sanjose.bizjournals.com
|
408-295-3800
Fax 295-5028
|
|
|
Campbell
Reporter
1095 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
|
www.campbellrep.com
|
408-200-1000
Fax 200-1013
|
|
|
El Observador
(Bilingual)
99 N. First St. #100 San Jose, CA 95113
|
www.el-observador.com
|
408-938-1700
Fax 938-1705
|
|
|
Gilroy
Dispatch
6400
Monterey St Gilroy,
CA 95020
|
www.gilroydispatch.com
|
408-842-6400
Fax 842-2206
|
|
|
Los
Altos Town
Crier
138
Main Street Los Altos,
CA 94022
|
www.latc.com
|
650-948-9000
Fax 948-6647
|
|
|
Los
Gatos Weekly Times
245
Almendra Ave
Los Gatos, CA
95030
|
www.lgwt.com
|
408-354-3110
Fax 354-3917
|
|
|
Metro News (entertainment)
550 S. First Street San Jose,
CA 95113
|
www.metroactive.com/metro
|
408-298-8000
Fax 271-3520
|
|
|
Milpitas
Post 59 Marylinn
Drive Milpitas, CA 95035
|
www.themilpitaspost.com
|
408-262-2454
Fax 263-9710
|
|
|
Morgan
Hill Times
30
E. Third St. Morgan Hill,
CA 95037
|
www.morganhilltimes.com
|
408-779-4106
Fax 779-3886
|
|
|
Palo
Alto Daily News
324
High St Palo Alto,
CA 94301
|
www.paloaltodailynews.com
|
650-327-9090
Fax 853-0904
|
|
|
Penny Saver (shopping)
2025
Gateway Pl #118 San
Jose, CA 95110
|
www.potpourri.com
|
408-216-6500
800-479-4795-ad
|
|
|
San Jose Post-Record (legal)
90 N. First St. #100 San Jose, CA 95113
|
www.dailyjournal.com
|
408-287-4866
Fax 287-2544
|
|
|
Saratoga
News
245
Almendra Avenue
Los Gatos, CA
95030
|
www.saratoganews.com
|
408-354-3110
Fax 354-3917
|
|
|
The Sunnyvale Sun
1095 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126
|
www.sunnyvalesun.com
|
408-200-1000
Fax 200-1013
|
|
|
Times Media (many local)
1310 Tully Rd. #107 San Jose, CA 95122
|
www.timesmediainc.com
|
408-494-7000
Fax 494-7078
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Television
Stations
|
|
|
|
|
KBHK Channel 44 (UPN)
855
Battery St. San
Francisco, CA 94111
|
www.kbhk.com
|
415-249-4444
|
|
|
KBWB Channel 20 (WB)
2500
Marin St. San
Francisco, CA 94124
|
www.wb20.com
|
415-821-2020
|
|
|
KDTV Channel 14 (Univision)
50
Fremont St. San
Francisco, CA 94105
|
www.univision.com
|
415-538-8000
|
|
|
KGO Channel 7 (ABC)
900
Front St. San
Francisco, CA 94111
|
www.abc7news.com
|
415-954-7777
|
|
|
KICU Channel 36
2102
Commerce Drive San Jose,
CA 95131
|
www.kicu.com
|
408-953-3636
|
|
|
KKPX Channel 65 (PAX)
848
Battery St. San
Francisco, CA 95111
|
www.paxtv.com
|
415-276-1400
|
|
|
KNTV Channel 11 (NBC)
645
Park Avenue San Jose,
CA 95110
|
www.nbc11.com
|
408-286-1111
|
|
|
KPIX Channel 5 (CBS)
855
Battery St. San
Francisco, CA 94111
|
www.kpix.com
|
415-362-5550
|
|
|
KRON Channel 4 (Independent)
1001 Van Ness Ave. San Fran. CA 94109
|
www.kron.com
|
415-441-4444
|
|
|
KSTS Channel 48 (Telemundo)
2349
Bering Drive San Jose,
CA 95131
|
www.telemundo.com
|
408-944-4848
|
|
|
KTEH Channel 54 (Public)
1585 Schallenberger
San Jose, CA
95131
|
www.kteh.org
|
408-795-5400
|
|
|
KTVU Channel 2 (Fox)
2
Jack London Square Oakland,
CA 94607
|
www.ktvu.com
|
510-834-1212
|
|
|
KQED Channel 9 (Public)
2601
Mariposa St. San Fran.,
CA 94110
|
www.kqed.org
|
415-864-2000
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Professional Sports Teams
|
|
|
|
Sport
|
Team
|
|
Phone
|
|
Hockey
|
San
