Chapter 20.36 — PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

A. The subdivider shall improve or agree to improve all streets; pedestrian ways or easements in the subdivision

and adjacent thereto required to serve the subdivision. No permanent improvement work shall be commenced

until improvement plans and proJles have been approved by the city engineer and a subdivision improvement

contract has been executed in writing between the subdivider and the city. Improvements shall be installed to

permanent line and grade and to the satisfaction of the city engineer; and in accordance with the standard

subdivision speciJcations adopted by the city council; a copy of which shall be on Jle in the oLce of the city

engineer.

B. Costs of inspection shall be paid by the subdivider; except that where the subdivider and owner of a low and

moderate income senior citizens housing project is a charitable nonproJt organization recognized as such by the

United States Internal Revenue Service and State of California Franchise Tax Board; the inspections shall be made

by the city without charge. The minimum improvements which the subdivider normally shall make; or agree to

make; at the cost of the subdivider; prior to acceptance and approval of the Jnal subdivision map by the city shall

be as follows in Section 20.36.020 through 20.36.150.

(Ord. 1383 NCS §4, 1979; Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.100.)

Grading; curbs; gutter; paving and drainage structures necessary for the proper use and drainage of streets and

pedestrian ways; and for the public safety shall be provided. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.101.)

The subdivider shall provide on-site grading and on-site and/or oM-site drainage; all of which shall take into

consideration the drainage pattern of adjacent property and shall treat upstream areas; where appropriate; as

though fully improved.

For those residential; commercial; industrial or other projects which drain into the Petaluma River and which

exceed normal runoM; the subdivider shall provide; at the discretion of the director of public works/city engineer;

pursuant to Chapter 17.30; on or oM-site detention areas to accommodate such runoM; or pay fees. Calculation of

runoM fees and payment of the fees shall be made pursuant to Chapter 17.30. (Ord. 1653 NCS §4, 1986; Ord. 1530

NCS §2, 1982.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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All streets and pedestrian ways shall be graded, rocked and surfaced to widths and grades shown on the

improvement plans and proJles signed by the city engineer; and approved by the city council or as established by

law. The subdivider shall improve the extension of all subdivision streets and pedestrian ways to the intercepting

paving line of any county road; city; street or state highway. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.103.)

Sidewalks shall be installed as shown on the improvement plans and proJles signed by the city engineer. (Ord.

1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.104.)

Sanitary sewer facilities connecting with the existing city sewer system shall be installed to serve the subdivision

with a separate private lateral for each lot and to grades and sizes shown on the plans signed by the city engineer.

No septic tanks or cesspools will be permitted. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.105.)

Storm water drains shall be installed as shown on the plans signed by the city engineer. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972;

prior code §22.8.106.)

Water mains and Jre hydrants connecting to the water system serving the city shall be installed as shown on the

plans signed by the city engineer. Mains and individual lot services shall be of suLcient size to furnish an

adequate water supply for each lot or parcel in the subdivision and to provide adequate Jre protection. (Ord. 1046

NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.107.)

Parking bays where required or permitted shall be provided. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.108.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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Street name signs shall be provided. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.109.)

Street trees, if required shall be of a type approved by the city council and planted in locations approved by it.

(Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.110.)

Permanent monuments; barricades; and traLc safety devices shall be placed as required by the city engineer.

(Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.111.)

Street lighting facilities shall be provided in accordance with the city council’s policy for the area of the city where

the subdivision is located. Lighting shall be adequate to permit proper policing of the subdivision and shall be so

screened or otherwise designed as not to interfere with views from the hillsides of the city. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1,

1972; prior code §22.8.112.)

All utility distribution facilities; including but not limited to electric; communication and cable television lines

installed in and for the purpose of supplying service to any subdivision shall be placed underground in accordance

with the utility’s rules and regulations on Jle with the California Public Utilities Commission.

Equipment appurtenant to underground facilities, such as surface-mounted transformers; street light poles;

pedestal mounted terminal boxes and meter cabinets and concealed ducts may be installed above the surface of

the ground.

The subdivider is responsible for complying with the requirements of this section, and shall make the necessary

arrangements with the utility companies involved for the installation of the facilities. Such arrangements shall

include compliance with developers’ responsibilities relative to cable television service (CATV) as deJned in Section

14.40.100 of this code. (Ord. 1281 NCS §2, 1978; Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.113.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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Provisions shall be made for any railroad crossings necessary to provide access to or circulation within the

proposed subdivision; including the preparation for all documents necessary for application to the State Public

Utilities Commission for the establishment and improvement of such crossings. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior

code §22.8.114.)

All underground utilities; sanitary sewers and storm drains installed in streets or alleys shall be constructed prior

to the surfacing of such streets or alleys. Connections for all underground utilities and sanitary sewers shall be laid

to such length as will obviate the necessity for disturbing the street or alley improvements, when service

connections thereto are made. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.200.)

A complete improvement plan "as built" shall be Jled with the city engineer upon completion of said

improvements. The "as built" plans to be drawn on copies of the original tracings and certiJed as to accuracy and

completeness by the subdivider’s licensed contractor. Upon receipt and acceptance of the "as built" plan, the city

engineer will recommend formal acceptance by the city council. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.300.)

Elevations on Petaluma city datum shall be shown on the "as built" improvement plans for all monuments in the

subdivision. (Ord. 1046 NCS §1, 1972; prior code §22.8.400.)

Subject to the exceptions stated in Section 20.36.200, whenever a development project is located; or which is

proposed to be located:

A. Upon one or more streets or roads where future right-of-way plan lines have been established pursuant to

Chapter 13.20 of the Petaluma Municipal Code; or

B. Upon one or more streets or roads which are not improved with existing curbs, gutters; sidewalks and other

contiguous street improvements across the frontage or frontages of the property upon which said development

project is located, or

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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C. Upon a parcel of real property which has frontage on a dedicated street right-of-way where no such

improvements have been constructed contiguous to the parcel upon which the development project is located;

the developer shall dedicate any necessary right-of-way to the city to the alignment established by plan lines

established in Chapter 13.20 of the Petaluma Municipal Code; or to an alignment consistent with applicable city

right-of-way standards across the entire street frontage or frontages and shall construct public improvements

(including; but not limited to curbs, gutters, sidewalk, half street, water mains; storm drains; sanitary sewers; street

lights, undergrounding of utilities and landscape islands) across such frontage to current city standards. Nothing in

this section shall be construed to prevent the city from requiring construction of frontage improvements pursuant

to any other ordinance or regulation of the city.

(Ord. 1785 NCS §9, 1990.)

Section 20.36.190 shall not apply when any one or more of the following conditions exist:

A. Where a condition of any subdivision or parcel map requires dedication and construction of public

improvements as a condition of approval of the same development project.

B. Where the value of the construction is less than sixteen thousand dollars. This valuation may be raised by

resolution of the city council to compensate for inKation and increased building costs.

C. Where the proposed development project is clearly accessory as determined by standards in the zoning

ordinance; to an existing use upon the property.

D. Where the development project consists primarily of the rehabilitation of an existing structure; when no

change of use will occur.

E. Where the developer establishes that the required dedication would render the real property upon which the

development project is to be constructed substantially valueless for any private use; but Jnal determination of

such fact shall be made only by the city council upon petition of the developer or owner.

(Ord. 1785 NCS §9, 1990.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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