City Council
Staff Report
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: January 20, 2026
Report #:2601-5795
TITLE
SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Repealing and Replacing Section 18.40.250 (Lighting) of Chapter 18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions) and Amending Chapters 18.10, 18.12, 18.28 and Section 18.40.230 of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Adopt New Outdoor Lighting Regulations (REINTRODUCED FIRST READING: December 8, 2025; PASSED:6-1, Lythcott-Haims, no)
BACKGROUND
The City Council heard this item on December 8, 2025 for a reintroduced first reading and approved the below motion on a 6-1, Lythcott-Haims, no vote.
MOTION: Councilmember Stone moved, seconded by Councilmember Reckdahl to adopt the proposed ordinance with staff’s recommended changes and include the following changes:
1) Amend Section 18.40.250(e)(4)(A), removing the curfew start time of 12:00 a.m. and adding a curfew start time of 11:00 p.m.
2) Amend Section 18.40.250(c)(3) to remove the phrase “If a building permit is required” to apply the ordinance to all new installation, replacement, or modification of outdoor luminaires.
3) Amend Section 18.40.250(L)(1), removing the words “two years” and replacing it with the words “one year”, shortening the compliance period for adjustable existing lighting fixtures to one year.
4) Amend Section L(2)(A) and (B) and L(3) to remove the retrofit requirement. 5) Refer to the Utilities Department to evaluate electric efficiency incentives related to voluntary retrofits of existing fixtures.
6) Request staff to evaluate objective standards as an alternate to cost of the lighting study. 7) Under the business curfew, retain the 2-hour-after closure and limit the after-vacancy to one hour.
8) Outdoor space above ground floor Section F(4)(B) revised to be consistent to other curfews in this ordinance.
MOTION PASSED: 6-1, Lythcott-Haims no
The ordinance was updated to reflect the City Council’s direction and is now before the City Council for a second reading.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Repealing and Replacing Section
18.40.250 (Lighting) of Chapter 18.40 (General Standards and Exceptions) and Amending Chapters 18.10, 18.12, 18.28 and Section 18.40.230 of Title 18 (Zoning) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Adopt New Outdoor Lighting Regulations
APPROVED BY:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk