Palo Alto — Zoning

Last reviewed: July 2, 2026

Overview

This page summarizes how Palo Alto’s local zoning rules (Title 18 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code) define zoning districts, permitted uses, and key development controls. It is distilled from the City’s zoning code chapters and highlights where the rules live, the most decision‑relevant district rules, and where staff or applicants must look for numeric standards. Always verify parcel‑specific rules with the City; many site limits and combining‑district controls are parcel‑specific. See the City’s zoning map and the Zoning Code adoption rules in § 18.01.010 and the district designation table in § 18.08.010 for the official map and district list .

How to read this page

• Each district subsection (below) gives the chapter that controls that district, cites the Code section(s) that define purpose and permitted uses, and summarizes numeric limits only where the retrieved materials explicitly state them. If a numeric limit or standard is not available in the retrieved files, the text says "Not found in retrieved materials" and points you to the chapter to review.
• Where the Code refers you to other rules (for example for parking, design review, ADUs), the first natural mention of each related topic includes an internal link to the GoCodebook menu page for that topic: parking, development standards, design review, overlay districts, ADUs, the California Building Standards Code, historic preservation, and nonconforming uses.

Important cross‑references (first mentions)

• For parking rules see Palo Alto Parking.
• For dimensional tables and site controls see Palo Alto Development Standards.
• For design review and architectural review procedures see Palo Alto Design Review.
• For combining/overlay controls see Palo Alto Overlay Districts.
• For accessory dwelling rules see Palo Alto ADUs.
• Where building code cross‑references apply, see California Building Standards Code.
• For historic resource review referenced by some district rules see Palo Alto Historic Preservation.
• For treatment of legal nonconforming uses see Palo Alto Nonconforming Uses.

District-by-district breakdown

Note: the Zoning Code identifies district map symbols and the chapter that controls each district in § 18.08.010; use the City’s Zoning Map to see which district applies to a parcel (adoption of the zoning map is described in § 18.01.010) .

R-1 — Single‑Family Residential (Chapter 18.12)

• Purpose: The R-1 district is the City’s single‑family residential district (listed in § 18.08.010; see Chapter 18.12 for the district rules) .
• Typical permitted uses: single‑family dwellings; accessory dwellings and accessory structures are referenced throughout Title 18 (see Chapter 18.09 for ADU provisions) .
• Key dimensional standards: Not found in retrieved materials for specific numeric front/side/rear setbacks, lot coverage, or FAR in Chapter 18.12 in the returned extracts. Verify numeric setbacks, maximum lot coverage, height limits, and daylight plane controls in Chapter 18.12 and Chapter 18.40 (site development rules) on the full zoning code.
• Where it applies: See the City Zoning Map and the district list in § 18.08.010; R-1 mapping is shown on the official map referenced in § 18.01.010 .

R-2, RMD, RM-20, RM-30, RM-40 — Two‑ and Multi‑Family Residential (Chapter 18.10 / 18.13)

• Purpose and mapping: R-2, RMD, RM-20, RM-30, RM-40 are established in the district list in § 18.08.010 (chapters 18.10 and 18.13) .
• Typical permitted uses: residential dwellings, accessory buildings, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) where accessory to a permitted residence (ADUs regulated in Chapter 18.09), home occupations, and limited public/quasi‑public uses; many uses are listed with P/CUP designations in Chapter 18.13 (Table 1) .
• Key numeric standards (explicit in retrieved materials):
  • RM‑30: permitted densities range from 16 to 30 DU/acre. RM‑40: permitted densities range 31 to 40 DU/acre (stated in the RM chapter) — see Chapter 18.13 for the table and use rules (§ 18.13.030) .
  • Additional dimensional standards (setbacks, height, open space, FAR) are set in the RM chapter or cross‑referenced development standards; specific numeric setbacks for lower‑density residential (R-1/R-2) and RM districts are Not found in retrieved materials here — verify in Chapter 18.13, Chapter 18.12, and Chapter 18.40 .
• Where it applies: mapped citywide per the zoning map; consult the zoning map exhibit and Chapter 18.13 Table 1 for allowed uses and conditions .

