Submit a Claim Against the City

Step 1.Understand the requirements and rules

• Your claim must be filed within six (6) months of the incident.
• This claim form is a public record and will be provided upon request in conformance with the Public Records Act, Government Code Sec. 6250 et seq.
• The furnishing to you of the claim form is not an admission by the City of any liability on the part of the City or any officer, agent or employee thereof.
• Confirm the incident location is within Palo Alto jurisdiction. If you’re unsure about the jurisdiction your claim falls under, please use an online mapping or search tool.

The below roads and properties are commonly mistaken for Palo Alto jurisdiction. Incidents that occur at these locations should be sent to the appropriate jurisdiction:

• Portions of US-101 and I-280, El Camino Real (SR-82) are maintained by Caltrans
• Page Mill Road, Oregon Expressway, Foothill Expressway are maintained by Santa Clara County
• Palo Alto Schools are maintained by Palo Alto Unified School District 

Step 2.Gather your supporting documents 

Gather copies of:

• Itemized receipts
• Estimates
• Photographs
• Other documentation to support your claim:
  • Personal injury claims require copies of bills from treating physicians and proof of any other expenses claimed as a result of the incident.
  • If you are claiming a wage loss, you need to provide supporting documentation of workdays and wages lost.
  • Property damage claims require an estimate of repair costs and photographs of the alleged damage.
    
    

Step 3.Fill out the online application

Enter your personal and claim information, and attach the supporting documents to the application. Please complete each section thoroughly.

File a Claim

Step 4.We will contact you

The claim will be sent to the City Clerk. Once it's been filed, we begin investigating the claim. You will be sent an acknowledgement letter within five (5) days. If we need additional information, we'll reach out to you. 

Step 1.Understand the requirements and rules

• Your claim must be filed within six (6) months of the incident.
• This claim form is a public record and will be provided upon request in conformance with the Public Records Act, Government Code Sec. 6250 et seq.
• The furnishing to you of the claim form is not an admission by the City of any liability on the part of the City or any officer, agent or employee thereof.
• Confirm the incident location is within Palo Alto jurisdiction. If you’re unsure about the jurisdiction your claim falls under, please use an online mapping or search tool.
  
  The below roads and properties are commonly mistaken for Palo Alto jurisdiction. Incidents that occur at these locations should be sent to the appropriate jurisdiction:
  • Page Mill Road, Oregon Expressway, Foothill Expressway are maintained by Santa Clara County
  • Portions of US-101 and I-280, El Camino Real (SR-82) are maintained by Caltrans

  • Palo Alto Schools are maintained by Palo Alto Unified School District

Step 2.Gather your supporting documents

Gather copies of:

• Itemized receipts
• Estimates
• Photographs
• Other documentation to support your claim:
  • Personal injury claims require copies of bills from treating physicians and proof of any other expenses claimed as a result of the incident.
  • If you are claiming a wage loss, you need to provide supporting documentation of workdays and wages lost.
  • Property damage claims require an estimate of repair costs and photographs of the alleged damage.
    
    

Step 3.Fill out and download the PDF application

Add your personal and claim information. Please complete each section thoroughly and download the application. Ensure that you've scanned your supporting documents or have them downloaded as well.

 Claim Form and Instruction Sheet(PDF, 340KB)

Email your application

Completed claims must be filed with the City Clerk's office. Please email your claim to city.clerk@paloalto.gov. 

Step 4.We will contact you

Once your claim has been filed, we begin investigating the claim. You will be sent an acknowledgement letter within five (5) days. If we need additional information, we'll reach out to you. 

Step 1.Understand the requirements and rules

• Your claim must be filed within six (6) months of the incident.
• This claim form is a public record and will be provided upon request in conformance with the Public Records Act, Government Code Sec. 6250 et seq.
• The furnishing to you of the claim form is not an admission by the City of any liability on the part of the City or any officer, agent or employee thereof.
• Confirm the incident location is within Palo Alto jurisdiction. If you’re unsure about the jurisdiction your claim falls under, please use an online mapping or search tool.

The below roads and properties are commonly mistaken for Palo Alto jurisdiction. Incidents that occur at these locations should be sent to the appropriate jurisdiction:              

• Page Mill Road, Oregon Expressway, Foothill Expressway are maintained by Santa Clara County
• Portions of US-101 and I-280, El Camino Real (SR-82) are maintained by Caltrans

• Palo Alto Schools are maintained by Palo Alto Unified School District 

Step 2.Gather your supporting documents 

Gather copies of:

• Itemized receipts
• Estimates
• Photographs
• Other documentation to support your claim:
  • Personal injury claims require copies of bills from treating physicians and proof of any other expenses claimed as a result of the incident.
  • If you are claiming a wage loss, you need to provide supporting documentation of workdays and wages lost.
  • Property damage claims require an estimate of repair costs and photographs of the alleged damage.
    
    

Step 3.Fill out and print the PDF application

Add your personal and claim information. Please complete each section thoroughly. Print the application and attach the supporting documents to the application.

Claim Form and Instruction Sheet(PDF, 340KB)

Step 4.Mail in your application

Completed claims must be filed with the City Clerk's office. Please send your claim to:

City Clerk's Office
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, California, 94301 

Step 5.We will contact you

Once your claim has been filed, we begin investigating the claim. You will be sent an acknowledgement letter within five (5) days. If we need additional information, we'll reach out to you. 

Step 1.Understand the requirements and rules

• Your claim must be filed within six (6) months of the incident.
• This claim form is a public record and will be provided upon request in conformance with the Public Records Act, Government Code Sec. 6250 et seq.
• The furnishing to you of the claim form is not an admission by the City of any liability on the part of the City or any officer, agent or employee thereof.
• Confirm the incident location is within Palo Alto jurisdiction. If you’re unsure about the jurisdiction your claim falls under, please use an online mapping or search tool.

  The below roads and properties are commonly mistaken for Palo Alto jurisdiction. Incidents that occur at these locations should be sent to the appropriate jurisdiction:

  • Portions of US-101 and I-280, El Camino Real (SR-82) are maintained by Caltrans
  • Page Mill Road, Oregon Expressway, Foothill Expressway are maintained by Santa Clara County
  • Palo Alto Schools are maintained by Palo Alto Unified School District 
   

Step 2.Gather your supporting documents

Gather copies of:

• Itemized receipts
• Estimates
• Photographs
• Other documentation to support your claim:
  • Personal injury claims require copies of bills from treating physicians and proof of any other expenses claimed as a result of the incident.
  • If you are claiming a wage loss, you need to provide supporting documentation of workdays and wages lost.
  • Property damage claims require an estimate of repair costs and photographs of the alleged damage.

Step 3.Fill out and print the PDF application

Add your personal and claim information. Please complete each section thoroughly. Print the application and attach the supporting documents to the application.

Claim Form and Instruction Sheet(PDF, 340KB)

Step 4.Walk in your application

Completed claims must be filed with the City Clerk's office. Please go to:

City Clerk's Office
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, California, 94301 

Step 5.We will contact you

Once your claim has been filed, we begin investigating the claim. You will be sent an acknowledgement letter within five (5) days. If we need additional information, we'll reach out to you.