Chapter 18.30 — (K)
Palo Alto Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Palo Alto
WORKFORCE HOUSING (WH) COMBINING DISTRICT REGULATIONS
Sections:
18.30(K).010 Specific purpose 18.30(K).020 Applicability of regulations 18.30(K).030 Definitions 18.30(K).040 Zoning map designation 18.30(K).050 Site development review process 18.30(K).060 Permitted uses 18.30(K).070 Development standards 18.30(K).080 Additional WH combining district regulations
18.30(K).010 Specific Purpose
The purpose of the workforce housing combining district is to incentivize development of new housing that is affordable to the local workforce. This combining district promotes the development of such housing projects located within one-half mile radius of a major fixed-rail transit stop by providing flexible development standards and modifying the uses allowed in the public facilities (PF) district.
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).020 Applicability of Regulations
The workforce housing combining district may be combined with the public facilities (PF) zoning district set forth in Chapter 18.28 of this title, in accord with Chapter 18.08 and Chapter 18.80, on any parcel that is located within one-half mile radius of a major fixed-rail transit station platform with the exception of sites in park use or being used for outdoor recreational purpose or within 25 feet of such a use at the time of adoption of this chapter. Where so combined, the regulations established by this chapter shall apply for workforce housing projects in lieu of the uses allowed and development standards and procedures applied in the underlying PF district. A property owner may elect to use the parcel consistent with the underlying district, in which case the regulations in Chapter 18.28 for the PF district shall apply.
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).030 Definitions
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Workforce housing" means a multi-family rental housing project in which at least 20% of the units, excluding any required belowmarket-rate units, are affordable to households earning more than 120% of area median income (AMI) up to and including 150% of AMI.
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).040 Zoning Map Designation
The workforce housing combining district shall apply to properties designated on the zoning map by the symbol "WH" within parentheses, following the public facilities (PF) district designation with which it is combined.
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).050 Site Development Review Process
All projects shall be subject to architectural review as provided in Section 18.76.020 except that projects proposing nine units or more shall be subject to site and design review under Chapter 18.30(G).
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).060 Permitted Uses
(a) The following uses shall be permitted in the WH combining district:
- (1) Workforce housing;
(2) Incidental retail and/or community center space on the ground floor only when provided in conjunction with workforce housing and not to exceed 10% of the total gross floor area of the site;
(3) All other uses permitted in the underlying district, subject to the development standards for the underlying district.
(b) The uses in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) above shall not be used in combination with (a)(3).
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).070 Development Standards
(a) Where the WH combining district is combined with the public facilities district, the following development standards shall apply for workforce housing projects, including permitted incidental uses, in lieu of the development standards for the underlying PF zoning district:
Table 1
Development Standards
| Development Standards | ||
|---|---|---|
| WH Combining District | ||
| Minimum Site Specifications | Subject to regulations in: | |
| Site Area(ft) | None required | |
| Site Width(ft) | ||
| Site Depth(ft) | ||
| Minimum Setbacks | Setback lines imposed by a special setback map pursuant to Chapter 20.08 of this code mayapply |
|
| Front Yard (ft) | 10 feet; may be increased to 20 feet by decisionmaking body (1) |
|
| Rear Yard (ft) | 10'(2) | |
| Interior Side Yard | 5'(2) | |
| Interior Side Yard if abutting residential zoning district (ft) (other than an RM-40 or PC zone) |
10'(2) | |
| Street Side Yard (ft) | 5 feet; may be increased to 10 feet by decisionmaking body (1) |
|
| Maximum Site Coverage | None Required | |
| Landscape/Open Space Coverage |
20%(3) | |
| Usable Open Space(4) | 75 square feet (sf) per unit | |
| Maximum Height(ft) | ||
| Standard | 50' | |
| Portions of a site within 150 ft. of an abutting residential district (other than an RM-40 or PC zone) (5) |
35' | 18.08.030 |
| Daylight Plane for lot lines abutting one or more residential zoning districts |
Daylight plane height and slope shall be identical to those of the most restrictive residential zoning district abuttingthe lot line |
|
| Maximum Residential Density (net) |
None Required | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maximum Residential Floor Area Ratio (FAR) - Residential-Only or Mixed Use Projects |
2.0:1 | |
| Maximum Unit Size | 750 sf | |
| Vehicle Parking | Parking requirements shall be no less than one space per unit or bedroom, whichever is greater. The decisionmaking body may reduce this standard based on a parking study. Any incidental retail or community center space shall be subject to the parking requirements outlined in Chapter 18.52. |
|
| Bicycle Parking | Bicycle parking requirements shall be in accordance with Section 18.52.040. |
|
| TDM Plan | A transportation demand management (TDM) plan shall be required and shall comply with the TDM pursuant to Section 18.52.050(d), associated administrative guidelines, and the decisionmakingbody. |
Notes:
A 12-foot sidewalk width is required along El Camino Real frontage.
In order to encourage below-grade parking, garage ramps and subterranean structures may encroach into the required setback provided that sufficient landscaping is still provided between the project site and adjacent properties.
Landscape/open space may be any combination of landscaping or private and common open spaces.
Useable open space includes a combination of common and private open space.
Distance shall be measured from the property line of the subject site.
(b) Housing Development Projects shall be subject to objective design standards in Chapter 18.24. Non-Housing Development Projects and Housing Development projects that elect to deviate from one or more objective standards in Chapter 18.24 shall meet the performance criteria outlined in Chapter 18.23, as well as the context-based design criteria outlined in Section 18.13.090 for residential projects, provided that more restrictive regulations may be recommended by the architectural review board and approved by the director, pursuant to Section 18.76.020.
(Ord. 5554 § 27, 2022: Ord. 5548 § 8, 2022: Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)
18.30(K).080 Additional WH Combining District Regulations
(a) Affordability requirement. At least 20% of the units in a workforce housing project, excluding any required below-market-rate units, shall be affordable to households earning up to and including 150% of area median income (AMI).
(b) BMR provisions applicable. The below market rate housing requirements set forth in Chapter 16.65 of Title 16 of this code shall apply to workforce housing projects. Any BMR units provided will not be counted toward the total number of units in a workforce housing project for purposes of calculating the number of workforce affordable units required under subsection (a) above.
(c) Continued affordability. All workforce housing units provided under subsection (a) above shall be subject to a deed of trust or regulatory agreement recorded against the property for execution by the City Manager in a form approved by the City Attorney, to ensure the continued affordability of the workforce housing units. All workforce housing units shall remain affordable to the targeted income group for 99 years.
(d) Local workforce preference. All residential units within a workforce housing project shall be offered first to eligible households with at least one household member who currently lives or whose place of employment is within a three mile radius of the project or within the City of Palo Alto. If units remain unoccupied after offers are made to this first category, those units shall be offered to eligible households with at least one household member whose place of employment is within one-half mile of a major fixed-rail transit stop.
(Ord. 5443 § 2 (part), 2018)