March 16, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov
Bird-Friendly Design Ordinance
City Council
Kelly Cha, Senior Planner
2 Purpose
• Comprehensive Plan (2017)
• Policy L-6.3: Encourage bird-friendly design.
• Program L6.3.1: Develop guidelines for bird-friendly building design that minimizes hazards for birds and reduces the potential for collisions. • Council Priority: Climate Change & Natural Environment “Initiate an evaluation of strategies to protect natural habitats such as bird safe glass and wildlife protection from light pollution.” 3 Public Meetings
• Architectural Review Board Study Sessions
⬧ Focused discussion on the applicability, Bird-Friendly Treatment, and exemptions for residential
• Planning and Transportation Commission Hearings
⬧ Discussions focused on balancing broader protection with impacts on property owners. Specific discussions on applicability, definition of Bird Sensitive Area, and alternative compliance.
⬧ Ultimately forwarded the draft specifically designed to reduce cost and availability burdens, especially for residential development. 4 Community Engagement
• Public Comments. The written comments from multiple stakeholders have been addressed throughout the entire process.
⬧ Residents
⬧ Local businesses
⬧ Major developers
⬧ Environmental advocates
• Focused Outreach Meetings with Palo Alto Businesses.
⬧ Concerns over material costs, visual appeal impacting leases, and requested allowances for films/decals for new nonresidential development. 5 Cost and Availability Concerns
• Availability and Project Timeline Delay
⬧ No local stock and retailers generally unaware of products. ⬧ No available residential market and require commercial-grade glazing purchase. ⬧ No direct purchase possible and required to hire professionals to order. ⬧ Special orders extend lead times in an already time-sensitive supply chain. • Cost and Feasibility
⬧ Higher commercial base rates plus additional $7–$10 per s.f. ⬧ Films are cheaper but labor-intensive and pose environmental concerns. ⬧ Insect screens are cost effective but may not be architecturally compatible. ⬧ Other cities essentially exempt single-family homes.
6 Draft Ordinance
• Applicability. New construction, major remodels, and Bird Hazard Installations. • Bird Sensitive Area. East of Highway 101 and west of Foothill Expressway • Bird-Friendly Design Requirements. Limit untreated glazing to a specific percentage of each building elevation, with stricter limits for non-residential buildings and those in a Bird Sensitive Area.
• Bird-Friendly Treatment Specifications. Permanent visual cues like dots or lines spaced no more than 2 inches apart or use external features that break up the glazing with no gaps larger than 9 inches. Non-permanent markers may be allowed for residential.
7 Source: City of Berkeley
Sister Cities Café, Philadelphia
8 Google Campus in Mountain View
Source: City of Berkeley
9 Example Insect Screen from Home Depot
Metal Shutter House, New York City
The Grounds, Hobsonville Point, NZ
McDonald’s at Walt Disney World, Bay Lake, FL
10 Draft Ordinance (continued)
• Alternative Compliance. A report from a biologist or ornithologist proposing alternative ways to comply with the intent of the ordinance. • Exemptions. Historic structures, affordable housing, ADUs, and some commercial first floor windows.
11 Additional Consideration – Exemption for Nonresidential
1. Exemption: Consider broadening 35-foot exemption to nonresidential structures outside of the Bird Sensitive Area
• Currently applies only to residential structures outside of the Bird Sensitive Area • Smaller-scale, nonresidential projects would have the same cost and supply chain issues as small residential
• Provides relief on cost and supply issues with the specialized glazing, but increases vulnerability for bird collisions as nonresidential development typically uses larger glazing compared to residential development.
2. Alternatively, consider allowing films or decals for nonresidential structures • Currently, films or decals are allowed only for residential development or the residential portion of mixed-use development
12 Additional Consideration – Exemption for Airport
• Replace 18.40.280(h) with the following:
“California Building Code. Additional Provisions and Conflict Precedence. All applicable windows, doors, or other features must comply with the requirements of this section, in addition to the California Building Code, including the fire hazard severity zone regulations in California Green Buildings Standards Code (CALGreen), Fire Code, and applicable state or federal laws. In the event that Should a conflict exist with the provisions of this section necessarily conflicts with the aforementioned codes or state or federal laws, the standards in the applicable state or federal laws and codes California Building Code shall prevail.” • Add an exemption for Palo Alto Municipal Airport (18.40.280(g)(6)):
“Glazing that is necessary for airport safety or navigation in connection with operations at the Palo Alto Municipal Airport.”
13 Next Steps
• Upon adoption of the draft ordinance:
• Second reading (consent item)
• Effective on the 31st day of the second reading
KELL Y CHA
Senior Planner
[email protected]
(650) 329-2155
BIRD-FRIENDLY DESIGN ORDINANCE
PaloAlto.Gov/BirdFriendlyDesign