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Location:
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Telephone:
Phone: 650-329-2441
Fax: 650-329-2154
Hours:
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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 
Below Market Rate Housing

The Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Purchase Program is a part of the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of this program is to create and retain a stock of affordable housing in Palo Alto for people of low and moderate income.

When a development of five or more residential units is built in the City of Palo Alto, the developer is required to contribute at least 15% of those units at below market rates (projects of 7 or more units must provide one or more BMR units within the development). The initial BMR sales prices are set by the City's Director of Planning and Community Environment, and the buyer selection process is administered by the Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC). PAHC is a private, non-profit organization under contract to the City. For additional information or to complete the waiting list application, please click the link for the PAHC website.
   
   

Housing Element
The Housing Element is the chief policy document describing the City's housing needs, policies and programs.
( view housing element documents )
[more]
Below Market Rate (BMR) Information For Housing Developers
Housing Element Adopted By City Council On 12/2/02 For Below Market Rate Program and Other Related Programs
[more]
Standards for BMR Units
The City has developed general standards for BMR Units
[more]
Sales Procedures for New Below Market Rate (BMR) Ownership Units
This information is intended primarily for housing developers and others interested in an overview of the buyer selection and sales process. 
[more]
Description of City of Palo Alto Affordable Housing Fund - 2005
The Affordable Housing Fund was established by the City Council of the City of Palo Alto to provide financial assistance for the development of affordable housing
[more]
About the Zoning Ordinance Update
In 2007, the City of Palo Alto completed a comprehensive update of its Zoning Ordinance
( zoning ordinance update home page )
[more]
Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Purchase Program
The BMR Housing Purchase Program is a part of the Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan
[more]
Below Market Rate Housing
Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing information
2008-2009 Prices for Newly Built BMR Units
The City updates the BMR prices annually. The new prices for 2008 are effective as of March 31, 2008 and apply to BMR units in projects receiving final planning entitlement approvals
Revision Date: 09/15/2008
Annual Adjustment of Housing Mitigation Fee for Commercial Projects per Chapter 16.47.040 (d)
Palo Alto’s housing mitigation ordinance (Chapter 16.47 of the Municipal Code) requires that an annual cost-of-living adjustment be made to the commercial housing mitigation fee in order to help reasonably approximate increases in the cost of constructing an average affordable housing unit.
Revision Date: 05/08/2012
BMR For Sale Units in New Housing Developments
Distribution of Units Between Price Categories
Revision Date: 09/15/2008
BMR Housing Program Economic Analysis
This report contains analyses to support the City of Palo Alto’s Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Program Update. The City had solicited the services of housing and economic consultants with experience in inclusionary housing programs, affordable housing program administration, real estate finance and market economics to provide independent and objective analyses and recommendations on specific questions and issues to serve as input to the City’s BMR Program.
Revision Date: 07/30/2007
BMR Rental Housing Units
Rental Housing Units as of July 2008
Revision Date: 09/15/2008
City Of Palo Alto Subsidized Rental Housing Developments January 2008
Subsidized Rental Housing Developments
Revision Date: 09/15/2008
Inventory of Below Market Rate Program Units - July 2008
City of Palo Alto BMR Homeownership Units (including units in development)
Revision Date: 09/15/2008
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City of Palo Alto City Hall - 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301 | Main Telephone Number 650-329-2100 8am-5pm M-Th, Alt Fridays