Table of Contents

Active Transportation

The city’s planning and zoning code requires long-term bicycle parking for not only new development, but also enlargements and changes of use, with the exception of properties with less than 2,500 square feet of gross building area (Chapter 9.28). The long-term parking storage is similar to others in requirements by use and design standards for safety and security. This code in particular is notable for its provisions for e-cycles (a charging station) and using the metric of occupants of 4 or more hours.

Affordable Housing Programs

The city’s codified ordinances outline a multifaceted affordable housing program. Chapter 9.22 discusses state and local affordable housing incentives, including density bonuses and reduced parking requirements, and establishes a process for requesting the incentives. Table 9.28.060 lists the required parking spaces by land use classification and by location and shows that deed restricted affordable units have a lower requirement. Chapter 9.64 describes the city’s mandatory inclusionary housing program and the different methods developers can use to satisfy requirements, including on-site, off-site, of fee-in-lieu options. Chapter 9.68 outlines the city’s affordable housing commercial linkage fee program, which helps fund the development of affordable housing units.

Housing Supply Planning

The city's codified ordinances encourage increasing housing supply and affordable options for all with a multifaceted affordable housing program. Chapter 9.22 discusses state and local affordable housing incentives, including density bonuses and reduced parking requirements, and establishes a process for requesting the incentives. The code also enacts a mandatory inclusionary housing program (Chapter 9.64). 

Shared Mobility

The city’s codified ordinances include permit requirements for shared mobility service operators and parking standards that address carpool, vanpool, and car-share spaces. 

The city’s public safety code presents permit requirements, the maximum number of operators, parking requirements, and more for car share (§3.06), bike share (§3.20), and shared mobility pilot programs (§3.21–22).

Its planning and zoning code requires commercial uses with more than 50 on-site parking spaces to provide designated carpool and vanpool parking spaces (§9.28.150). And it authorizes a reduction of two required off-street parking spaces per dedicated car-share space, up to a maximum of 25 percent of required spaces (§9.28.180.C). 

Short-Term Residential Rentals

The city’s business code addresses the regulation of short-term residential rentals; it does not address this use in its zoning code. Chapter 6.20, Home-Sharing and Vacation Rentals, defines home-sharing as hosting visitors in a home for less than 30 days while the owner lives onsite, while vacation rental is defined as renting a dwelling unit for less than 30 days for the exclusive use of the visitors (§6.20.010).

The code authorizes home-sharing in compliance with requirements, including issuance of a home-sharing business license, collection and remitting of Transient Occupancy Taxes, and listing on a home-sharing registry maintained by the city (§6.20.020).

The code also establishes requirements for hosting platforms, including collection and remitting of TOT, sharing of listings, and prohibition of transactions for any unit not registered with the city (§6.20.050).

Solar Energy

In the city's planning and zoning code, solar energy design standards provide ministerial development standards for all solar energy systems, including height limit exceptions of up to 5 feet above height limits or roof surfaces for PV systems and 7 feet for solar water and swimming pool heating systems in all districts; systems should be installed in locations least visible from abutting streets as long as location does not "significantly decrease" the energy performance or "significantly increase" the cost of the system; installations in historic districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Landmarks Commission (§9.21.150). The surface area coverage and screening requirements for rooftop mechanical equipment do not apply to solar equipment.