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Palo Alto · Renting & eviction

Rental registration and inspections in Palo Alto

Palo Alto's own rules on rental registration and inspections, with the code text for every value.

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Each rule below links to the section of the Palo Alto Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Palo Alto's code says

Palo Alto code What Palo Alto's code adds
Fee
  • The Palo Alto city council sets the amount.
    Applies: Applies to initial and renewal registration.
    § 9.65.030 · code text
    the landlord of each residential rental unit to which this chapter applies shall pay a fee upon initial and renewal registration in an amount to be set by the Palo Alto city council.
Penalty
  • The penalty is set by ordinance or resolution, in addition to the registration fee.
    Applies: Applies to failure to register or amend residential rental units as the chapter requires.
    § 9.65.050 · code text
    Any landlord operating in the city that fails to register or amend their residential rental units in accordance with this chapter shall pay, in addition to the amount of the registration fee, a penalty in an amount to be determined by ordinance or resolution.
Registration
  • Each residential rental unit must register within the annual open registration period.
    Applies: Applies to initial registration.
    § 9.65.030 · code text
    The landlord of each residential rental unit within the city of Palo Alto shall register the unit within the annual open registration period established by the City Manager or their designee.
  • Registration must be renewed yearly within the annual open registration period.
    Applies: Applies to renewal registration.
    § 9.65.030 · code text
    The landlord of each residential rental unit within the city of Palo Alto shall renew the registration of each unit annually within the annual open registration period established by the City Manager or their designee.
  • Amend registration within 10 calendar days.
    Applies: Applies whenever rent increases, a notice to quit is sent to a renter, an unlawful detainer complaint is filed, or an eviction occurs.
    § 9.65.030 · code text
    At minimum, landlords shall amend the registration of their residential rental unit within ten (10) calendar days whenever one of the following events occurs in relation to that residential rental unit:

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Must landlords register or inspect rental units in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto's code: The Palo Alto city council sets the amount. (Applies to initial and renewal registration.) (§ 9.65.030); The penalty is set by ordinance or resolution, in addition to the registration fee. (Applies to failure to register or amend residential rental units as the chapter requires.) (§ 9.65.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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Palo Alto Municipal Code — full text