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Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS

Chapter 16.38 — CERTIFICATE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY FOR COMMUNITY

Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto

16.38.010 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(a) "Association" means the organization of persons who own a lot, parcel, area, condominium or right of exclusive occupancy in a community housing project.

(b) "Community housing" and "community housing project" mean and include the following: a condominium project, as defined in Section 1350 of the Civil Code, containing two or more condominiums, as defined in Section 783 of the Civil Code; a community apartment project, as defined in Section 11004 of the Business and Professions Code, containing two or more rights of exclusive occupancy; a stock cooperative, as defined in Section 11003.2 of the Business and Professions Code, containing two or more rights of exclusive occupancy; and a planned development, as defined in Section 11003 of the Business and Professions Code, containing two or more separately owned lots, parcels or areas.

(c) "Developer" means the owner or subdivider with a controlling proprietary interest in the community housing project, or the person or organization making application under this chapter.

(d) "Organizational documents" means the declaration of restrictions, articles of incorporation, bylaws and any contracts for the maintenance, management or operation of all or any part of a community housing project.

(Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.020 Certificate of use and occupancy for community housing.

A developer shall first obtain a certificate of use and occupancy for community housing prior to the sale, lease, use or occupancy of any building or structure as community housing.

Such certificate shall be obtained regardless of the previous use, occupancy or tenancy or whether any changes, alterations or modifications have been made to any portion of any existing building or structure.

Application for a certificate of use and occupancy for community housing shall be made to the building official. Such application shall be submitted with an inspection fee as set forth in the municipal fee schedule, and shall include the following:

(a) The organizational documents;

(b) A preliminary annual operating budget containing a sinking fund reasonably calculated to accumulate reserve funds to pay for major anticipated maintenance, repair or replacement expenses.

(Ord. 3295 § 2, 1981: Ord. 2960 § 66, 1976: Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.030 General requirements for certificate.

The requirements for issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy for all community housing projects are as follows:

(a) The organizational documents shall provide that the association is responsible for maintenance and landscaping of all parts of the community housing project which are held in common and that such maintenance shall be performed to the standard of maintenance prevalent in the neighborhood.

(b) The organizational documents shall allow the association to terminate the contract of any person or organization engaged by the developer to perform management or maintenance duties three months after the association assumes control of the community housing project or any time thereafter.

(c) Any violations of the Uniform Housing Code, promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials, shall be corrected and any equipment or facilities which the building official determines are deteriorated or hazardous shall be repaired or replaced.

(Ord. 4642 §§ 17, 27, 2000: Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.040 Unoccupied structures.

Buildings and structures which have not been previously occupied or used shall comply with the following requirements, in addition to those in Section 16.38.030:

(a) At least two hundred cubic feet, with a minimum horizontal surface area of twenty-five square feet, or enclosed, weatherproof, lockable storage space shall be provided for each dwelling unit. Such storage space shall be in addition to that ordinarily contained within a unit as cabinets, pantries and clothes closets. Such storage space may be located in or separated from the dwelling unit.

(b) Wall and floor-ceiling assemblies shall conform to the sound insulation performance criteria promulgated in Title 25, California Administrative Code, Section 1092, or its successor.

(c) The consumption of gas and electricity within each dwelling unit shall be separately metered so that the unit owner can be separately billed for each utility. A water shut-off valve shall be provided for each unit.

(d) All permanent mechanical equipment, including domestic appliances, which is determined by the building official to be a source or potential source of vibration or noise, shall be shock-mounted, isolated from the floor and ceiling, or otherwise installed in a manner approved by the building official to lessen the transmission of vibration and noise.

(Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.050 Previously occupied structures.

Buildings and structures that have been previously occupied shall comply with the additional requirements set forth in Section21.40.060 of the chapter on conversions of rental housing to condominiums and other community housing projects.

(Ord. 3295 § 3, 1981: Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.060 Issuance of certificate.

(a) Upon receipt of an application for a certificate of use and occupancy for community housing, the building official shall cause an inspection to be made of all buildings and structures in the proposed community housing project. The building official shall prepare an inspection report identifying all items in violation of the Uniform Housing Code and any additional equipment and facilities he determines to be deteriorated or hazardous.

The initial inspection report shall be presented to the developer who shall correct all violations of the Uniform Housing Code and repair or replace any equipment or facilities determined to be deteriorated or hazardous.

(b) The building official shall review the property report and may require its revision and resubmission if he determines that substantial evidence shows that any statement therein is without foundation in fact. Such report may be revised to reflect improvement, repair or replacement.