Jose Sharks
HP Pavilion at San Jose
|
www.sj-sharks.com
|
408-287-7070
|
|
Soccer
|
San
Jose Earthquakes
Spartan Stadium
|
www.sjearthquakes.com
|
408-260-6300
|
|
Indoor Football
|
San
Jose Sabercats
HP Pavilion at San Jose
|
www.sanjosesabercats.com
|
408-573-5577
|
|
Indoor Lacrosse
|
San Jose Stealth
HP Pavilion at San Jose
|
www.bayarealacrosse.com
|
408-999-5700
|
|
Baseball
|
San
Francisco Giants
SBC
Park
|
www.sfgiants.com
|
415-972-2298
|
|
Football
|
San
Francisco 49ers
Candlestick
Park
|
www.sf49ers.com
|
415-656-4900
|
|
Baseball
|
Oakland
A’s
Network Associates Coliseum
|
www.oaklandathletics.com
|
510-638-4627
|
|
Football
|
Oakland
Raiders
Network Associates Coliseum
|
www.raiders.com
|
510-864-5000
|
|
Basketball
|
Golden
State
Warriors
Oakland
Arena
|
www.nba.com/warriors
|
510-986-2200
|
|
Baseball
|
San Jose Giants (A league)
San
Jose Municipal Stadium
|
www.sjgiants.com
|
408-297-1435
x 15
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
College Sports
|
|
|
|
|
San
Jose State
Spartans
|
www.sjsuspartans.com
|
408-924-1000 x4
|
|
|
Santa
Clara University
Broncos
|
www.sju.edu.com
|
408-554-4000
|
|
|
Stanford Cardinal
|
www.stanford.edu
|
650-723-1021
|
|
|
Cal Berkeley Bears
|
www.berkeley.edu
|
1-800-GO-BEARS
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Event Centers
|
|
|
|
|
HP Pavilion at San Jose
|
|
408-287-7070 – events
408-998-8497 – tickets
|
|
|
Candlestick
Park
|
|
415-656-4949 - 49ers
|
|
|
SBC
Park
|
|
415-972-2000
|
|
|
Oakland
Arena & Network Associates Coliseum
|
|
510-569-2121 – events
|
|
|
Cow
Palace
|
|
415-404-4100 - info
415-404-4111 – tickets
|
|
|
Spartan Stadium
|
|
408-924-1200 – sjsu
408-924-7589 – tickets
|
|
|
San
Jose State
Event Center
|
|
408-924-6333 – sjsu
|
|
|
Flint
Center (Cupertino)
|
|
408-864-8820
|
|
|
Stanford Stadium
|
|
650-723-1021
|
|
|
San
Jose McEnery Convention
Center
|
|
408-277-3900 – hotline
|
|
|
San
Jose Civic Auditorium
|
|
408-277-3900 – hotline
|
|
|
Shoreline Amphitheater at Mountain View
|
|
650-962-1000
650-967-3000
|
|
|
Chronicle Pavilion at Concord
|
|
925-676-8742 - office
925-363-5701 -recorded
|
|
|
Fillmore (San Francisco)
|
|
415-346-6000
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Universities
and Colleges
|
|
|
|
|
San
Jose State
University
One
Washington Square San
Jose 95192
|
www.sjsu.edu
|
408-924-1166
|
|
|
Santa
Clara University
500 El Camino Real Santa Clara 95050
|
www.scu.edu
|
408-554-4000
|
|
|
Stanford
University
University Ave. Stanford 94305
|
www.stanford.edu
|
650-723-2300
|
|
|
University
of California, Santa Cruz
1156
High Street Santa Cruz
95064
|
www.ucsc.edu
|
831-459-0111
|
|
|
University
of California,
Berkeley
Oxford
Street Berkeley
94720
|
www.berkeley.edu
|
510-642-6000
|
|
|
University
of San Francisco
2130
Fulton Street San
Francisco 94117
|
www.usfca.edu
|
415-422-5555
|
|
|
Saint Mary’s College of California
1928 Saint Mary’s Road Moraga 94556
|
www.stmarys-ca.edu
|
925-631-4000
|
|
|
Golden
Gate University
536
Mission Street San
Francisco 94105
|
www.ggu.edu
|
415-442-7800
|
|
|
National
Hispanic University
14271
Story Road San Jose
95127
|
www.nhu.edu
|
408-254-6900
|
|
|
The Art Institute of Calif. - San Fran.
