Table of Contents

Green Building

The city’s municipal code outlines a green building program that covers public, commercial, residential, and mixed-use new developments. It requires all new commercial and public developments receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified certification and all new single- and multi-family residential developments meet the Green Home standards outlined in the Alameda County Waste Management Authority Green Building Guidelines (§17.50.040). 

Inclusionary Housing

The city addresses inclusionary housing in its Planning and Related Matters title through an ordinance adopted in 2000 (§17.44.010 et seq.). It establishes affordability requirements of 15 percent for multi-family projects with 15 units or more for very low- and low-income households and 20 percent for single-family projects of 15 units or more for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. Commercial, office, and industrial development may provide affordable housing in lieu of paying a lower-income housing fee.

The code lists standards for inclusionary units that address dispersal, design, size, and construction timing; affordability is required in perpetuity. Developers must submit an affordable housing agreement.

Incentives provided to increase the feasibility of providing inclusionary units include fee waivers, design modifications, second mortgages, and priority processing. Alternatives for compliance include off-site unit construction, land dedication, credit transfers, or in-lieu fee.

The city also offers density bonuses in exchange for voluntary provision of affordable units (§17.38.010 et seq.).

The city’s Affordable Housing Development Incentives website summarizes the city’s inclusionary housing provisions.

Solar Energy

The city's zoning ordinance defines a photovoltaic facility (18.08.430).

It allows waivers of design review if PV facilities adhere to listed conditions such as flat mounting, compliance with location and height requirements, no glare creation, and appropriate colors; if glare is created after installation, additional conditions may be required for mitigation (Sec. 18.20.010.D).

PV facilities are permitted in the A, RM, P, R-1, O, L-I, I-P, and all commercial districts (Secs. 18.28.030, 18.36.030, 18.32.030, 18.56.030, 18.40.030, 18.48.160, 18.48.140, and 18.44.090).