(c) The developer shall repair or replace any damaged or infested areas in need of repair or placement as shown in the structural pest report.

(d) The building official shall cause a final inspection of all buildings and structures to be made, upon request by the developer, to determine that the requirements of this chapter have been fulfilled. The building official shall then mark the inspection report to show the corrections, repairs and replacements which have been made.

(e) The organizational documents shall be submitted to the city attorney for a determination that such documents comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(f) (1) The building official shall issue a certificate of use and occupancy for community housing if the requirements of this chapter have been fulfilled. The property report, the marked inspection report, the structural pest report and the preliminary annual operating budget shall be kept on file for five years as public records in the division of inspectional services and copies of such documents shall be sent to the real estate commissioner.

(2) The property report and a primer relating to community housing for prospective purchasers of community housing, approved by the director of planning, shall be presented by the developer to each prospective purchaser of any interest in a community housing project prior to taking a written offer to sell or lease. The developer shall also present to each prospective purchaser, prior to taking a written offer to sell or lease, written notice that property taxes are likely to increase if the project is reassessed as community housing and that monthly association fees are difficult to predict and may increase substantially.

(Ord. 2852 § 1, 1975: Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.070 Advertising.

The developer shall make no advertising use of such certificate of use and occupancy for community housing or the fact that such certificate has been issued.

(Ord. 2821 § 1 (part), 1974)

16.38.080 Voidable transactions.

Any sale, lease, contract to sell or lease, deed or conveyance of any building, structure or unit therein, or right of exclusive occupancy made contrary to the provisions of this chapter is voidable at the sole option of the purchaser, person contracting to purchase, lessee, grantee, his heir, personal representative, or trustee in insolvency or bankruptcy within one year after the date of execution of the deed, conveyance, lease or contract to sell, but such instrument is binding upon any assignee or transferee of the grantee, buyer or person contracting to purchase, lease or take and upon the grantor, vendor, lessor or person or organization contracting to sell, lease or convey, and his assignee, transferee, heir or devisee.

(Ord. 2821 § l (part), 1974)

