Plans, Policies, and Ordinances

Since 1991, the City Council, City Manager, and staff have adopted policies, plans, ordinances, resolutions, and principles to help increase the sustainability of Palo Alto.

Policies

Energy Risk Management Policy(PDF, 88KB)

Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Policy(PDF, 11KB)

Extended Producer Responsibility Policy(PDF, 386KB)

Green Building Policy for City Buildings(PDF, 16KB)

Integrated Pest Management(PDF, 303KB)

Mercury and Dioxin Elimination Policy(PDF, 9KB)

Paper Reduction And Procurement of Environmentally Preferable Paper Products(PDF, 229KB)

Procurement of Recycled Products(PDF, 57KB)

Recycled Water Salinity Reduction Policy(PDF, 340KB)

Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy(PDF, 472KB)

Single-Use Plastics Policy(PDF, 2MB)

Support for Sustainability Policy Statement(PDF, 9KB)

Council Approved Plans

Baylands Master Plan(PDF, 9MB)

Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan(PDF, 19MB)

Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan(PDF, 2MB)

Carbon Neutral Plan for the Electric Supply Portfolio(PDF, 127KB)

Clean Bay Pollution Prevention Plan

Climate Protection Plan(PDF, 968KB)

Community Wildfire Protection Plan

E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap

Foothills Fire Management Plan 2025 Update 

Gas Utility Long-Term Plan(PDF, 87KB)

Local Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan: Palo Alto Annex

Local Solar Plan(PDF, 100KB)

Long Term Energy Acquisition Plan (LEAP)(PDF, 12KB)

Parks, Trails, Natural Open Space and Recreation Master Plan (PDF, 17MB)

Recycled Water Facility Plan(PDF, 12MB)

Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan

Threat and Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment(PDF, 914KB) (learn more here)

Utilities Strategic Plan

Utilities Wildfire Mitigation Plan 2024

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP)

Urban Forest

Urban Forest Master Plan

Urban Water Management

Zero Waste

Ordinances

Anti-Idling Ordinance No. 5448

Deconstruction and Construction Materials Management Ordinance No. 5472  

Disposable Foodware Ordinance No. 5473 

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Ordinance No. 5263

Electric Vehicle Charging Systems Procedures for Expedited Processing Ordinance No. 5661 

Improvements to the Palo Alto Baylands as Part of the Horizontal Levee Pilot Project Ordinance No. 5616

Leaf Blower Ordinance No. 4634 

Single-Use Checkout Bag Ordinance No. 5194 

Polystyrene and Non-Recyclable Food Service Containers Reduction Ordinance No. 5371

Recycled Water Infrastructure Ordinance No. 5002

Recycling and Composting Ordinance No. 5377

Requirements for Food Facilities Related to Water Pollution Prevention Ordinance No. 5672

Sewer Use Ordinance No. 5670 

Smoking Ordinance No. 5405

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Ordinance No. 5671

Tree Management and Preservation Ordinance No. 5612

Energy Reach Code Ordinances

Green Building Ordinances

Resolutions and Adopted Principles

Adopting Volume 1 and the City of Palo Alto Annex of Volume 2 of the Santa Clara County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan as the City's updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution No. 10193

Adopting the 2025 Emergency Operations Plan Resolution 10255

Ahwahnee Water Principles Resolution No. 8560

Amending the Palo Alto Baylands Priority Conservation Area to Conform to New Regional Planning Framework Criteria Resolution No. 10192

Bicycle and Electric Scooter Share Pilot Program Extension Resolution 9914  

Complete Streets Resolution No. 9562

Establishing a Local Solar Plan Resolution No. 9402

Green Business Program Resolution No. 7877

Heat Pump Water Heater Pilot Program Resolution No. 10075

Palo Alto Energy Risk Management Policy Resolution No. 9454

Potential Impacts of Climate Change and Externality Costs Resolution No. 9013

Reaffirming Council's Commitment to Palo Alto Values and Interests in the Context of Recent Federal Administration Actions Resolution No. 10221

Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan Approval Resolution No. 10226

State and National Extended Producer Responsibility Actions Resolution No. 9017

Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Adoption and CEQA Approval Resolution No. 10112

Urging CalPERS to Divest from Publicly Traded Fossil Fuel Companies Resolution 9493

Carbon Neutrality

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

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