Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS›Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
Division 5.1 — PLANNING AND DESIGN
Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto
Sections in this part
16.14.280 Non-residential projects: Chapter 5 Preface Green Building Requirements for Project Type and Scope.¶
A Preface is added to Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code to read:
Preface - Green Building Requirements for Project Type and Scope.For design and construction of non-residential projects, the city requires compliance with the mandatory measures of Chapter 5, in addition to use of Tier 1 and Tier 2 as specified in Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.14. See Section 202 for definitions on CALGreen MANDATORY, Tier 1 prerequisites and electives, and Tier 2 prerequisites and electives. All elective measures are adopted as written under Appendix A5 unless otherwise indicated in this section.
(Ord. 5678 § 2 (part), 2025)
16.14.285 Section 5.105.1 Scoping.¶
Section 5.105.1 of Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read:
16.14.290 Section 5.106.1.1 Local ordinance.¶
Section 5.106.1.1 of Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read:
16.14.295 Section 5.106.8 Light pollution reduction.¶
Section 5.106.8 of Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read:
5.106.8 Light pollution reduction.¶
Outdoor lighting systems shall be designed and installed to comply with the following:
The minimum requirements in the California Energy Code for Lighting Zones 0-4 as defined in Chapter 10, Section 10-114 of the California Administrative Code; and
Backlight (B) ratings as defined in IES TM-15-11 (shown in Table A1 in Chapter 8);
Uplight and Glare ratings as defined in California Energy Code (shown in Tables 130.2-A and 130.2-B in Chapter 8); and
Allowable BUG ratings not exceeding those shown in Table 5.106.8 [N]; or
Comply with a local ordinance lawfully enacted pursuant to Section 101.7, whichever is more stringent.
Projects may use an approved equal reference standard for light fixtures where BUG ratings are unavailable.
Exceptions:
Luminaires that qualify as exceptions in Section 103.2(b) and 140.7 of the California Energy Code.
Emergency lighting.
Building facade meeting the requirements in Table 140.7-B of the California Energy Code, Part 6.
Custom lighting features as allowed by the local enforcing agency, as permitted by Section 101.8 Alternate materials, designs and methods
of construction.
- Luminaires with less than 6,200 initial luminiaire lumens.
(Ord. 5678 § 2 (part), 2025)
16.14.300 Section 5.106.13 Full electrification.¶
Section 5.106 of Chapter 4 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to add new subsection, 5.106.13 as follows:
5.106.13 Full electrification.¶
Full electrification is recommended for new buildings, substantial remodels, and new outdoor
appliances/equipment such as fireplaces, firepits, heaters for swimming pool/spa, and similar equipment. Full electrification is required for outdoor grills, stoves, and barbecues. This subsection does not prohibit freestanding and/or portable grills, stoves, and barbecues whose source of energy is self-contained fuel canisters.
(Ord. 5678 § 2 (part), 2025)
16.14.310 Reserved.¶
16.14.320 Reserved.¶
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Ask AI about this code▸Contents — Palo Alto Municipal Code
- Article VIII — A. Board of Education
- Title 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Title 2 — ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
- Title 4 — BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS
- Title 5 — HEALTH AND SANITATION
- Title 6 — ANIMALS
- Title 8 — TREES AND VEGETATION
- Title 9 — PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
- Title 10 — VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
- Title 11 — ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
- Title 12 — PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
- Title 13 — IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE
- Title 15 — FIRE PREVENTION
▸Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
Overview- 16.04 California Building Code, California Code of Regulations…
- 16.05 California Mechanical Code, California Code of Regulatio…
- 16.08 California Plumbing Code, California Code of Regulations…
- 16.09 Sewer Use Ordinance
- 16.10 Private Sewage Disposal Systems
- 16.11 Stormwater Pollution Prevention
- 16.12 Recycled Water
- 16.13 Requirements for Food Facilities Related to Water Pollut…
- 16.14 California Green Building Standards Code, California Cod…
- 16.15 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
- 16.17 California Energy Code, California Code of Regulations, …
- 16.19 California Historical Building Code, California Code of …
- 16.20 Signs
- 16.24 Fences
- 16.28 Excavations, Grading and Fills
- 16.32 Moving and Relocating Buildings
- 16.36 House Numbering
- 16.38 Certificate of Use and Occupancy for Community Housing
- 16.40 Unsafe Buildings
- 16.42 Seismic Hazards Identification Program
- 16.44 Fallout Shelters
- 16.45 Transportation Impact Fee for New Nonresidential Develop…
