East Palo Alto Housing Developers Face 20% Affordable-Unit Rule and Updated 2026 Application Fees

EAST PALO ALTO, San Mateo County — October 23, 2026. California58 Local examined a public agency’s current records for this report. Descriptions of proposals, hearing schedules, permits and projected effects are not treated as completed actions or future guarantees.

What is the inclusionary housing framework?

The city’s Housing Division publishes requirements for new residential construction under its Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The standard described in the current guidance includes providing 20% of the total residential units as qualifying affordable housing. Developers must submit a completed application and a fair-housing and marketing plan.

How much are application fees?

The public page cites the city’s Master Fee Schedule effective July 18, 2026 and lists $545 per application for a project meeting the usual 20% requirement. It lists $1,713 for an alternative compliance option or qualifying smaller project seeking alternative treatment, which requires a hearing and City Council approval. Application fees are not the same as building permit costs, impact fees or affordable-housing in-lieu payments.

Does every housing proposal have the same rule?

No. The particular development’s size, zoning, applicable state law, existing approvals and any alternatives permitted under the ordinance can matter. The city’s summary does not replace the full municipal code, adopted fee schedule or project-specific written planning determination.

Where can applicants get help?

The Housing Division identifies housing@cityofepa.org as a contact and links forms, the fee schedule and housing marketing requirements. Affordable-housing applicants should not confuse requirements on developers with application rules for tenants looking for available subsidized homes.

Primary source: Read the original municipal record ↗. Read East Palo Alto News, browse California58 Local, or view community classifieds. Send attributable corrections and additional dated records to the California58 newsroom. Support independent local journalism.

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