HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 5675
Ordinance No. 5675
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Repealing Chapter
16.05 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Amending Title 16 to Adopt a
New Chapter 16.05, California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition,
and Local Amendments and Related Findings
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 16.05 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended by
repealing in its entirety 16.05 and adopting a new Chapter 16.05 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 16.05
CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE,
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24, PART 4
Sections
16.05.010 2025 California Mechanical Code, Title 24, Part 4 adopted and amended.
16.05.020 Cross - References to California Mechanical Code.
16.05.030 Local Amendments.
16.05.040 Administration & Enforcement of 2025 California Mechanical Code.
16.05.045 Adoption of Chapter 1, Division II Administration.
16.05.050 Section 102.8 Appendices.
16.05.060 Section 104.2 Exempt from this code.
16.05.070 Section 510.7 Interior installations.
16.05.010 2025 California Mechanical Code, Title 24, Part 4 adopted and amended.
The California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, Title 24, Part 4 of the California Code of Regulations
together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, is adopted and
hereby incorporated in this Chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set
forth herein.
Unless superseded and expressly repealed, references in City of Palo Alto forms, documents and
regulations to the chapters and sections of the former editions of the California Code of Regulations,
Title 24 shall be construed to apply to the corresponding provisions contained within the California
Code of Regulations, Title 24, 2025. Ordinance No. 5565 of the City of Palo Alto and all other
ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby suspended and expressly repealed.
Wherever the phrases "California Mechanical Code" or "Mechanical Code" are used in this code
or any ordinance of the City, such phrases shall be deemed and construed to refer and apply to
the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, Title 24, Part 4 of the California Code of Regulations,
as adopted by this Chapter.
One copy of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 edition, has been filed for use and examination
of the public in the Office of the Building Official of the City of Palo Alto.
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16.05.020 Cross - References to California Mechanical Code.
The provisions of this Chapter contain cross-references to the provisions of the California
Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, in order to facilitate reference and comparison to those provisions.
16.05.030 Local Amendments.
The provisions of this Chapter shall constitute local amendments to the cross-referenced provisions of
the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, and shall be deemed to replace the cross-
referenced sections of said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Chapter.
16.05.040 Administration & Enforcement of 2025 California Mechanical Code.
Administration and enforcement of this code shall be governed by Chapter 1, Division II of the
2025 California Building Code as amended by Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.04.
16.05.045 Adoption of Chapter 1, Division II Administration.
Chapter 1, Division II Administration of the 2025 California Mechanical Code is adopted by the City
of Palo Alto to supplement, to the extent it does not conflict with, Chapter 1, Division II of the 2025
California Building Code, as amended.
16.05.050 Section 102.8 Appendices.
The following Appendix Chapters of the California Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, are adopted and
hereby incorporated in this Chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully set
forth herein:
A. Appendix B – Procedures to be followed to place gas equipment in operation
B. Appendix C – Installation and testing of oil (liquid) fuel-fired equipment
16.05.060 Section 104.2 Exempt from this code.
Subdivision (6) of Section 104.2 of Chapter 1 of the California Mechanical Code is added to read:
(6) ADDITIONAL EXCEPTIONS: Reference Mechanical Section under PAMC 16.04.110 Section
105.2 Work exempt from permit.
16.05.070 Section 510.7 Interior installations.
Section 510.7 of Chapter 5 of the California Mechanical Code is amended to read:
Section 510.7 Interior installations. In all buildings, the ducts shall be enclosed in a
continuous enclosure extending from the lowest fire-rated ceiling or floor above the hood,
through any concealed spaces, to or through the roof so as to maintain the
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integrity of the fire separations required by the applicable building code provisions. The
enclosure shall be sealed around the duct at the point of penetration of the lowest fire-rated
ceiling or floor above the hood in order to maintain the fire resistance rating of the enclosure
and shall be vented to the exterior of the building through weather-protected openings.
[NFPA 96:7.7.1.2 – 7.7.1.4]
SECTION 2. The Council adopts the findings for local amendments to the California
Mechanical Code, 2025 Edition, attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by
reference.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that the changes or modifications to the California
Mechanical Code adopted by this ordinance are substantially equivalent to changes or
modifications that were previously filed by the governing body of the City and were in effect as of
September 30, 2025, and are therefore exempt from the moratorium on new residential building
standards imposed by Assembly Bill 130 (2025).
SECTION 4. The Council finds that this project is exempt from the provisions of the
California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), pursuant to Section 15061 of the CEQA Guidelines,
because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the amendments herein
adopted will have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any
reason held to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion or
sections of the Ordinance. The Council hereby declares that it should have adopted the Ordinance
and each section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any
one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid.
