In 1988, the City Council adopted the Parkland Dedication Ordinance (PDO) to help meet the demand for neighborhood and community parks generated by the development of new residential parcels. In 1992, the City Council adopted the Park Impact Ordinance (PIO), which applied parkland dedication requirements to new units in non-subdivided residential projects.
Both the PDO and PIO require that new housing projects either dedicate land for public parks, pay a fee in lieu of dedication, construct new park facilities, or a combination of the these. The PDO is consistent with the requirements and procedures for the dedication of parkland by housing developers as set forth in the California law known as the Quimby Act, Section 66477 of the Government Code. The Parkland Dedication Ordinance is Section 19.38 of the San José Municipal Code. The Park Impact Ordinance is Section 14.2.
The PRNS Department has prepared a two-page handout outlining the process for fulfilling PDO/PIO requirements.
Current Fees
- Adopted 2011 Schedule of parkland fees
- City Council resolution establishing, for qualifying affordable housing projects, payment of 50% of ordinary parkland fees (August 2010)
- City Council resolution establishing the current parkland fees (April 2011)
- PRNS Dept. memo to City Council on adjustments to parkland fees (April 2011)
- Residential land value study supporting the adopted fees UPDATE (February 2011)
- Map of MLS zones referenced in the April 2010 City Council resolution, above
- Earlier City Council resolution discussing private recreation credits toward parkland fees (January 2007)
Information required by the Mitigation Fee Act
If you need additional information about the PDO and PIO ordinances, please e-mail PRNS parks development staff.


