Palo Alto Municipal Code Div. 5.1 Planning and Design

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)

Section 5.105.1 of Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read:

5.105.1 Scope. [BSC-CG] Effective July 1, 2024, alteration(s) to existing building(s) where the combined altered floor area is 100,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, 5.409.2, or 5.409.3. Addition(s) to existing building(s) where the total floor area combined with the existing building(s) is 100,000 square feet or greater shall comply with either Section 5.105.2, Section 5.409.2, or Section 5.409.3. Effective January 1, 2026, the combined floor area shall be 25,000 square feet or greater.

Exception [BSC CG, DSA SS]: Combined addition(s) to existing building(s) of two times the area or more of the existing building(s) is not eligible to meet compliance with Section 5.105.2.

(Ord. 5678 § 2 (part), 2025)

Section 5.106.1.1 of Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read:

Section 5.106.8 of Chapter 5 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to read:

Outdoor lighting systems shall be designed and installed to comply with the following:

1. 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

2. Backlight (B) ratings as defined in IES TM-15-11 (shown in Table A1 in Chapter 8);

3. Uplight and Glare ratings as defined in California Energy Code (shown in Tables 130.2-A and 130.2-B in Chapter 8); and

4. Allowable BUG ratings not exceeding those shown in Table 5.106.8 [N]; or

5. 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:

1. Luminaires that qualify as exceptions in Section 103.2(b) and 140.7 of the California Energy Code.

2. Emergency lighting.

3. Building facade meeting the requirements in Table 140.7-B of the California Energy Code, Part 6.

4. Custom lighting features as allowed by the local enforcing agency, as permitted by Section 101.8 Alternate materials, designs and methods of construction.

5. Luminaires with less than 6,200 initial luminiaire lumens.

(Ord. 5678 § 2 (part), 2025)

Section 5.106 of Chapter 4 of the California Green Building Standards Code is amended to add new subsection, 5.106.13 as follows: