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Palo Alto Overview
Palo Alto Municipal Code
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE*
Title 3 RESERVED
Title 4 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS*
Title 5 HEALTH AND SANITATION*
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 RESERVED
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 14 RESERVED
Title 15 FIRE PREVENTION*
Title 16 BUILDING REGULATIONS*
Title 17 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE*
Title 18 ZONING*
Title 19 MASTER PLAN*
Title 20 PRECISE PLANS*
Title 21 SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND*
Chapter 21.04 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Chapter 21.08 MAPS REQUIRED
Chapter 21.10 PARCEL MAPS FOR URBAN LOT SPLITS IN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES
Chapter 21.12 TENTATIVE MAPS AND PRELIMINARY PARCEL MAPS
Chapter 21.13 VESTING TENTATIVE MAPS
Chapter 21.16 FINAL AND PARCEL MAPS
Chapter 21.20 DESIGN
Chapter 21.24 DEDICATIONS
Chapter 21.28 IMPROVEMENTS
Chapter 21.32 CONDITIONAL EXCEPTIONS
Chapter 21.36 APPEALS
Chapter 21.40 CONVERSIONS OF RENTAL HOUSING TO CONDOMINIUMS AND OTHER COMMUNITY HOUSING PROJECTS
Chapter 21.44 CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE
Chapter 21.50 PARK LAND DEDICATION OR FEES IN LIEU THEREOF
Title 22 PARKS*
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
Chapter 21.20
DESIGN
Sections:
   21.20.010   Generally.
   21.20.020   Conformance to master plan and local law.
   21.20.030   Alleys.
   21.20.040   Boundaries of subdivision.
   21.20.050   Divided lots.
   21.20.060   Drainage.
   21.20.070   Easements.
   21.20.080   Interior lots with double frontage.
   21.20.090   Land reserved for public use.
   21.20.100   Lots.
   21.20.110   Nonaccess and planting strips.
   21.20.120   Service roads and off-street parking.
   21.20.130   Side lot lines.
   21.20.140   Street names.
   21.20.150   Street name and traffic-control signs.
   21.20.160   Streets and highways - Conformance to master plan.
   21.20.170   Conformance to council proceedings.
   21.20.180   Access strips.
   21.20.190   Alignment.
   21.20.200   Centerlines.
   21.20.210   Grades.
   21.20.220   Intersection corner rounding.
   21.20.230   Turnarounds.
   21.20.240   Widths.
   21.20.250   Walkways.
   21.20.260   Watercourses.
   21.20.270   Local transit facilities.
   21.20.280   Bicycle paths.
   21.20.290   Required dedications.
   21.20.300   Preliminary parcel map - Additional requirements.
   21.20.301   Flag lots.
   21.20.310   Solar requirements.
   21.20.320   Flood hazard regulations.
21.20.010   Generally.
   The provisions of this chapter shall govern the design of all subdivisions. The provisions of this chapter shall be incorporated in any subdivision approval unless the city council, or director of planning in the case of a preliminary parcel map, finds that due to the particular circumstances these design criteria are not necessary or that alternative designs are preferable; provided, that any modifications to the lot size, dimensions, location or configuration standards shall only be made upon request for and approval of exceptions to said standards, except when each nonconforming lot to be created contains a residence with recorded preservation covenants, where no request for nor approval of exceptions to said standards shall be required. Design of all subdivisions shall include such facilities for the handicapped as may be required by federal, state or local law.
(Ord. 5051 § 7, 2009: Ord. 3157 § 1 (part), 1979)
21.20.020   Conformance to master plan and local law.
   In all respects, subdivisions shall be consistent with the Palo Alto comprehensive plan. Subdivisions shall also conform with any specific plan. Subdivisions shall also conform with all other provisions of law, including but not limited to, zoning, safety and health codes. The design of the subdivision or of improvements shall conform in all respects to accepted standards of engineering and shall be subject to the approval of the city engineer. Any subdivision may be approved subject to such additional design criteria or conditions as may be necessary to insure the public health, safety, welfare and convenience.
(Ord. 3157 § 1 (part), 1979)
21.20.030   Alleys.
   When any lots are proposed for commercial or industrial usage, alleys at least twenty feet in width may be required at the rear thereof with adequate ingress and egress for truck traffic.
(Ord. 3157 § 1 (part), 1979)
21.20.040   Boundaries of subdivision.
   Where possible, the exterior boundaries of all subdivisions shall be to the centerline of all streets and highways adjacent to said subdivision unless such street or highway is not within the city limits; in such a case, the exterior boundary of the subdivision will coincide with the city limits. The subdivider shall be required to dedicate to the city all property within the city which is not owned by another public agency between the centerline and the proposed right-of-way line of such street or highway as may be established by official plan lines of the city or established by the comprehensive plan or established by any master plan of streets and highways or any specific plan. Any property between the centerline and the proposed right-of-way line with another public jurisdiction shall be dedicated to that jurisdiction. Such property shall be improved or the full cost of making permanent improvements to the property shall be deposited with the city as prescribed in this chapter.
(Ord. 3157 § l (part), 1979)
21.20.050   Divided lots.
   No lot shall be divided by a city boundary line.
(Ord. 3157 § 1 (part), 1979)
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