Title 16 — BUILDING REGULATIONS
Chapter 16.36 — HOUSE NUMBERING
Palo Alto Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-29 · Palo Alto
16.36.010 Placing numbers on buildings and curbs.¶
All entrances from the public streets of the city of Palo Alto to buildings fronting thereon shall be numbered as provided in this chapter. The numbers shall be placed upon, or immediately above or to one side of the door or gate or post of such entrance or shall be otherwise conspicuously located near said entrance so that the same shall be in plain view. All numerals in the number shall be at least three inches in height and placed to read from left to right.
(Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.801)
16.36.020 Odd and even numbers.¶
Where possible all numbers on the northerly and westerly sides of streets shall be odd numbers and all numbers on the southerly and easterly sides of streets shall be even numbers.
(Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.802)
16.36.030 Official street numbering map.¶
A map entitled "Official Street Numbering Map of the City of Palo Alto" on file in the office of the building official exhibiting the various numbers to lots and parcels of land fronting on the various streets in the city of Palo Alto is hereby referred to for particulars and is made a part hereof and all numbers shall be determined and located as shown on the map.
(Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.803)
16.36.040 Numbers designated by building official.¶
It shall be the duty of the building official to designate the respective numbers for buildings or parcels of land fronting on streets heretofore laid out or hereafter to be laid out or extended.
(Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.804)
16.36.050 Permit required for numbers on streets, sidewalks or curb.¶
No person shall place or maintain or permit to be placed or maintained any number, figure, letter, carving, drawing, design or other marking upon any street, sidewalk, parking space or curb in the city without first obtaining authorization in writing from the city engineer in the manner provided for other street work. No fee shall be required for such work. Any person soliciting such work shall in addition obtain a solicitor's permit. Any numerals painted, stenciled, or otherwise marked on a curb or any other portion of a street shall conform to the following specifications:
Numbers on curbs shall be black on a white background and shall be three inches in height.
(Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.805)
16.36.060 Display of numbers required.¶
No owner, occupant, lessee, tenant or subtenant of any building having an entrance which fronts on a public street shall display any number of such building or entrance thereto other than the proper number designated by the building official. Such designated number shall be placed upon or immediately above or to one side of the door, gate, post or entrance to such building or in some other conspicuous location as provided in this chapter or Chapter 16.04.
(Ord. 5397 § 1, 2016: Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.806)
16.36.070 Placing of numbers at occupant's expense.¶
It shall be the duty of an owner or occupant of any building, at his expense, to cause the same to be numbered in accordance with this chapter.
(Ord. 2104 (part), 1962: prior code § 34.807)
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
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