HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 5679
Ordinance No. 5679
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Repealing Chapter
16.16 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code and Amending Title 16 to Adopt
a New Chapter 16.16, California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, and
Local Amendments and Related Findings
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 16.16 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended by repealing
in its entirety 16.16 and adopting a new Chapter 16.16 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 16.16
CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE,
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 24, PART 3
Sections
16.16.010 2025 California Electrical Code, Title 24, Part 3 adopted and amended.
16.16.020 Cross - References to California Electrical Code.
16.16.030 Local Amendments.
16.16.040 Adoption of SECTION 89.101 GENERAL.
16.16.050 Article 89.101.3.3 Exempted from This Code.
16.16.060 Article 89.101.4 2025 California Electrical Code Annexes adopted.
16.16.070 Administration & Enforcement of 2025 California Electrical Code.
16.16.080 Article 110.13 Mounting and Cooling of Equipment.
16.16.010 2025 California Electrical Code, Cal. Code of Regs., Title 24, Part 3 adopted and
amended.
The California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, Title 24, Part 3 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Unless superseded and expressly repealed, references in City of Palo Alto forms, documents and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 California Code of Regulations, Title 24, 2022, shall
be construed to apply to the corresponding provisions contained within the California Code of
Regulations, Title 24, 2025. Ordinance No. 5568 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of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby suspended and expressly repealed.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 Electrical Code" or "Electrical 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
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Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, as adopted by this Chapter.
One copy of the California Electrical Code, 2025 edition, has been filed for use and examination of
the public in the Office of the Chief Building Official of the City of Palo Alto.
16.16.020 Cross - References to California Electrical Code.
The provisions of this Chapter contain cross-references to the provisions of the California Electrical
Code, 2025 Edition, in order to facilitate reference and comparison to those provisions.
16.16.030 Local Amendments.
The provisions of this Chapter shall constitute local amendments to the cross-referenced provisions of
the California Electrical 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.
16.16.040 Adoption of SECTION 89.101 GENERAL.
SECTION 89.101 GENERAL of the 2025 California Electrical Code is adopted by the City of Palo Alto
as amended herein.
16.16.050 Article 89.101.3.3 Exempted from This Code.
Section 89.101.3.3 is amended as follows (additions underlined; sections omitted without change
noted by [. . .]):
89.101.3.3 Exempted from This Code.
This code does not cover:
1. Installations in ships, watercraft other than floating dwelling units, railway rolling stock,
aircraft, automotive vehicles, commercial coaches, mobile homes, and recreational
vehicles.
[. . .]
7. ADDITIONAL EXEMPTIONS: Electrical work that is exempt from permits pursuant to Palo
Alto Municipal Code Section 16.04.110, Section 105.2 Work exempt from permit.
16.16.060 Article 89.101.4 2025 California Electrical Code Annexes adopted.
The following Annexes of the California Electrical 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. Annex B – Application Information for AmpacityCalculations
B. Annex C – Conduit, Tubing, and Cable Tray Fill Tables for Conductors and Fixture Wires of
the Same Size
C. Annex I – Unit Recommended Tightening Torque Tables from UL Standard 486A - 486B
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16.16.070 Administration & Enforcement of 2025 California Electrical 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.
16.16.080 Article 110.13 Mounting and Cooling of Equipment.
Article 110.13 (A) (1) of Article 110 of the California Electrical Code is added to read:
110.13 (A) (1) Concrete Slab Supporting Electrical Equipment. When electrical equipment is to
be placed on a concrete substrate, a 4-inch concrete housekeeping pad shall be installed to
elevate and protect the equipment.
SECTION 2. The Council adopts the findings for local amendments to the California
Electrical 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
Electrical 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 ordinance 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 ELECTRICAL CODE,
TITLE 24, PART 3
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 Electrical Code, Title, 24, Part 3
Section(s)
or Article(s)
Title Added Amended Deleted Justification
(See below
for keys)
89.101 GENERAL A
89.101.3.3 Exempt from This Code A
110.13 (A) (1) Mounting and Cooling of Equipment C
Annex B Application Information for G
Ampacity Calculations
Annex C Conduit, Tubing, and Cable Tray Fill Tables A
for Conductors and Fixture Wires of the
Same Size
Annex I Unit Recommended Tightening Torque
Tables
from UL Standard 486A - 486B
A
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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
Building Inspection Department. These administrative amendments do not need to meet
HSC 18941.5/17958/13869 per HSC 18909(c).
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 geological characteristics of the hills within the City create hazardous conditions
for which departure from California 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 herein are designed to better limit
property damage as a result of seismic activity and to establish criteria for 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 wastewater run-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 Code is warranted
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Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: 25D3A92E-A822-47C9-B298-B1441F5C5DA2 Status: Completed
Subject: ORD 5679 - Adopting a New Chapter 16.16, California Electrical Code
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 6 Signatures: 6 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 2 Initials: 0 Christine Prior
AutoNav: Enabled
EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
250 Hamilton Ave
Palo Alto , CA 94301
Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov
IP Address: 165.225.242.110
Record Tracking
Status: Original
11/3/2025 3:13:23 PM
Holder: Christine Prior
Christine.Prior@PaloAlto.gov
Location: DocuSign
Security Appliance Status: Connected Pool: StateLocal
Storage Appliance Status: Connected Pool: City of Palo Alto Location: Docusign
Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Madeleine Salah
Madeleine.Salah@paloalto.gov
Deputy City Attorney
City of Palo Alto
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
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Signed: 11/3/2025 4:26:51 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
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Lauren Lai
Lauren.Lai@paloalto.gov
Director Administrative Services/CFO
COPA
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(None)
Signature Adoption: Drawn on Device
Using IP Address: 199.33.32.254
Sent: 11/3/2025 4:26:53 PM
Viewed: 11/7/2025 2:45:37 PM
Signed: 11/7/2025 2:45:43 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
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Jonathan Lait
Jonathan.Lait@paloalto.gov
Director, Planning and Development Services
City of Palo Alto
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(None)
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Using IP Address: 99.88.42.180
Sent: 11/7/2025 2:45:45 PM
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Signed: 11/7/2025 3:40:37 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
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Ed Shikada
Ed.Shikada@paloalto.gov
Ed Shikada
City of Palo Alto
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 174.202.6.18
Signed using mobile
Sent: 11/7/2025 3:40:39 PM
Viewed: 11/10/2025 10:03:24 AM
Signed: 11/10/2025 10:03:36 AM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
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Signer Events Signature Timestamp
Ed Lauing
Ed.Lauing@paloalto.gov
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)
Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address:
2601:647:6880:a6f0:68b9:7744:e5a4:d835
Sent: 11/10/2025 10:03:38 AM
Viewed: 11/17/2025 8:43:01 AM
Signed: 11/17/2025 8:43:25 AM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
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Mahealani Ah Yun
Mahealani.AhYun@paloalto.gov
City Clerk
Security Level: Email, Account Authentication
(None)Signature Adoption: Pre-selected Style
Using IP Address: 199.33.32.254
Sent: 11/17/2025 8:43:27 AM
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Signed: 11/17/2025 6:11:20 PM
Electronic Record and Signature Disclosure:
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Envelope Summary Events Status Timestamps
Envelope Sent Hashed/Encrypted 11/3/2025 3:17:02 PM
Certified Delivered Security Checked 11/17/2025 6:11:10 PM
Signing Complete Security Checked 11/17/2025 6:11:20 PM
Completed Security Checked 11/17/2025 6:11:20 PM
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