HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2512-5748CITY OF PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
Special Meeting
Monday, January 12, 2026
Council Chambers & Hybrid
5:30 PM
Agenda Item
12.SECOND READING: Interim Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Temporarily
Extending Interim Ordinance 5645, Amending Various Chapters of Title 16 (Building
Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land)
of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement Recent State Housing Laws (FIRST
READING: December 8, 2025, PASSED 7-0)
City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Clerk
Meeting Date: January 12, 2026
Report #:2512-5748
TITLE
SECOND READING: Interim Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Temporarily
Extending Interim Ordinance 5645, Amending Various Chapters of Title 16 (Building
Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code to Implement Recent State Housing Laws (FIRST READING: December
8, 2025, PASSED 7-0)
BACKGROUND
The City Council heard this item on December 8, 2025 for a first reading and approved it on a 7-
0 vote. No changes were made to the ordinance, and it is now before the City Council for a
second reading.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Interim Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Temporarily Extending
Interim Ordinance 5645, Amending Various Chapters of Title 16 (Building Regulations) and Title
18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code to Implement Recent State Housing Laws
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
* NOT YET APPROVED *
1
0160178_20251114_ay16
Ordinance No. ____
Interim Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Temporarily
Extending Interim Ordinance 5645, Amending Various Chapters of Title
16 (Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21 (Subdivisions
and Other Divisions of Land) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to
Implement Recent State Housing Laws
The Council of the City of Palo Alto ORDAINS as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as
follows:
A. On January 13, 2025, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 5645, Amending
Various Chapters of Title 16 (Building Regulations) and Title 18 (Zoning) and Title 21
(Subdivisions and Other Divisions of Land) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to
Implement Recent State Housing Laws, with an expiration date of December 31,
2025.
B. The City Council now desires to extend these sections of the ordinance until
December 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. The effective date of Ordinance No. 5645 is hereby extended to
December 31, 2026, unless further extended by the City Council or superseded by replacement
legislation.
SECTION 3. 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.
SECTION 4. Environmental Review.
The Council finds that the Ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with
certainty that there is no possibility that updating the municipal code to implement existing
changes in preemptive state housing law will have a significant effect on the environment.
//
//
* NOT YET APPROVED *
2
0160178_20251114_ay16
SECTION 4. Effective Date.
This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date of its adoption (second
reading).
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
____________________________ ____________________________
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of Planning and
Development Services