Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 9.06 Rental of Vehicles for Human Habitation

Sections:

* Editor’s Note: Chapter 9.06, Wood Burning Fireplaces and Appliances, previously codified herein, was repealed in its entirety by Section 6 of Ordinance No. 5108.

Editor’s Note: Chapter 9.06, Human Habitation of Vehicles, previously codified herein, was repealed in its entirety by Section 1 of Ordinance No. 5286.

No person shall rent, lease, let out, or otherwise loan any oversized vehicle which is subsequently utilized for living or use as sleeping quarters on any street, alley, or city-owned or city-controlled premises in exchange for money, goods, or services.

For the purposes of this chapter, "oversized vehicle" means any vehicle exceeding seven feet in height or exceeding twenty feet in overall length or exceeding seven feet in width (including any load or accessory thereon other than antennas), provided that this definition shall not apply to vehicles that exceed these dimensions solely because of modifications required to accommodate a disability and the vehicle is lawfully displaying a disabled placard or license.

It shall not be necessary to prove that the person who rented, leased, let out, or otherwise loaned any vehicle that was subsequently utilized for living or sleeping quarters intended or knew that the vehicle would be used for living or use as sleeping quarters on any street, alley, or city-owned premises.

(Ord. 5690 § 2 (part), 2026: Ord. 5686 § 1 (part), 2025)

No person shall advertise for rent, lease, let out, or loan in any newspaper, or through any other medium, including online, social media, or other platforms, any oversized vehicle available for the purpose of utilizing the vehicle for living or use as sleeping quarters on any street, alley, or city-owned or city-controlled premises.

(Ord. 5690 § 2 (part), 2026: Ord. 5686 § 1 (part), 2025)

It shall be unlawful for any person who deals in or whose business involves the rental or leasing of vehicles, including recreational vehicles (RVs) or other oversized vehicles, to park, store, or leave standing any such vehicles, whether occupied or vacant, on any street, alley, or other public right-of-way during the conduct of such business. This prohibition does not apply to a vehicle owned only for personal use and not involved in the business of rental or leasing of vehicles, if otherwise legally parked.

(Ord. 5690 § 2 (part), 2026: Ord. 5686 § 1 (part), 2025)

No person or entity other than the city and any of its departments or designees, or other appropriate public entity, shall have the authority to sell, lease, license, permit, reserve or facilitate the reserving of any street, way, alley, highway, road, parkway, parking space or other public right-of-way or city-controlled parking lot in the city without written authorization from the city. Any person who purports to sell, lease, license, permit, reserve or facilitate reserving of space in the public right-of-way via a written or oral agreement of any kind, with or without compensation, is in violation of this section.

(Ord. 5690 § 2 (part), 2026: Ord. 5686 § 1 (part), 2025)

Each day in which a violation of this chapter occurs shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter. Each vehicle in violation of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter. Violations are enforceable through any penalty available by law, including those specified in Title 1 of this code.

(Ord. 5690 § 2 (part), 2026: Ord. 5686 § 1 (part), 2025)