Chapter 18.30 — (F)

Palo Alto Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Palo Alto

AUTOMOBILE DEALERSHIP (AD)

COMBINING DISTRICT REGULATIONS

Sections:

18.30(F).010 Specific Purposes

18.30(F).020 Applicability of Regulations

18.30(F).030 Zoning Map Designation 18.30(F).040 Permitted Uses 18.30(F).045 Conditional Uses 18.30(F).050 Site Development Regulations

18.30(F).060 Parking and Loading

18.30(F).070 Special Requirements

18.30(F).010 Specific Purposes

The automobile dealership (AD) combining district is intended to modify the regulations of the service commercial (CS) and general manufacturing (GM or GM(B)) districts to create and maintain areas accommodating automobile dealerships primarily engaged in new and used automobile sales and service on a citywide and regional basis. Such uses generally require special parking, access, and outdoor display provisions for customer convenience, servicing of vehicles or equipment, loading or unloading, or parking of commercial service vehicles.

(Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)

18.30(F).020 Applicability of Regulations

The combining district may be combined with a service commercial (CS) district, a general manufacturing (GM or GM(B)) district, or limited manufacturing (LM) zoning district parcels within 1/4 mile of the intersection at San Antonio Road and Bayshore Freeway (Highway 101), but not directly adjacent nor directly opposite (across a street) from a low-density residential (R-1, RE, R-2, RMD) nor residential PC zoning district in accord with Chapters 18.08 and 18.80. Where so combined, the regulations established by this chapter shall apply in lieu of the comparable provisions established by the service commercial district or community commercial district.

(Ord. 4889 § 2, 2006: Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)

18.30(F).030 Zoning Map Designation

The service commercial combining district shall apply to properties designated on the zoning map by the symbol "AD" within parentheses, following the service commercial (CS) or general manufacturing (GM or GM(B)) designation with which it is combined.

(Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)

18.30(F).040 Permitted Uses

The following uses shall be permitted in the (AD) combining district:

  • (a) Automobile dealerships.

  • (b) All other uses permitted in the underlying district.

  • (Ord. 5651 § 8, 2025: Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)

18.30(F).045 Conditional Uses

The following uses may be conditionally permitted in the (AD) district, subject to the issuance of a conditional use permit in accord with Chapter 18.76 (Permits and Approval):

  • (a) All other conditional uses allowed in the underlying district.

  • (Ord. 5651 § 8, 2025)

18.30(F).050 Site Development Regulations

The site development regulations in this Section 18.30(F).050 apply to automobile dealership uses in the (AD) combining district, in addition to the regulations of the underlying district. Where the regulations of the underlying district conflict with this Section 18.30(F).050, this section shall control.

  • (a) Floor Area Ratio

  • (1) The maximum floor area ratio for automobile dealership uses shall be 0.4 to 1.

(2) An additional 0.2:l FAR is permitted exclusively for automobile showroom space, for a total FAR of 0.6:1. “Automobile showroom space” is that area for the display of new automobiles, located only on the first floor and excluding all other uses associated with the automobile dealership including sales office and sale of related merchandise. The director of planning and development services is authorized to determine whether floor area is automobile showroom space, as described above. Floor area used for automobile showroom space shall not be converted to any other use if the total floor area devoted to uses other than automobile showroom space would exceed a floor area ratio of 0.4:1 following the conversion.

(3) Notwithstanding Section 18.04.030(65), the following shall not count toward an automobile dealership's maximum floor area:

a. Parking facilities for required parking related to service and repair areas shall be excluded from the calculation of gross floor area as provided in Section 18.52.040(b)(2), however, any enclosed or covered parking in excess of this requirement shall count toward total gross floor area;

b. Covered area dedicated to queuing of customer vehicles for drop off and pick up of service vehicles shall be exempt from the calculation of gross floor area; only one contiguous designated area shall be excluded in a development.

(b) Height

The maximum height shall be fifty feet. Provided, the maximum height for automobile showroom space, as defined in subsection (a) (2) above, shall be twenty feet.

  • (c) Outdoor Sales and Storage

Outdoor sales and display of automobiles and merchandise shall be permitted subject to the following regulations:

(1) Two automobile display pads shall be permitted in the required setback area, including landscaped areas, adjacent to a public right-of-way. A single automobile display pad shall be no higher than eight feet, measured to the highest point of the automobile on the display pad, and the surface of the display pad area shall be no larger than 175 square feet.

(2) Areas for outdoor sales and display of motor vehicles, other than automobile display pads, shall meet the minimum design standards applicable to off-street parking facilities with respect to paving, grading, drainage, safety and protective features, lighting, and screening. Striping for parking stalls shall not be required for auto display and storage areas.

