Plans, Policies, and Ordinances
Since 1991, the Palo Alto City Council, City Manager, and City of Palo Alto Departments have adopted policies, plans, ordinances, resolutions, and principles that have helped to increase the sustainability of Palo Alto. In addition, the City of Palo Alto is currently integrating sustainability principles in the Comprehensive Plan.
Policies
- Energy Risk Management Policy(PDF, 88KB) – Effective October 21, 2002, Revised December 2018
- Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy(PDF, 11KB) – Effective February 6, 2008, Revised October 28, 2016 (Adopted as part of the 2007 Climate Action Plan)
- Extended Producer Responsibility Policy – December 2009(PDF, 386KB)
- Green Building Policy for City Buildings – Effective April 21, 2003, Revised December 23, 2007
- Integrated Pest Management(PDF, 303KB) – Effective October 2001, Revised July 2020
- Mercury and Dioxin Elimination Policy – July 2000(PDF, 9KB)
- Paper Reduction And Procurement of Environmentally Preferable Paper Products(PDF, 229KB) - Effective July 23, 1990, Revised February 2018
- Procurement of Recycled Products(PDF, 57KB) – Effective November 22, 1990, Revised June 1991
- Recycled Water Salinity Reduction Policy – December 2009(PDF, 340KB)
- Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy - March 18, 2019(PDF, 472KB)
- Single-Use Plastics Policy(PDF, 2MB) – Effective April 2009, Revised September 22, 2016
- Support for Sustainability(PDF, 9KB) – Effective April 2000, Revised June 18, 2007
Council Approved Plans
- 2018-2020 Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP) - December 11, 2017(PDF, 907KB)
- Baylands Master Plan – 2008(PDF, 9MB)
- Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan – July 2012(PDF, 19MB)
- Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan - November 14, 2016(PDF, 2MB)
- Carbon Neutral Plan for the Electric Supply Portfolio – March 4, 2013 (Staff Report 3550)(PDF, 3MB)
- Clean Bay Pollution Prevention Plan
- Climate Protection Plan – December 3, 2007(PDF, 968KB)
- Disinfection Alternatives Work Plan – August 2005
- Foothills Fire Management Plan 2016 Update(PDF, 2MB) - January 23, 2017
- Gas Utility Long-Term Plan – April 23, 2012(PDF, 87KB)
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan Framework - June 30, 2017(PDF, 1MB)
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan - May 13, 2019(PDF, 23MB)
- Local Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan: Palo Alto Annex - March 2017(PDF, 7MB)
- Local Solar Plan – April 21, 2014 (Staff Report 4608)(PDF, 2MB)
- Long Term Energy Acquisition Plan (LEAP) – April 16, 2012 (Staff Report 2710)(PDF, 138KB)
- Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan – 2015 (Staff Report 5969)(PDF, 4MB)
- Parks, Trails, Natural Open Space and Recreation Master Plan – August 2017(PDF, 17MB) (please visit our Parks Master Plan page for more information)
- Recycled Water Facility Plan – December 2008(PDF, 12MB)
- Sustainability and Climate Action Plan – November 28, 2016(PDF, 3MB)
- Threat and Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment - 2017 Update(PDF, 914KB) (please visit our THIRA page for more information)
- Urban Forest Master Plan
- Urban Water Management Plan (2010) – June 2011(PDF, 5MB)
- Urban Water Management Plan (2015) – June 2016(PDF, 2MB)
- Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan (2020) - June 2021(PDF, 2MB)
- Utilities 2011 Strategic Plan – July 18, 2011, Revised August 5, 2013(PDF, 133KB)
- Zero Waste Strategic Plan(PDF, 949KB) – October 2005
- Zero Waste Operational Plan(PDF, 2MB) – June 2007
- Zero Waste Plan - August 2018(PDF, 7MB)
Ordinances
- Anti-Idling Ordinance - July 30, 2018 (Staff Report 9471)(PDF, 2MB) (please visit our Idle Free Palo Alto page for more information)
- Deconstruction & Construction Materials Management Ordinance - Effective 07/01/2020
- Disposable Foodware Ordinance - Effective 01/01/2020, Produce Bag Requirement effective 07/01/2020
- Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Ordinance 5263(PDF, 97KB) - Effective September 2014 through 06/19/2015
- Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5485(PDF, 574KB) - Effective 04/01/2020
- Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5383(PDF, 4MB) - Effective 01/01/2017 through 12/31/2019
- Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5345(PDF, 4MB) - Effective 09/10/2015 through 12/31/2016
- Food Waste Ordinance 5473(PDF, 343KB)
- Green Building Ordinance 5481(PDF, 583KB) - Effective 01/01/2020
- Green Building Ordinance 5393(PDF, 546KB) - Effective 01/01/2017 through 12/31/2019
- Green Building Ordinance 5324(PDF, 924KB) - Effective 06/22/2015 through 12/31/2016
- Green Building Ordinance 5220(PDF, 462KB) - Effective December 2013 through 06/19/2015
- Leaf Blower Ordinance 4634(PDF, 604KB) - June 13, 2005
- Palo Alto Single-use Checkout Bag Ordinance - Effective 6/1/2013
- Polystyrene Reduction Ordinance(PDF, 221KB) – May 11, 2009, Revised April 29, 2010
- Recycled Water Infrastructure Ordinance(PDF, 267KB) – May 12, 2008
- Recycling and Composting Ordinance - January 11, 2016
- Sewer Use Ordinance(PDF, 878KB) – June 21, 2010
- Smoking Ordinance(PDF, 685KB) – October 3, 1995, updated December 5, 2016
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Ordinance(PDF, 184KB) - January 10, 2011
- Tree Ordinance Update - June 6, 2022
Resolutions and Adopted Principles
- Ahwahnee Water Principles Resolution No. 8560(PDF, 184KB) - October 17, 2005
- Bay Friendly Landscaping Resolution – January 22, 2008
- Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan for the Gas Supply Portfolio Resolution No. 9649(PDF, 164KB) - December 5, 2016
- Carbon Neutral Plan for the Electric Supply Portfolio Resolution No. 9322(PDF, 185KB) – March 4, 2013
- Complete Streets Resolution No. 9562(PDF, 2MB) - November 30, 2015
- Establishing a Local Solar Plan Resolution No. 9402(PDF, 106KB) – April 21, 2014
- Green Business Program Resolution No. 7877(PDF, 73KB) – July 19, 1999
- Palo Alto Energy Risk Management Policy Resolution No. 9454(PDF, 499KB) – October 6, 2014
- Potential Impacts of Climate Change and Externality Costs Resolution No. 9013(PDF, 74KB) – December 7, 2009
- Renewables Portfolio Standards Enforcement Program Resolution No. 9214(PDF, 62KB) – December 12, 2011
- Renewable Energy Resources Procurement Plan Resolution No. 9215(PDF, 53KB) – December 12, 2011
- State and National Extended Producer Responsibility Actions Resolution No. 9017(PDF, 121KB) – December 14, 2009
- Urging CalPERS to Divest from Publicly Traded Fossil Fuel Companies Resolution 9493(PDF, 75KB) - February 9, 2015