The Los Altos entrance marker in Lincoln Park: a granite block with a slate plaque reading Los Altos and a pine growing on top, with the gazebo and redwoods behind

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Los Altos, in short

Who looks after the tree in front of my house in Los Altos?

You do, if your lot is next to a street. A City ordinance of August 2003 gives the upkeep of street trees to the adjacent property owner, with at least nine feet of clearance where people walk and thirteen where vehicles drive. After a fallen tree or limb, the City clears the street and you remove what is left.

The story of Los Altos

Los Altos, Spanish for “the heights”, planned in 1906 along a new Southern Pacific cutoff.

The City’s history page says the history of modern Los Altos “dates back to 1906, when Paul Shoup, a Southern Pacific Railroad executive, formed the Altos Land Co. with friends.” Its apricot orchards gave way to tracts of homes after World War II, and on December 1, 1952, an expanded Los Altos became, in the City’s words, the eleventh city in Santa Clara County.

The City’s 2011 historic account says Los Altos comprises “a portion of what was the La Purissima Conception Rancho and Rancho San Antonio”. Governor Alvarado granted Rancho San Antonio to Juan Prado Mesa in 1839, the open-space district says, and the City’s account says it “extended from San Antonio Creek (later named Adobe Creek) to Stevens Creek, with a division by Permanente Creek.”

The City’s 2011 account says, “It is the orchards in the valley that are the emphasis for this agricultural context.” It adds, “The earliest farms predate the official subdivision of the town by Paul Shoup and the Altos Land Company in 1907.”

The City’s 2005 walking-tour leaflet says that in the late 1800s “the land that is now the downtown triangle was part of a ranch owned by Sarah Winchester, of the Winchester Rifle family, and her sister, Isabelle Merriman.”

The Museum says that in 1899 “young carpenter J. Gilbert Smith arrived from Oregon to pursue an engineering degree at Stanford”, and that from 1901 to 1905 he built the Craftsman-style farm house that “typifies the early orchard homes of the local area”.

In 1906, the City’s history page says, Paul Shoup, a Southern Pacific Railroad executive, formed the Altos Land Co. with friends. The company “planned a new town to serve the new Southern Pacific Railroad cutoff between Mayfield and Los Gatos and named it ‘Los Altos’ (Spanish for ‘the heights’) because the land was the highest on that cutoff.”

The City’s leaflet adds, “Originally called ‘Banks and Braes’, the name was soon changed to Los Altos (‘The Heights’ in Spanish).”

The Altos Land Company was incorporated on October 19, 1907, the City’s 2011 account says.

William Eschenbruecher, the first postmaster, built Eschenbruecher’s Hardware in 1908, “before electricity and water were generally available”, the City’s leaflet says, and it was “the first commercial business in downtown Los Altos”.

The Shoup Building, completed in 1910, was the second permanent building in Los Altos; over the years, the leaflet says, it “housed several grocery stores, a Boy Scout hall, a schoolhouse, a church, and several banks.”

The City’s history page says the town’s name “gradually spread informally to identify a much larger unincorporated area served by the Los Altos School District formed in 1910, including what is today Los Altos Hills and portions of other neighboring towns.”

The City’s 2011 account says residents “later changed their mailing addresses from Mountain View to Los Altos without moving”, and that “Los Altos does not show up as a separate directory listing geographically until 1911.” By 1911, according to a local historian, Los Altos “had only fifty homes; by 1913, only thirty-two telephones had been connected.”

In 1938, the Museum says, “a group of Los Altans tried to re-name San Antonio Road, ‘Los Altos Avenue’, but enough citizens objected to defeat the proposal, arguing on the historical ground that Los Altos was built on land once part of the Spanish land grant, ‘Rancho San Antonio.'”

The Museum says the famous orchards “gradually became tracts to house the huge influx of people moving to this area after World War II”, and that Los Altos school enrollment “increased 400% during the huge influx of new residents between 1946 and 1952.”

The Museum says the Los Altos Pet Parade “has been among the most beloved traditional community events since its inception in 1948.”

The City’s leaflet says Main Street was “the location of the Altos Theater from 1948 until 1974.”

The population of the larger community “exploded after World War II,” the City’s history page says, and “on December 1, 1952, an expanded Los Altos became the eleventh city in Santa Clara County.”

In 1954 the City bought the J. Gilbert Smith property, “including the house and the 10.44 acres of apricot orchards as the site for the Civic Center”, with the Smiths keeping lifetime residency of the house and a surrounding acre, the Museum says.

