Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 10.56 Special Speed Zones

Sections:

* For state law requiring justification of local speed limits by engineering and traffic surveys for radar enforcement purposes - See C.V.C. § 40802(b); for state law authorizing the increase or decrease of local speed limits - See C.V.C. §§ 22357 and 22358; for state law regulating school zone speed - See C.V.C. § 22353(b)(2).

It is determined that the state twenty-five miles per hour prima facie speed limit for business or residence districts is justified, as required by state law, with respect to the following streets or portions of streets by engineering and traffic surveys conducted by the city and completed on the dates shown below:

(Ord. 5683 § 2, 2026: Ord. 5668 § 2, 2025: Ord. 5421 § 2, 2017: Ord. 4298 § 1, 1995: Ord. 4206 § 1, 1994: Ord. 3991 § 1, 1990: Ord. 3857 § 1, 1989: Ord. 3645 § 1, 1985: Ord. 3483 § 1, 1983: Ord. 3238 § 1, 1980: Ord. 3085 Exhibit A (part), 1978: Ord. 2891 § 1, 1975: Ord. 2740 § 1 (part), 1973: Ord. 2541, 1970: Ord. 2375, 1967: Ord. 2340 (part), 1967: Ord. 2331, 1967: Ord. 2225, 1965: Ord. 2192, 1964: Ord. 2191, 1964: Ord. 2188, 1964: Ord. 2008, 1961: Ord. 1994, 1961: Ord. 1714 (part), 1956: prior code § 19.152)

It is determined and justified upon the basis of engineering and traffic surveys that a speed greater than the twenty-five miles per hour prima facie speed limit set forth in Section 22352 of the Vehicle Code of the state, would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon the streets, or portions thereof, set forth in this section, and it is hereby declared that thirty miles per hour shall be the prima facie speed limit upon these streets, or portions thereof, except for school zones, as shown below:

(Ord. 5683 § 3, 2026: Ord. 5668 § 3, 2025: Ord. 5421 § 3, 2017: Ord. 4298 § 2, 1995: Ord. 3991 § 2, 1990: Ord. 3645 § 2, 1985: Ord. 3238 § 2, 1980)

It is determined and justified upon the basis of engineering and traffic surveys that a speed greater than the twenty-five miles per hour prima facie speed limit set forth in Section 22352 of the Vehicle Code of the state, would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon the streets, or portions thereof, set forth in this section, and it is hereby declared that thirty-five miles per hour shall be the prima facie speed limit upon these streets, or portions thereof, except for school zones, as shown below:

(Ord. 5668 § 4, 2025: Ord. 5421 § 4, 2017: Ord. 4298 § 3, 1995: Ord. 4206 § 2, 1994: Ord. 3991 § 3, 1990: Ord. 3857 § 2, 1989: Ord. 3645 § 3, 1985: Ord. 3483 § 2, 1983: Ord. 3085 Exhibit A (part), 1978: Ord. 2740 § 1 (part), 1973)

It is determined and justified upon the basis of engineering and traffic surveys that a speed greater than the twenty-five miles per hour prima facie speed limit set forth in Section 22352 of the Vehicle Code of the state, would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon the streets, or portions thereof, set forth in this section, and it is hereby declared that forty miles per hour shall be the prima facie speed limit upon these streets, or portions thereof, except for school zones, as shown below:

(Ord. 5668 § 5, 2025: Ord. 5421 § 5, 2017: Ord. 4298 § 4, 1995: Ord. 3991 § 4, 1990: Ord. 3645 § 4, 1985)

It is determined and justified upon the basis of engineering and traffic surveys that a speed greater than the twenty-five miles per hour prima facie speed limit set forth in Section 22352 of the Vehicle Code of the state, would facilitate the orderly movement of vehicular traffic and would be reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon the streets, or portions thereof, set forth in this section, and it is hereby declared that forty-five miles per hour shall be the prima facie speed limit upon these streets, or portions thereof, except for school zones, as shown below:

(Ord. 5421 § 6, 2017: Ord. 4298 § 5, 1995: Ord. 4206 § 3, 1994: Ord. 3991 § 5, 1990: Ord. 3857 § 3, 1989: Ord. 3645 § 5, 1985: Ord. 3483 § 3, 1983: Ord. 3085 Exhibit A (part), 1978: Ord. 2891 § 2, 1975: Ord. 2740 § 1 (part), 1973)

It is determined and justified pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22358.4(b)(1) that twenty miles per hour shall be the prima facie speed limit on the road segments shown below at a distance within 500 feet from or of the school grounds while children are going to or leaving the school, either during school hours or during the noon recess period.

(Ord. 5428 § 2, 2018: Ord. 5421 § 7, 2017)