- 16.46 Approval of Projects with Impacts on Traffic in the San …
- 16.47 Reserved
- 16.48 Reserved
- 16.49 Historic Preservation
- 16.50 Reserved
- 16.52 Flood Hazard Regulations
- 16.56 Handicapped Access Regulations - Appeal
- 16.57 In-Lieu Parking Fee for New Nonresidential Development i…
- 16.58 Development Impact Fees
- 16.59 Citywide Transportation Impact Fee
- 16.60 Charleston Arastradero Corridor Pedestrian and Bicyclist…
- 16.61 Public Art for Private Developments
- 16.62 Expired Permits for Residential Construction and Demolit…
- 16.63 Small Residential Rooftop Solar Energy Systems
- 16.64 Development Fee and In-lieu Payment Administration
- 16.65 Citywide Affordable Housing Requirements
- 16.66 Hauled Liquid Waste
- Chapter 16.04 — CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
- Chapter 16.05 — CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
- Chapter 16.08 — CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
- Chapter 16.09 — SEWER USE ORDINANCE
- Chapter 16.10 — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
- Chapter 16.11 — STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION
- Part 2 — General Provisions
- Part 3 — Development Projects
- Part 10 — Copper Controls
- Part 3 — Development Projects
- Part 4 — Required Best Management Practices for All Dischargers
- Part 5 — Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination and Mobil…
- Part 6 — Pesticides Toxicity Control
- Part 7 — Trash Load Reductions
- Part 8 — Mercury Controls
- Part 9 — Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Controls
- Part 10 — Copper Controls
- Chapter 16.12 — RECYCLED WATER
- Chapter 16.13 — REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD FACILITIES RELATED TO WA…
- Part 6 — Rooftop Grease Containment System Requirements
- Part 11 — Food Facility Closure or Ownership Change
- Part 3 — Authority to Inspect and Enforce
- Part 4 — Prohibited Discharges, Devices, and Connections
- Part 5 — Grease Control Device Requirements
- Part 6 — Rooftop Grease Containment System Requirements
- Part 7 — Waste Oil Management Requirements
- Part 8 — Spill Response Requirements
- Part 9 — Best Management Practices for Existing Facilities
- Part 10 — Mobile Food Facilities
- Part 11 — Food Facility Closure or Ownership Change
- Chapter 16.14 — CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE,
- Part 1 — General
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL
- Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL
- Part 7 — Local Modifications to
- Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL
- Part 9 — Local Modifications to
- Part 1 — General
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
- Chapter 3 — GREEN BUILDING
- Chapter 4 — RESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Chapter 7 — INSTALLER AND SPECIAL INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
- Part 7 — Local Modifications to
▸Chapter 5 — NONRESIDENTIAL MANDATORY MEASURES
- Part 9 — Local Modifications to
- Chapter 16.16 — CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
- Chapter 16.17 — CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
- Chapter 16.19 — CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, CALIFORNI…
- Chapter 16.20 — SIGNS
- Chapter 16.20 — Table 1
- Chapter 16.20 — Table 2
- Chapter 16.20 — Table 2
- Chapter 16.20 — Table 3
- Chapter 16.24 — FENCES
- Chapter 16.28 — GRADING AND EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL
- Chapter 16.32 — MOVING AND RELOCATING BUILDINGS
- Chapter 16.36 — HOUSE NUMBERING
- Chapter 16.38 — CERTIFICATE OF USE AND OCCUPANCY FOR COMMUNITY
- Chapter 16.40 — UNSAFE BUILDINGS
- Chapter 16.44 — FALLOUT SHELTERS
- Chapter 16.45 — TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE FOR NEW NONRESIDENTIAL
- Chapter 16.46 — APPROVAL OF PROJECTS WITH IMPACTS ON TRAFFIC I…
- Chapter 16.48 — RESERVED
- Chapter 16.49 — HISTORIC PRESERVATION
- Chapter 16.50 — RESERVED
- Chapter 16.52 — FLOOD HAZARD REGULATIONS
- Chapter 16.56 — HANDICAPPED ACCESS REGULATIONS - APPEAL
- Chapter 16.57 — IN-LIEU PARKING FEE FOR NEW NONRESIDENTIAL DEV…
- Chapter 16.58 — DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES
- Chapter 16.59 — CITYWIDE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEE
- Chapter 16.60 — CHARLESTON ARASTRADERO CORRIDOR PEDESTRIAN
- Chapter 16.61 — PUBLIC ART FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS
- Chapter 16.62 — EXPIRED PERMITS FOR RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION AND
- Chapter 16.63 — SMALL RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 16.64 — DEVELOPMENT FEE AND IN-LIEU PAYMENT ADMINISTRA…
- Chapter 16.66 — HAULED LIQUID WASTE
- Title 17 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE
- Title 18 — ZONING
- Title 19 — MASTER PLAN
- Article 7 — AUTHORITY FOR AND SCOPE OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLANS.
- Article 8 — PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION OF MASTER OR GENERAL PLAN.
- Chapter 19.06 — SPECIFIC PLANS
- Chapter 19.10 — COORDINATED AREA PLANS
- Title 20 — PRECISE PLANS
- Title 21 — SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND
- Title 22 — PARKS