Title 18: Development Code

This title, containing the City's zoning and subdivision regulations, shall be known as the "City of East Palo Alto Development Code" and referred to as the "Development Code."

A. Purpose. The Development Code is intended to carry out the policies of the City of East Palo Alto General Plan. More specifically, the purpose of this Code is as follows:

1. To guide, control, and regulate the future growth and development in the City of East Palo Alto;

2. To protect the character and the social and economic stability of residential, commercial, industrial, and other private and public areas within the City, and to ensure the orderly and beneficial development of these areas;

3. To prevent danger to public safety resulting from the locating of structures, and their use, and the use of land, adjacent to streets and highways which are a part of the Circulation Element of the General Plan, or which are important thoroughfares, in a manner which prevents interference with existing or prospective traffic movements on City streets and highways;

4. To provide adequate air, light, privacy, and convenience of access to property, and to ensure safety from fire, inundation, and other dangers; and

5. To prevent overcrowding the land and prevent undue congestion of population.

B. Intent. It is the intent of the Development Code to promote the orderly development of the City; promote and protect the public health, safety, comfort, convenience, morals, peace, and general welfare; protect the character, social diversity, and economic vitality of neighborhoods; and ensure the beneficial development of the City.

C. Authority. The Development Code is enacted based on the authority vested in the City of East Palo Alto and the State of California, including but not limited to the State Constitution, Planning and Zoning Law (California Government Code Section 65000 et seq.), Subdivision Map Act (California Government Code Section 66410 et seq.), California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), and the California Health and Safety Code.

D. City's Level of Compliance. The City shall endeavor to comply with the minimum requirements specified in the Development Code to the maximum extent possible.

For quick access, Article 2: Zones, Allowable uses and Development Standards gives an overview of the land use and development for each Zone and sub-zones in the City of East Palo Alto. 

Link to the online Municode for EPA's development code is here.