Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
Chapter 16.16 — CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, CALIFORNIA CODE OF
Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto
Sections in this part
REGULATIONS, TITLE 24, PART 3*
Sections:
16.16.010 2025 California Electrical Code, Cal. Code of Regs., Title 24, Part 3 adopted and amended.
16.16.050 Article 89.101.3.3 Exempted from this Code.¶
16.16.080 Article 110.13 Mounting and cooling of equipment.¶
- Editor’s Note: Prior ordinance history: Prior code §§ 34.301, 34.302, and Ordinance Nos. 2436, 2600, 2611, 2811, 2960, 2998, 3184, 3332, 3669, 3881, 3913, 4034, 4306, 4561, 4771, 4979, 5103, 5221, 5394 and 5482.
16.16.010 2025 California Electrical Code, Cal. Code of Regs., Title 24, Part 3 adopted and amended.
The California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, Title 24, Part 3 of the California Code of Regulations together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, is adopted and hereby incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set forth herein.
Unless superseded and expressly repealed, references in City of Palo Alto forms, documents and regulations to the chapters and sections of the former California Code of Regulations, Title 24, 2022, shall be construed to apply to the corresponding provisions contained within the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, 2025. Ordinance No. 5568 of the City of Palo Alto and all other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby suspended and expressly repealed.
Wherever the phrases "California Electrical Code" or "Electrical Code" are used in this code or any ordinance of the City, such phrases shall be deemed and construed to refer and apply to the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this chapter.
One copy of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, has been filed for use and examination of the public in the Office of the Chief Building Official of the City of Palo Alto.
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
16.16.020 Cross-references to California Electrical Code.¶
The provisions of this chapter contain cross-references to the provisions of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, in order to facilitate reference and comparison to those provisions.
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
16.16.030 Local amendments.¶
The provisions of this chapter shall constitute local amendments to the cross-referenced provisions of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, and shall be deemed to replace the cross-referenced sections of said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
16.16.040 Adoption of Section 89.101 General.¶
Section 89.101 General of the 2025 California Electrical Code is adopted by the City of Palo Alto as amended herein.
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
16.16.050 Article 89.101.3.3 Exempted from this Code.¶
Section 89.101.3.3 is amended as follows (additions underlined; sections omitted without change noted by [. . .]):
16.16.060 Article 89.101.4 2025 California Electrical Code Annexes adopted.¶
The following Annexes of the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted and hereby incorporated in this chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set forth herein:
A. Annex B - Application Information for Ampacity Calculations
B. Annex C - Conduit, Tubing, and Cable Tray Fill Tables for Conductors and Fixture Wires of the Same Size
C. Annex I - Unit Recommended Tightening Torque Tables from UL Standard 486A - 486B
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
16.16.070 Administration & enforcement of 2025 California Electrical Code.¶
Administration and enforcement of this code shall be governed by Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025 California Building Code as amended by Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.04.
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
16.16.080 Article 110.13 Mounting and cooling of equipment.¶
Article 110.13 (A) (1) of Article 110 of the California Electrical Code is added to read:
110.13 (A) (1) Concrete Slab Supporting Electrical Equipment. When electrical equipment is to be placed on a concrete substrate, a 4-inch concrete housekeeping pad shall be installed to elevate and protect the equipment.
(Ord. 5679 § 1 (part), 2025)
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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