18.29.050 Permitted Uses

   The uses of land allowed by this chapter in each zoning district are identified in the following tables. Land uses that are not listed in the tables are not allowed, except where otherwise noted. Where the last column on the following tables ("Subject to Regulations in") includes a section number, specific regulations in the referenced section also apply to the use; however, provisions in other sections not specifically referenced may apply as well.

TABLE 1: PERMITTED AND CONDITIONALLY PERMITTED USES
P = Permitted Use CUP = Conditional Use Permit Required TUP = Temporary Use Permit Required — = Not Permitted
LAND USE	NV-R1	NV-R2	NV-R3	NV-R4	NV-MXL (1)(5)	NV-MXM (5)	NV-MXH	NV-PF	Subject to Regulations In:
ACCESSORY AND SUPPORT USES
Accessory facilities and activities customarily incidental to the permitted use	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	-	18.40 18.10.080 18.12.080
Accessory Dwelling Unit & Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit when accessory to primary and permitted residential use	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	-	18.09
Home Occupations, when accessory to permitted residential use	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	18.42
Horticulture, Gardening, and Growing of food products for consumption by occupants of a site	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	-
EDUCATIONAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASSEMBLY USES
Private Clubs, Lodges, or Fraternal Organizations, excluding any such facility operated as a business for profit	-	-	-	CUP	CUP	-	-	-
Private Educational Facilities	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	P	P	-
Religious Institutions	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	P	P	P	-
OFFICE USES(2)
Administrative Office Services	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.29.050(a)
Medical Offices	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.29.050(a)
Professional and General Business Offices	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.29.050(a)
PUBLIC/QUASI-PUBLIC USES
Community Centers	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	-	-	-	CUP (3)
Utility Facilities essential to provision of utility services but excluding construction or storage yards, maintenance facilities, or corporation yards.	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	-
RECREATION USES
Neighborhood Recreational Centers	-	-	CUP	CUP	-	-	-	CUP(3)
Commercial Recreation	-	-	-	-	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP(3)
Outdoor Recreation Services	CUP	CUP	CUP	CUP	-	CUP	CUP	CUP(3)
Youth Clubs	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	CUP(3)
RESIDENTIAL USES
Single-Family	P	P	-	-	-	-	-	-
Two-Family	P	P	-	-	-	-	-	-	18.42.180
Multiple-Family	-	-	P	P	P	P	P	P (4)
Residential Care Homes	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	-
RETAIL USES
Eating and Drinking Services, except drive-in and takeout services	-	-	P	P	P	P	P	CUP (3)	18.40.160, 18.29.050(c)
Personal Services and Retail Services of a neighborhood- serving nature	-	-	P	P	P	P	P	CUP (3)	18.40.160, 18.29.050(c)
Liquor stores	-	-	-	-	-	P	P	-	18.40.160, 18.29.050(c)
SERVICE USES
Animal Care, excluding boarding and kennels	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.29.050(c)
Convalescent Facilities	-	-	-	CUP	P	P	P	-
Day Care Centers	CUP	CUP	CUP	P	P	P	P	-	18.40.160
Large Family Day Care Homes	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P(3)
Small Family Day Care Homes	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P(3)
Large Adult Day Care Homes	CUP	CUP	P	P	P	P	P	P(3)
Small Adult Day Care Homes	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P(3)
Financial Services	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.29.050(a), 18.29.060(b)
General Business Services	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.29.050(a), 18.29.060(b)
Hotels	-	-	-	-	-	P	P	-	18.40.160, 18.16.060(d)
Personal Services	-	-	-	-	P	P	P	-	18.40.160, 18.29.050(c), 18.29.060(b)
AGRICULTURAL AND OPEN SPACE USES
Park uses and uses incidental to park operation	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P
All facilities owned or leased, and operated or used, by the City of Palo Alto, the County of Santa Clara, the State of California, the government of the United States, the Palo Alto Unified School District, or any other governmental agency, or leased by any such agency to another party	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	P
Utility Facilities	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	CUP
TEMPORARY USES
Temporary Uses	-	-	TUP	TUP	-	-	-	-	18.42.050
Farmer’s Markets	-	-	-	-	-	CUP	CUP	-
Temporary Parking Facilities, provided that such facilities shall remain no more than five years	-	-	-	-	-	CUP	CUP	CUP (3)
Notes: (1)   For NV-MXL zoning district, the total floor area of non-residential uses permitted and conditionally permitted on a lot shall not exceed 5,000 square feet. (2)   For office uses, total floor area of permitted office uses on a lot shall not exceed 5,000 square feet. (3)   Provided such use is conducted on property owned by the City of Palo Alto, the County of Santa Clara, the State of California, the government of the United States, the Palo Alto Unified School District, or any other governmental agency, and leased for said uses. (4)   Only a 100% Affordable Housing Project is permitted. Development shall follow NV-R4 standards. (5)   Ground floor uses shall comply with the ground floor edge framework set forth in NVCAP section 2.3.

 

   (a)   Office Use Restrictions

      (1)   Conversion of Ground Floor Housing and Non-Office Commercial to Office Medical, Professional, and Business offices shall not be located on the ground floor, unless any of the following apply to such offices:

         (A)   Have been continuously in existence in that space since September 23, 2024 and as of such date, were neither non-conforming nor in the process of being amortized pursuant to Chapter 18.30(I);

         (B)   Occupy a space that was not occupied by housing, neighborhood business service, retail services, personal services, eating and drinking services, or automotive service on September 23, 2024 or thereafter;

         (C)   Occupy a space that was vacant on September 23, 2024; or

         (D)   Are located in new or remodeled ground floor area built on or after September 23, 2024 if the ground floor area devoted to housing, retail services, eating and drinking services, and personal services does not decrease.

         (E)   Along El Camino Real, the office use has a consistent flow of in-person customers visiting the business, such as a dentist or medical office.

      (2)   Size Restrictions on Office Uses in the NV District

         (A)   Total floor area of permitted office uses on a lot shall not exceed 5,000 square feet.

   (b)   Late Night Use and Activities

      Late Night Use and Activities requirements established in Section 18.42.040 shall apply to NV zoning districts.

   (c)   Active Ground Floor Commercial Uses

      The NVCAP requires active ground floor uses along the El Camino Real corridor and encourages active ground floor uses on other designated streets. Active uses are activities and functions that promote social engagement, vitality, and interaction within a community. Refer to NVCAP, Section 2.3 for detailed requirements.

      (1)   Active ground floor commercial uses generally include retail, personal services, neighborhood business service, and eating and drinking establishments. These may also include other active uses such as daycare, building lobbies, spaces accessory to residential uses such as fitness rooms, workspaces, leasing offices, bicycle facilities (Class I) with direct access to the sidewalk. Office uses may be included only to the extent they are permitted in ground floor regulations, are consistent with 18.29.080(a) and have a regular flow of in-person customers.

      (2)   Ground floor commercial uses are required for properties with frontage along El Camino Real, as shown in the NVCAP Section 2.3 (Ground Floor Edges).

      (3)   Ground floor commercial uses shall have a minimum floor to ceiling height of 14 feet.

      (4)   Retail or retail-like at the ground floor is required at the intersections of El Camino Real and Olive Avenue, and El Camino Real and Portage Avenue.

      (5)   100% affordable housing projects are exempt from providing ground floor commercial uses.

(Ord. 5634 § 2 (part), 2024)