Plans, Policies, and Ordinances

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), Staff Report 456:09

Green Building Policy for City Buildings(PDF, 16KB) – Effective April 21, 2003, Revised December 23, 2007, Staff Report 436:07

Integrated Pest Management(PDF, 303KB) – Effective October 2001, Revised July 2020, Staff Report 343:01

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), Staff Report 111:10

Sea Level Rise Adaptation Policy - March 18, 2019(PDF, 472KB), Staff Report 9576(PDF, 984KB)

Single-Use Plastics Policy(PDF, 2MB) – Effective April 2009, Revised September 22, 2016, Staff Report 215:09

Support for Sustainability(PDF, 9KB) – Effective April 2000, Revised June 18, 2007, Staff Report 260:07

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(PDF, 127KB), Staff Report 3550

Clean Bay Pollution Prevention Plan

Climate Protection Plan – December 3, 2007(PDF, 968KB), Staff Report 435:07

Disinfection Alternatives Work Plan – August 2005

E-Mobility Strategic Roadmap - August 2025

Foothills Fire Management Plan 2025 Update 

Gas Utility Long-Term Plan – April 23, 2012(PDF, 87KB), Staff Report 2552(PDF, 402KB)

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

• Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan – May 13, 2019(PDF, 23MB), Staff Report 9883(PDF, 25MB)
• Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan Framework – June 30, 2017
  (PDF, 1MB)

Local Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation Plan: Palo Alto Annex – February 2025, Staff Report 2501-4000

Local Solar Plan – April 21, 2014(PDF, 100KB), Staff Report 4608(PDF, 2MB)

Long Term Energy Acquisition Plan (LEAP) - April 16, 2012(PDF, 12KB), Staff Report 2710

Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan

• 2030 Comprehensive Plan
• 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)

Reliability and Resiliency Strategic Plan - April 2024, Staff Report 2401-2496

Sustainability and Climate Action Plan

• 2022 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) - June 5, 2023(PDF, 6MB), Staff Report 2303-1158
• 2018-2020 Sustainability Implementation Plan (SIP) – December 11, 2017(PDF, 907KB),Staff Report 8487
• Sustainability and Climate Action Plan – November 28, 2016(PDF, 3MB), Staff Report 7304
  
  

Threat and Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment – 2017 Update(PDF, 914KB) (please visit our THIRA page for more information)

Urban Forest Master Plan

• Urban Forest Master Plan Second Edition – February 25, 2019, Staff Report 10034(PDF, 999KB)
• Urban Forest Master Plan Introduced – February 7, 2011, Staff Report 1332(PDF, 4MB)
  
  

Urban Water Management Plan

•  Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan (2020) – June 2021(PDF, 2MB)
• Urban Water Management Plan (2015) – June 2016(PDF, 2MB)
• Urban Water Management Plan (2010) – June 2011(PDF, 5MB)
  
  

Utilities 2011 Strategic Plan – July 18, 2011, Revised August 5, 2013(PDF, 133KB)

Zero Waste Plan

• Zero Waste Plan – August 2018(PDF, 7MB), Staff Report 9237(PDF, 1MB)
• Zero Waste Operational Plan – June 2007(PDF, 2MB)
• Zero Waste Strategic Plan – October 2005(PDF, 949KB)

Anti-Idling Ordinance - July 30, 2018, Staff Report 9471(PDF, 2MB)

Deconstruction and Construction Materials Management Ordinance No. 5472  - Effective 07/01/2020, Staff Report 10148(PDF, 3MB), Second Reading(PDF, 239KB). learn more on the Zero Waste Deconstruction Ordinance page

Disposable Foodware Ordinance - Effective 01/01/2020, Produce Bag Requirement effective 07/01/2020. Learn more on the Zero Waste Disposable Foodware page

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Ordinance 5263 - Effective September 2014 through 06/19/2015

Electric Vehicle Charging Systems Procedures for Expedited Processing - September 2025, Staff Report 2508-5094