(3) Exterior storage shall screened by a solid wall or fence of between five and eight feet in height.

(Ord. 5494 § 3, 2020: Ord. 5406 § 2, 2017: Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)

18.30(F).060 Parking and Loading

Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be required for all automobile dealerships in the (AD) combining district, in accord with Chapters 18.52 and 18.54. Where the provisions of Chapters 18.52 and 18.54 conflict with the provisions of this Section 18.30(F).060, this section shall control. The following parking requirements apply to automobile dealerships in the (AD) combining district, in lieu of comparable requirements of Chapters 18.52 and 18.54 and the underlying district:

(a) Auto storage and display areas shall not be required to be striped for parking stall and aisle width.

  • (b) Areas for customer parking shall be designated.

  • (Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)

18.30(F).070 Special Requirements

The special requirements in this Section 18.30(F).070 apply to automobile dealership uses in the (AD) combining district, in addition to the regulations of the underlying district. Where the regulations of the underlying district conflict with this Section 18.30(F).070, this section shall control.

(a) Sites abutting or having any portion located within one hundred fifty feet of any RE, R-1, R-2, RM or any PC district permitting single-family development or multifamily development shall be subject to the following additional height and yard requirements:

(1) On any portion of a site in the (AD) combining district which abuts a site in any RE, R-1, R-2, RM or applicable PC district, a minimum interior yard of ten feet shall be required and a solid wall between five and eight feet in height shall be constructed and maintained along the common site line. The minimum interior yard shall be planted and maintained as a landscaped screen. If the director determines that location and installation of the landscape screen is not practical, such landscaping may be reduced or deleted, if measures are taken to ensure that screening with an eight-foot decorative wall is adequate to mitigate noise and visual impacts to the satisfaction of the director.

(2) On any portion of a site in the (AD) combining district which is opposite from a site in any RE, R-1, R-2, RM or applicable PC district and separated therefrom by a street, alley, creek, drainage facility, or other open area, a minimum yard of ten feet shall be required. The minimum yard shall be planted and maintained as a landscaped screen, excluding areas required for access to the site. If the director determines that location and installation of the landscape screen is not practical, such landscaping may be reduced or deleted, if measures are taken to ensure that screening with an eight-foot decorative wall is adequate to mitigate noise and visual impacts to the satisfaction of the director.

(3) Sites sharing any lot line with one or more sites in any RE, R-1, R-2, RM or any residential PC district shall be subject to a maximum height established by a daylight plane beginning at a height of ten feet at the applicable side or rear site lines and increasing at a slope of three feet for each six feet of distance from the side or rear site lines until intersecting the height limit otherwise established for the underlying district.

ore sites in any RE, R-1, R-2, RM or any residential PC district shall be subject to a maximum height established by a daylight plane beginning at a height of ten feet at the applicable side or rear site lines and increasing at a slope of three feet for each six feet of distance from the side or rear site lines until intersecting the height limit otherwise established for the underlying district.

(b) LM zoning district sites shall be subject to the following additional requirements:

(1) Large deliveries to the dealership, including automobiles or parts shall be delivered, loaded, and unloaded on-site. At no such time shall such deliveries occupy street parking, nor block public or private residential streets in any way.

  • (2) Vehicle test-driving is prohibited on residential streets.

(3) All development in the areas east of the Bayshore Freeway (Hwy. 101) is subject to the Site and Design Review (D) provisions of Chapter 18.30(G) and shall include performance criteria including, but not limited to lighting, noise, and landscaping. All development is subject to the policies and guidelines outlined in the Baylands Master Plan and in the Site Assessment and Design Guidelines for Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. These policies and guidelines include, but are not limited, to:

a. Maintenance and, where possible, restoration of the environmental quality of the Baylands;

  • b. Use of materials and colors compatible with the area;

  • c. Design to preserve the horizon line with low and horizontal elements; and

  • d. Fencing and signage compatible with the preserve character of the Baylands.

(4) Development in the two LM zones adjacent to the intersection of San Antonio Road and the Bayshore Freeway shall require a conditional use permit pursuant to Section 18.76.010 ("Conditional Use Permit").

a. For development in the LM zone adjacent to San Antonio Road east of the Bayshore Freeway, a conditional use permit for auto dealership may only be granted on a finding that the design of the proposed improvements and the operation of the proposed use will not be detrimental to the ecological qualities of the Baylands natural areas and will be aesthetically compatible with the character of the Baylands as a regional recreation area and nature preserve.

(Ord. 4889 § 3, 2006: Ord. 4845 § 3 (Exh. A. (part)), 2004)