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SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date of its
adoption.
INTRODUCED: OCTOBER 6, 2025
PASSED: OCTOBER 20, 2025
AYES: BURT, LAUING, LU, LYTHCOTT-HAIMS, RECKDAHL, STONE, VEENKER
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
City Attorney or Designee City Manager
Director of Planning and Development Services
Director of Administrative Services
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Exhibit A
FINDINGS FOR LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE,
TITLE 24, PART 4
Section 17958 of the California Health and Safety Code provides that the City may make changes
to the provisions of the California Building Standards Code. Sections 17958.5 and 17958.7 of the
Health and Safety Code require that for each proposed local change to those provisions of the
California Building Standards Code which regulate buildings used for human habitation, the City
Council must make findings supporting its determination that each such local change is reasonably
necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions.
Local building regulations having the effect of amending the uniform codes, which were adopted
by the City prior to November 23, 1970, were unaffected by the regulations of Sections 17958,
17958.5 and 17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code. Therefore, amendments to the uniform
codes which were adopted by the City Council prior to November 23, 1970 and have been carried
through from year to year without significant change, need no required findings. Also,
amendments to provisions not regulating buildings used for human habitation do not require
findings.
Code: California Mechanical Code, Title, 24, Part 4
Chapter(s),
Sections(s),
Appendices
Title Added Amended Replaced Justification
(See below
for keys)
Ch. 1, Div. II ADMINSTRATION A
102.8 Appendices A
Administration and Enforcement A
104.2 Exempt from this code A
510.7 Interior installations G
Appx. B Procedures to be followed to place gas A
equipment in operation
Appx. C Installation and testing of oil (liquid) fuel-
fired equipment
A
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C
Key to Justification for Amendments to Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations
A This is an administrative amendment to clarify and establish civil and administrative procedures, regulations, or rules to enforce and administer the activities by the Palo Alto BuildingInspection Department. These administrative amendments do not need to meet HSC 18941.5/17958/13869 per HSC 18909(c).
This amendment is justified based on a local climatic condition. The seasonal climatic conditions during the late summer and fall create severe fire hazards to the public health and welfare in the City. The hot, dry weather frequently results in wild land fires on the brush covered slopes west of Interstate 280. The aforementioned conditions combined with the geologicalcharacteristics of the hills within the City create hazardous conditions for which departure fromCalifornia Building Standards Code is required.
G This amendment is justified based on a local geological condition. The City of Palo Alto is subject to earthquake hazard caused by its proximity to San Andreas fault. This fault runs from Hollister, through the Santa Cruz Mountains, epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, then on up the San Francisco Peninsula, then offshore at Daly City near Mussel Rock. This is the approximate location of the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The other fault is Hayward Fault. This fault is about 74 mi long, situated mainly along the western base of the hills on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Both faults are considered major Northern California earthquake faults which may experience rupture at any time. Thus, because the City is within a seismic area which includes these earthquake faults, the modifications and changes cited hereinare designed to better limit property damage as a result of seismic activity and to establish criteriafor repair of damaged properties following a local emergency.
T The City of Palo Alto topography includes hillsides with narrow and winding access, which makes timely response by fire suppression and emergency response vehicles difficult. Palo Alto is contiguous with the San Francisco Bay, resulting in a natural receptor for storm and wastewaterrun-off. Also, the City of Palo Alto is located in an area that is potentially susceptible to liquefaction during a major earthquake. The surface condition consists mostly of stiff to dense sandy clay, which is highly plastic and expansive in nature. The aforementioned conditions within the City create hazardous conditions for which departure from California Building Standards Codeis warranted.
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Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: A22EAE32-EBF5-4984-9C75-D35704384678 Status: Completed
Subject: ORD 5675 - Adopt a New Chapter 16.05, CA Mechanical Code
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 6 Signatures: 6 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Christine Prior
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250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov
IP Address: 165.225.242.110
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11/3/2025 2:51:40 PM
Holder: Christine Prior
Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov
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Madeleine Salah
Madeleine.Salah@paloalto.gov
Deputy City Attorney
City of Palo Alto
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Lauren Lai
Lauren.Lai@paloalto.gov
Director Administrative Services/CFO
COPA
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Jonathan Lait
Jonathan.Lait@paloalto.gov
Director, Planning and Development Services
City of Palo Alto
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Ed Shikada
Ed.Shikada@paloalto.gov
Ed Shikada
City of Palo Alto
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Ed Lauing
Ed.Lauing@paloalto.gov
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Mahealani Ah Yun
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City Clerk
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