CN / CC / CS / CD — Commercial Districts (Chapter 18.16 and 18.18)

• Purpose:
  • CN (Neighborhood Commercial), CC (Community Commercial), CS (Service Commercial) listed in § 18.08.010 (Chapter 18.16) .
  • CD (Downtown Commercial) Chapter 18.18 is a comprehensive downtown district that prioritizes ground‑floor retail, pedestrian activity, transitions to adjacent residential zones, and context‑based design; see § 18.18.010 and § 18.18.020 .
• Typical permitted uses (CD example): wide range of retail, services, offices, and residential uses; CD contains subdistricts CD‑C, CD‑S, and CD‑N and uses are controlled by subdistrict and combining districts (for example, the pedestrian shopping combining district) — see § 18.18.020 .
• Key dimensional standards: CD contains special development standards, floor area bonuses, and transfer of development rights (see Chapter 18.18); specific numeric standards for frontages/setbacks/FARs in CD are set in the CD chapter and subdistrict rules — specific numeric values Not found in retrieved extracts; consult Chapter 18.18 for the downtown numeric standards .
• Where it applies: downtown and mapped commercial areas (see City’s zoning map and combining districts shown in the Map) .

MOR / ROLM / RP / GM — Medical Office, Research & Manufacturing (Chapter 18.20)

• Purpose: MOR, ROLM, RP, and GM are industrial/office/research districts with distinct objectives: MOR is for medical office and research near hospitals; ROLM and RP are for research/office/manufacturing in park environments; GM provides for light manufacturing and limited offices. See § 18.20.010 for the stated purposes .
• Typical permitted uses: The industrial/manufacturing Chapter 18.20 contains a detailed Table 1 identifying permitted (P) and conditional (CUP) uses across MOR, ROLM, RP, GM (research and development, manufacturing, warehousing, medical uses, accessory support uses). See § 18.20.030 (Table 1) for the use matrix .
• Key numeric or performance standards: Chapter 18.20 includes site development standards, exceptions, and performance criteria (see § 18.20.040 and § 18.20.050). Specific numeric limits for special hazardous materials tiers and buffers are stated in Chapter 18.23 and cross‑references (e.g., restrictions on Hazardous Materials Tier 2/3 uses) — see § 18.23.100 and related constraints; certain proximity limits (e.g., no Tier 2 uses closer than 300 feet to residential in some districts) are explicitly called out in the industrial rules .
• Where it applies: on sites mapped for office, research, or light industrial uses; consult the zoning map and Chapter 18.20 for parcel‑specific land‑use allowances .

Planned Community (PC) — Flexible project district (Chapter 18.38)

• Purpose: PC planned community districts are flexible, site‑specific zoning districts allowing a tailored mix of residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses under a development plan; see § 18.38.010 and the application process in § 18.38.065–.070 .
• Typical process & controls: A PC is established by rezoning and must be accompanied by a development program statement, development plan, and schedule; the adopted development plan becomes part of the zoning regulations for that PC (§ 18.38.070–.090) .
• Key numeric standards: PC districts use site‑specific standards defined in the adopted development plan; therefore numeric standards are set per PC approval, not by a single table in Title 18. See § 18.38.050 for establishment and § 18.38.060 for required findings .
• Where it applies: only to parcels rezoned and identified on the City’s Zoning Map with “PC” plus a number (see Chapter 18.38) .

PTOD — Pedestrian & Transit Oriented Development (Combining District, Chapter 18.34)

• Purpose: The PTOD combining district creates pedestrian/transit‑oriented rules where applied; it may be combined with underlying R‑1, CC(2), CN, GM, PF, RM30, or RM40 districts in the California Avenue PTOD boundary (see § 18.34.020) .
• Typical permitted uses: PTOD permits multi‑family residential and mixed‑use development; mixed‑use must meet use limitations (ground floor retail and transit‑oriented priorities) — see § 18.34.030 (Table 1) .
• Key numeric standards (explicit in retrieved materials):
  • PTOD—California Avenue: maximum 40 DU/acre and maximum height 40 ft for some areas; FAR and parking are controlled by rules in § 18.34.040 and cross‑referenced parking chapters (Chs. 18.52 and 18.54) .
  • Parking in PTOD: "Rates established by use, per Chs. 18.52 and 18.54" (see § 18.34.040 Table 2) .
• Where it applies: only inside the PTOD boundaries shown on the City's Zoning Map (rezoning to PTOD is a public hearing process; see § 18.34.060) .

HD — Hospital District (Chapter 18.36)

• Purpose: HD provides controls for hospital campus areas; architectural review is required for building permits in HD (§ 18.36.100) and Chapter 18.36 is to be interpreted consistent with specific development agreements where applicable .
• Typical permitted uses: hospital and associated uses; specific permitted uses and grandfathering rules are in Chapter 18.36 (see § 18.36.110) .
• Key numeric standards: Not found in retrieved materials; refer to Chapter 18.36 for height, setbacks, and site rules.

