East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 18.84 Zoning Clearances

Zoning Clearance is the procedure used by the City to verify a proposed land use or structure complies with the uses allowed in the applicable zone and the development standards applicable to the use or structure.

A. A Zoning Clearance is required when any provision of the Development Code indicates a Zoning Clearance is a prerequisite to establishing a land use or structure, including before the initiation or commencement of any use of land not requiring the construction of a structure; before the City issues a new or modified building permit, grading permit, or other construction-related permit required for the alteration, construction, modification, moving, or reconstruction of any structure; whenever a use is proposed to be changed from a use for which a Zoning Clearance has been issued; for a change of lessee, operator, or owner even when the change does not involve a change in the use being conducted on the subject property, to ensure the new lessee, operator, or owner is made aware of requirements applicable to the subject use and any conditions of approval imposed through a discretionary permit authorizing the use.

B. A Zoning Clearance shall be obtained before the City issues a new or modified business license in compliance with Municipal Code Chapter 5.04.

The Director may issue a Zoning Clearance only after confirming that the proposed land use and/or structure is in full compliance with all of the applicable provisions of the Development Code.

Zoning Clearance approval may be in the form of a stamp, signature, or other official notation on approved plans, a letter to the applicant, or other certification, at the discretion of the Director.

The procedures and requirements related to permit implementation and to appeals and revocation apply following the decision on a Zoning Clearance application.