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▸Contents — Palo Alto Municipal Code
Palo Alto Municipal Code
  1. Article VIII — A. Board of Education
  2. Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
  3. Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
  4. Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
  5. Title 5 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
  6. Title 6 — ANIMALS
  7. Title 8 — TREES AND VEGETATION
  8. Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
  9. Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
  10. Title 11 — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
  11. Title 12 — PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
  12. Title 13 — IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE
  13. Title 15 — FIRE PREVENTION
  14. ▸Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
    Overview
    1. 16.04 California Building Code, California Code of Regulations…
    2. 16.05 California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulatio…
    3. 16.08 California Plumbing Code, California Code of Regulations…
    4. 16.09 Sewer Use Ordinance
    5. 16.10 Private Sewage Disposal Systems
    6. 16.11 Stormwater Pollution Prevention
    7. 16.12 Recycled Water
    8. 16.13 Requirements for Food Facilities Related to Water Pollut…
    9. 16.14 California Green Building Standards Code, California Cod…
    10. 16.15 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
    11. 16.17 California Energy Code, California Code of Regulations, …
    12. 16.19 California Historical Building Code, California Code of …
    13. 16.20 Signs
    14. 16.24 Fences
    15. 16.28 Excavations, Grading and Fills
    16. 16.32 Moving and Relocating Buildings
    17. 16.36 House Numbering
    18. 16.38 Certificate of Use and Occupancy for Community Housing
    19. 16.40 Unsafe Buildings
    20. 16.42 Seismic Hazards Identification Program
    21. 16.44 Fallout Shelters
    22. 16.45 Transportation Impact Fee for New Nonresidential Develop…
    23. 16.46 Approval of Projects with Impacts on Traffic in the San …
    24. 16.47 Reserved
    25. 16.48 Reserved
    26. 16.49 Historic Preservation
    27. 16.50 Reserved
    28. 16.52 Flood Hazard Regulations
    29. 16.56 Handicapped Access Regulations - Appeal
    30. 16.57 In-Lieu Parking Fee for New Nonresidential Development i…
    31. 16.58 Development Impact Fees
    32. 16.59 Citywide Transportation Impact Fee
    33. 16.60 Charleston Arastradero Corridor Pedestrian and Bicyclist…
    34. 16.61 Public Art for Private Developments
    35. 16.62 Expired Permits for Residential Construction and Demolit…
    36. 16.63 Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems
    37. 16.64 Development Fee and In-lieu Payment Administration
    38. 16.65 Citywide Affordable Housing Requirements
    39. 16.66 Hauled Liquid Waste
    40. Chapter 16.04 — CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
    41. Chapter 16.05 — CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
    42. Chapter 16.08 — CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
    43. Chapter 16.09 — SEWER USE ORDINANCE
    44. Chapter 16.10 — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
    45. Chapter 16.11 — STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION
    46. Part 2 — General Provisions
    47. Part 3 — Development Projects
    48. Part 10 — Copper Controls
    49. Part 3 — Development Projects
    50. Part 4 — Required Best Management Practices for All Dischargers
    51. Part 5 — Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination and Mobil…
    52. Part 6 — Pesticides Toxicity Control
    53. Part 7 — Trash Load Reductions
    54. Part 8 — Mercury Controls
    55. Part 9 — Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Controls
    56. Part 10 — Copper Controls
    57. Chapter 16.12 — RECYCLED WATER
    58. Chapter 16.13 — REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD FACILITIES RELATED TO WA…
    59. Part 6 — Rooftop Grease Containment System Requirements
    60. Part 11 — Food Facility Closure or Ownership Change
    61. Part 3 — Authority to Inspect and Enforce
    62. Part 4 — Prohibited Discharges, Devices, and Connections
    63. Part 5 — Grease Control Device Requirements
    64. Part 6 — Rooftop Grease Containment System Requirements
    65. Part 7 — Waste Oil Management Requirements
    66. Part 8 — Spill Response Requirements
    67. Part 9 — Best Management Practices for Existing Facilities
    68. Part 10 — Mobile Food Facilities
    69. Part 11 — Food Facility Closure or Ownership Change
    70. Chapter 16.14 — CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE,
    71. Part 1 — General
    72. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL
    73. Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL
    74. Part 7 — Local Modifications to
    75. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL
    76. Part 9 — Local Modifications to
    77. Part 1 — General
    78. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
    79. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
    80. Chapter 3 — GREEN BUILDING
    81. Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
    82. Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
    83. Part 7 — Local Modifications to
    84. Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
    85. Part 9 — Local Modifications to
    86. Chapter 16.16 — CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
    87. Chapter 16.17 — CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
    88. Chapter 16.19 — CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNI…
    89. Chapter 16.20 — SIGNS
    90. Chapter 16.20 — Table 1
    91. Chapter 16.20 — Table 2
    92. Chapter 16.20 — Table 2
    93. Chapter 16.20 — Table 3
    94. Chapter 16.24 — FENCES
    95. Chapter 16.28 — GRADING AND EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL
    96. Chapter 16.32 — MOVING AND RELOCATING BUILDINGS
    97. Chapter 16.36 — HOUSE NUMBERING
    98. Chapter 16.38 — CERTIFICATE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY FOR COMMUNITY
    99. Chapter 16.40 — UNSAFE BUILDINGS
    100. Chapter 16.44 — FALLOUT SHELTERS
    101. Chapter 16.45 — TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE FOR NEW NONRESIDENTIAL
    102. Chapter 16.46 — APPROVAL OF PROJECTS WITH IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC I…
    103. Chapter 16.48 — RESERVED
    104. Chapter 16.49 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
    105. Chapter 16.50 — RESERVED
    106. Chapter 16.52 — FLOOD HAZARD REGULATIONS
    107. Chapter 16.56 — HANDICAPPED ACCESS REGULATIONS - APPEAL
    108. Chapter 16.57 — IN-LIEU PARKING FEE FOR NEW NONRESIDENTIAL DEV…
    109. Chapter 16.58 — DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES
    110. Chapter 16.59 — CITYWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
    111. Chapter 16.60 — CHARLESTON ARASTRADERO CORRIDOR PEDESTRIAN
    112. Chapter 16.61 — PUBLIC ART FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS
    113. Chapter 16.62 — EXPIRED PERMITS FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND
    114. Chapter 16.63 — SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
    115. Chapter 16.64 — DEVELOPMENT FEE AND IN-LIEU PAYMENT ADMINISTRA…
    116. Chapter 16.66 — HAULED LIQUID WASTE
  15. Title 17 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE
  16. Title 18 — ZONING
  17. Title 19 — MASTER PLAN
  18. Article 7 — AUTHORITY FOR AND SCOPE OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLANS.
  19. Article 8 — PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.
  20. Chapter 19.06 — SPECIFIC PLANS
  21. Chapter 19.10 — COORDINATED AREA PLANS
  22. Title 20 — PRECISE PLANS
  23. Title 21 — SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND
  24. Title 22 — PARKS

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