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Location:
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Telephone:
Phone: 650-329-2441
Fax: 650-329-2154
Hours:
Planning Department Hours (Civic Center)
Mon-Thu 7:30-5:30pm
Fri 8-5pm (Closed Alt Fri)

NOTE: For permits, visit the City's Development Center web page for location and hours of operation of the City's permit center.

Palo Alto Green Building Program
Phone: 650-329-2189
Fax: 650-329-2240

Welcome to the Planning and Community Environment Department. Curtis Williams is the acting department director. The Planning and Community Environment Department consists of the Planning and Transportation Division and Building Division.

For forms, handouts, and information about obtaining permits, please visit our Development Center. The Development Center is located at 285 Hamilton, across from City Hall, and is a one-stop location to get help on all aspects of your construction, renovation, or development project.  You can also find many of our forms and handouts online:

The Transportation Section is responsible for traffic operations in the city, the bicycle system, area transportation studies, public transit service, and regional transportation activities.

The Planning Section provides staff support for the Planning & Transportation Commission, the Architectural Review Board, the Historic Resources Board, and administers the City's housing programs as well as preparing and monitoring the Comprehensive Plan and providing long-range planning studies. This division also processes applications for planning entitlements.

The mission of the Building Division is to ensure construction quality by reviewing construction plans for conformance to building codes, and inspecting projects while under construction. The Division is located at the Development Center at 285 Hamilton Ave.

The Code Enforcement Program promotes maintaining a safe and desirable living and working environment. We help improve the quality of our community

News Updates
Community Benefits DiscussionInformation regarding the City's efforts to develop a comprehensive list of possible community benefits to be discussed with Stanford representatives during the Development Agreement negotiation process. Links to City Manager Reports and Stanford's initial benefit proposal submitted to the City on June 15, 2009.
Stanford Project InformationStanford University Medical Center/Stanford Shopping Center projects information
SUMC Administrative Draft Environmental Impact ReportA preliminary working draft of the Stanford Projects EIR along with the applicants' preliminary comments is available as a public record in the Planning Department. A complete Draft EIR is expected to be released in September 2009
Residential Building Inspection ChecklistThe Building Department Residential Inspection Guidelines.
Baylands Master Plan2008 Updated Master Plan
[more]
Most Viewed Pages
Architectural Review BoardBelow Market Rate (BMR) Housing ProgramCDBG Community Development Block GrantDevelopment CenterHistoric PreservationHistoric Resources BoardPlanning and Transportation Commission
Forms and Publications
Events
Jul 4: Household Hazardous Waste Day

Jul 4: Summer Festival and Chili Cook Off

28th Annual Summer Festival & Chili Cook-off<...

Jul 6: City Council Meeting - Closed SessionWhen Closed Session ends, City Council meeting will begin.
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