Energy Reach Code Ordinance

• Energy Reach Code Ordinance - September 2025, Staff Report 5207-5020
• Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5571 - Effective 01/01/2023, Staff Report 14886, Summary Document(PDF, 149KB)
• Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5485 - Effective 04/01/2020 through 12/31/2022
• Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5383 - Effective 01/01/2017 through 12/31/2019
• Energy Reach Code Ordinance 5345 - Effective 09/10/2015  through 12/31/2016 

Improvements to the Palo Alto Baylands as Part of the Horizontal Levee Pilot Project - Ordinance 5616, Staff Report 2303-1230

Green Building Ordinance

• Ordinance amending Green Building Code - September 2025, Staff Report 2508-5048
• Ordinance 5626 - Effective 7/18/2024, Staff Report 2406-3125
• Ordinance 5570 - Effective 01/01/2023, Staff Report 14886, Summary Document(PDF, 149KB)
• Ordinance 5481 - Effective 01/01/2020 through 12/31/2022
• Ordinance 5393 - Effective 01/01/2017 through 12/31/2019
• Ordinance 5324 - Effective 06/22/2015 through 12/31/2016
• Ordinance 5220 - Effective December 2013 through 06/19/2015
  
  

Leaf Blower Ordinance 4634 - Amended June 13, 2005 

Single-Use Checkout Bag Ordinance 5194 - Effective 6/1/2013, Staff Report 3065

Polystyrene Reduction Ordinance – May 11, 2009, Revised April 29, 2010, Staff Report 201:09, Staff Report 206:10

Recycled Water Infrastructure Ordinance – May 12, 2008, Staff Report 203:08

Recycling and Composting Ordinance – 2016, Staff Report 6475

Sewer Use Ordinance – June 21, 2010, Staff Report 252:10

• Proposed Sewer Use Ordinance Update 2025

Smoking Ordinance – Amended January 1, 2017, Staff Report 7371

Stormwater Ordinances

• Proposed Stormwater Ordinance Update 2025
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Ordinance Amendment – January 10, 2011

Tree Ordinance

• Ordinance 5619 - Effective May 1, 2024, Staff Report 2402-2631 and Staff Report 2403-2809
• Ordinance 5559 – Effective July 21, 2022, Staff Report 14355

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 - October 7, 2024, Staff Report 2407-3313

Ahwahnee Water Principles Resolution No. 8560 – October 17, 2005

Amending the Palo Alto Baylands Priority Conservation Area to Conform to New Regional Planning Framework Criteria Resolution No. 10192- October 7, 2024

Bay Friendly Landscaping Resolution Resolution No.  – January 22, 2008

Carbon Neutrality

• Carbon Neutrality Goal Resolution No. 10078 - October 3, 2022
• Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan for the Gas Supply Portfolio Resolution No. 9649 – December 5, 2016, Staff Report 7284(PDF, 2MB)
• Carbon Neutral Plan for the Electric Supply Portfolio Resolution No. 9322 – March 4, 2013

Complete Streets Resolution No. 9562 – November 30, 2015, Staff Report 6292(PDF, 448KB)

Establishing a Local Solar Plan Resolution No. 9402 – April 21, 2014 

Green Business Program Resolution No. 7877 – July 19, 1999

Heat Pump Water Heater Pilot Program Resolution No. 10075 - October 3, 2022

Palo Alto Energy Risk Management Policy Resolution No. 9454 – October 6, 2014 

Potential Impacts of Climate Change and Externality Costs Resolution No. 9013 – December 7, 2009

Reaffirming Council's Commitment to Palo Alto Values and Interests in the Context of Recent Federal Administration Actions Resolution No. 10221 - March 17, 2025, City Council Colleague Memo

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

• Renewables Portfolio Standards Enforcement Program Resolution No. 9381 – November 12, 2013, Staff Report 4168
• Renewables Portfolio Standards Enforcement Program Resolution No. 9214 – December 12, 2011 (revised 2013)

Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan Approval Resolution No. 10226 - June 2, 2025, Staff Report 2503-4455

State and National Extended Producer Responsibility Actions Resolution No. 9017 – December 14, 2009

Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Adoption and CEQA Approval Resolution No. 10112 - June 5, 2023

Urging CalPERS to Divest from Publicly Traded Fossil Fuel Companies Resolution 9493 – February 9, 2015, Colleagues Memo