PF / OS / AC — Public Facilities / Open Space / Agricultural Conservation (Chapter 18.28 and others)

• Purpose: Open space, public facilities, and agricultural conservation districts set aside land for those public or conservation uses. See Chapter 18.28 for purposes and site development standards (including references to Housing Opportunity Sites and special purpose site standards) .
• Typical permitted uses and standards: public facilities, parks, open space, limited agricultural uses — see Chapter 18.28 and the table in § 18.28.050 for site development standards; some site standards are delegated to other chapters or the Architectural Review Board .

Quick reference table — selected decision‑relevant districts and rules

Information Gaps (items not confirmed in retrieved materials)

• Detailed numeric setbacks (front/side/rear) for R-1 and R-2 districts — Not found in retrieved materials; review Chapter 18.12.
• Full FAR tables and numeric height limits for many commercial and residential sub‑areas (CD, CC, CN) — Not found in retrieved extracts; review Chapters 18.16 and 18.18.
• Complete parking rate tables (Ch. 18.52 and 18.54) — only referenced in PTOD table excerpts; retrieve full parking chapters for exact ratios.
• Many district numeric site standards rely on figures or tables not present in the retrieved snippets; verify the full Title 18 PDF or the City’s zoning map exhibits for parcel‑level limits.

Plain‑English Summary

Palo Alto’s zoning (Title 18) divides the city into named districts (for example R-1, RM‑30, CD, MOR, GM) that list which uses are permitted, which require Conditional Use Permits, and which design and site standards apply; overlays (like PTOD) and Planned Community (PC) districts modify these rules in ways that are parcel‑specific, so always check the zoning map and the exact district chapter for your site before designing a project (see § 18.01.010 and § 18.08.010) .

Source References

• Palo Alto Zoning Code — Adoption and purposes: § 18.01.010, § 18.01.025.
• Designation of general districts (district list and chapter numbers): § 18.08.010.
• Downtown Commercial (CD) district purposes and applicable regulations: § 18.18.010–.020.
• Office / Research / Manufacturing districts (MOR, ROLM, RP, GM): § 18.20.010, § 18.20.030 (Table 1).
• Planned Community (PC) rules and application process: § 18.38.010–.070.
• PTOD combining district (California Avenue): § 18.34.020–.060 (including Table 2 with DU/acre and height references).
• RM district densities and uses (RM‑20 / RM‑30 / RM‑40): Chapter 18.13 (Table 1 / § 18.13.030).
• Architectural and design review references: Chapters 18.76 and 18.77; HD architectural review example § 18.36.100.
• Nonconforming uses references and rules: Chapter 18.70 and related grandfathering clauses cited in district chapters (examples in § 18.20.060 and § 18.36.110)
• For further site‑specific numeric standards, parking, and development standards consult: Palo Alto Development Standards and Palo Alto Parking pages (linked above).

(If you want the exact numeric setbacks, FAR tables, or the parcel’s zoning map exhibit, I can pull the specific chapter pages or map exhibits next.)

Retrieved passages

• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§2) High relevance show source text
• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§ 7) High relevance show source text
• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text
• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§ 4) High relevance show source text
• CFC § 2 (Title 15) High relevance show source text
• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§ 22) High relevance show source text
• Palo Alto Zoning Code (§ 2) High relevance show source text

Cited sections

• Palo Alto Zoning Code — Adoption and purposes: **§ 18.01.010**, **§ 18.01.025**. (§ 18.01.010)
• Designation of general districts (district list and chapter numbers): **§ 18.08.010**. (chapter numbers)
• Downtown Commercial (CD) district purposes and applicable regulations: **§ 18.18.010–.020**. (§ 18.18.010)
• Office / Research / Manufacturing districts (MOR, ROLM, RP, GM): **§ 18.20.010**, **§ 18.20.030 (Table 1)**. fileciteturn0file0 (§ 18.20.010)
• Planned Community (PC) rules and application process: **§ 18.38.010–.070**. (§ 18.38.010)
• PTOD combining district (California Avenue): **§ 18.34.020–.060** (including Table 2 with DU/acre and height references). fileciteturn0file7 (§ 18.34.020)
• RM district densities and uses (RM‑20 / RM‑30 / RM‑40): Chapter **18.13** (Table 1 / § 18.13.030). (§ 18.13.030)
• Architectural and design review references: Chapters **18.76** and **18.77**; HD architectural review example **§ 18.36.100**. (§ 18.36.100)
• Nonconforming uses references and rules: Chapter **18.70** and related grandfathering clauses cited in district chapters (examples in **§ 18.20.060** and **§ 18.36.110**) fileciteturn0file11 (§ 18.20.060)
• For further site‑specific numeric standards, parking, and development standards consult: Palo Alto Development Standards and Palo Alto Parking pages (linked above). fileciteturn0file18
• PaloAlto_ZoningCode.md

• Official Palo Alto code library