1170
Market Street San
Francisco 94102
|
www.aicasf.artinstitue.edu
|
415-865-0198
|
|
|
DeVry University
6600
Dumbarton Circle Fremont
94555
|
www.devry.com
|
510-742-0375
|
|
|
University
of Phoenix
3590 North First San Jose 95134
|
www.phoenix.com
|
408-435-8500
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Community Colleges
|
|
|
|
|
Evergreen
Valley College
3095
Yerba Buena Road
San Jose 95135
|
www.evc.edu
|
408-274-7900
|
|
|
West
Valley Junior
College
14000
Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga
95070
|
www.westvalley.edu
|
408-867-2200
|
|
|
San
Jose City
College
2100
Moorpark Avenue San
Jose 95125
|
www.sjcc.edu
|
408-298-2181
|
|
|
Mission
College
3000 Mission
College Santa Clara 95054
|
www.missioncollege.org
|
408-988-2200
|
|
|
De Anza College
21250 Stevens
Creek Cupertino 95014
|
www.deanza.edu
|
408-864-5678
|
|
|
Foothill
College
12345
El Monte Road Los Altos
94022
|
www.foothhill.edu
|
650-949-7777
|
|
|
Gavilan
College
5055
Santa Teresa Blvd. Gilroy
95020
|
www.gavilan.edu
|
408-847-1400
|
|
|
Cabrillo College
6500
Soquel Drive Aptos
95003
|
www.cabrillo.edu
|
831-479-6100
|
|
|
Ohlone
College
43600
Mission Blvd. Fremont
94539
|
www.ohlone.edu
|
510-659-6000
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Santa Clara County School
Districts
|
|
|
|
|
Santa Clara
County Office of Education
|
www.sccoe.k12.ca.us
|
|
|
|
Alum
Rock Union
Elementary School
|
www.alumrock.k12.ca.us
|
408-928-6800
|
|
|
Berryessa
Union Elementary
School
|
www.berryessa.k12.ca.us
|
408-923-1800
|
|
|
Cambrian
Union Elementary
School
|
www.cambrian.k12.ca.us
|
408-377-2103
|
|
|
Campbell
Union Elementary
School
|
www.campbellusd.org
|
408-364-4200
|
|
|
Campbell
Union High
School
|
www.cuhsd.org
|
408-371-0960
|
|
|
Cupertino
Union School
|
www.cupertino.k12.ca.us
|
408-252-3000
|
|
|
East
Side Union
High School
|
www.esuhsd.org
|
408-347-5000
|
|
|
Evergreen
School
|
www.esd.k12.ca.us
|
408-270-6800
|
|
|
Franklin-McKinley
School
|
www.fmsd.k12.ca.us
|
408-283-6006
|
|
|
Fremont
Union High
School
|
www.fuhsd.org
|
408-522-2200
|
|
|
Gilroy
Unified School
|
www.gusd.k12.ca.us
|
408-847-2700
|
|
|
Lakeside
Joint School
|
www.lakesidesd.k12.ca.us
|
408-354-2372
|
|
|
Loma
Prieta Joint Union
School
|
www.loma.k12.ca.us
|
408-353-1101
|
|
|
Los
Altos School
|
www.losaltos.k12.ca.us
|
650-947-1150
|
|
|
Los
Gatos Union
Elementary School
|
www.lgusd.k12.ca.us
|
408-335-2000
|
|
|
Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High
|
www.lgsuhsd.org
|
408-254-2520
|
|
|
Luther
Burbank School
|
www.lbsd.k12.ca.us
|
408-295-2450
|
|
|
Metropolitan Education
|
www.metroed.net
|
408-723-6464
|
|
|
Milpitas
Unified School
|
www.musd.org
|
408-945-2300
|
|
|
Montebello
School
|
www.montebelloschool.org
|
408-867-3618
|
|
|
Moreland
School
|
www.moreland.k12.ca.us
|
408-874-2900
|
|
|
Morgan
Hill Unified School
|
www.mhu.k12.ca.us
|
408-201-6023
|
|
|
Mount
Pleasant School
|
www.mountpleasant.k12.ca.us
|
408-223-3700
|
|
|
Mountain View/Whisman
School
|
www.mvsd.k12.ca.us
|
650-526-3500
|
|
|
Oak
Grove Elementary
School
|
www.ogsd.k12.ca.us
|
408-227-8300
|
|
|
Orchard
School
|
|
408-944-0397
|
|
|
Palo Alto Unified School
|
www.pausd.palo-alto.ca.us
|
650-329-3700
|
|
|
San
Jose Unified School
|
www.sjusd.k12.ca.us
|
408-535-6000
|
|
|
Santa
Clara Unified School
|
www.scu.k12.ca.us
|
408-423-2000
|
|
|
Saratoga
Union School
|
www.susd.k12.ca.us
|
408-867-3424
|
|
|
Sunnyvale
Elementary School
|
www.sesd.org
|
408-522-8200
|
|
|
Union
Elementary School
|
www.unionsd.k12.ca.us
|
408-377-8010
|
|
|
|
|
(..back..)
|
|
Major Shopping Centers
|
|
|
|
|
Vallco
Fashion Park
Wolfe
Road at Highway 280 in Cupertino
|
www.vallcomall.com
|
408-255-5660
|
|
|
Gilroy
Premium Outlets
Highway 101 at Leavesley Rd. in Gilroy
|
www.premiumoutlets.com
|
408-847-4155
|
|
|
Stanford
Shopping Center
El Camino Real between University Ave.
and Alma St
in Palo Alto
|
www.stanfordshop.com
|
650-617-8230
|
|
|
Almaden
Plaza
Almaden Expwy & Blossom Hill San Jose
|
www.almadenplaza.com
|
408-264-3766
|
|
|
Eastridge Shopping Center
Tully Rd. at Capital Expwy in San Jose
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www.eastridgecenter.com
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