The City’s leaflet says the Chinese Pistache trees lining downtown streets “date from a ‘tree planting bee’ in 1954.”

Shoup Park, “dedicated June 18, 1955, was the city’s first park”, the leaflet says.

The City’s history page says the Southern Pacific Railroad, “an essential part of the town’s founding, ceased operation here in 1964, and its right-of-way became Foothill Expressway.”

Redwood Grove Nature Preserve “was purchased in 1974”, the City’s leaflet says.

The Museum says it “began in 1977 with the opening of the historic J. Gilbert Smith House,” and that the modern building next door opened in 2001. Building ownership was transferred to the City in 2002, the Museum says.

Read the full story of Los Altos

Fire safety

The State’s map and Los Altos

The State published its 2025 fire hazard maps for local areas in four phases between February 10 and March 24, 2025. Read from that map, the High and Moderate classes reach into Los Altos and the Very High class does not. By our count on a grid of sample points over the city, High and Moderate each cover about 0.3 percent of it, and the rest is non-wildland land. For the class at your own address, use the State Fire Marshal’s fire hazard severity zone map viewer.

State layer read Oct 25 2026

Weeds on your lot: the City

The City’s weed abatement ordinance says, “Every property owner shall remove or destroy such weeds from their property, and in the abutting half of any street or alley between the lot lines as extended.” Its purpose, the ordinance says, is “to prevent fire hazards created by vegetative growth and the accumulation of combustible debris through voluntary compliance.” Grass must be trimmed.

Code read Oct 25 2026

See 1 more

Roofs and gutters

The State’s law on defensible space, Public Resources Code section 4291(a)(4), says: “Maintain the roof of a structure free of leaves, needles, or other vegetative materials.” The State’s regulation for the first zone around a building, 14 CCR 1299.03, reaches dead vegetation “on the roof or rain gutters”. Both are written for State Responsibility Areas. The County Fire Department’s wildfire page offers a free inspection to hillside communities. The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council, a non-profit and not a City or County agency, says: “Rain Gutters should be cleared of leaves and needles that embers can easily ignite.” and “Install a noncombustible gutter guard to reduce accumulated debris.”

Need a hand with this? Gutter guards

Los Altos this month

Storm season: the City provides a free self-serve sandbag station for residents, in the parking lot of McKenzie Park on Fremont Avenue. It is accessible daily and stays open through the end of the season.

The Los Altos blog starts when there is enough local news to keep it current.

Culture and history

The Los Altos History Museum

The Museum complex is free to enter and says, “Open Thursday-Sunday, noon-4pm.” Its rooms and grounds include a permanent exhibition, the J. Gilbert Smith House, and an outdoor agricultural exhibit and gardens. More in The story of Los Altos, below.

Museum’s visit page, hours as printed, read Oct 25 2026 (refresh before use)

The Holiday Stroll downtown

The Los Altos Village Association holds its 23rd Annual Holiday Stroll through Downtown Los Altos on Friday, November 13th, 2026, from 5-9pm, with “strolling carolers, shopping specials and fun at Downtown shops and restaurants.”

Association’s event page, which prints the year 2026, read Oct 25 2026

See 7 more

The Holiday Tree Celebration

The Village Association presents the Holiday Tree Celebration on Friday, December 4th, 2026, from 6-8pm in Veterans Community Plaza, at the corner of Main and State Streets, with “music and performances from local students, and trolley car rides around Downtown.”

Association’s event page, which prints the year 2026, read Oct 25 2026

The Downtown Holiday Market

The Association’s events list calls it “the annual Downtown Los Altos Holiday Market on State Street, Thursday, December 10th and again on Thursday, December 17th from 4-8pm each day.”

Events list under its December 2026 heading, read Oct 25 2026

The Glorious 4th at Shoup Park

The City’s Community Services department holds an “annual Glorious 4th Independence Day Celebration at Shoup Park”.

City’s page for the 2026 celebration, read Oct 25 2026; the City calls it annual

Los Altos First Friday

Los Altos First Friday is a free community event “featuring 10-15 bands playing simultaneously throughout Downtown Los Altos” “starting at 6:00pm, every month, year-round”, its organizers’ page says. The Chamber of Commerce, its fiscal sponsor, calls First Fridays “community-building events held during the evenings of the first Friday of the month in Downtown Los Altos.”

Organizers’ page read Oct 25 2026 (its ‘Next Event’ line shows June 5th); the Chamber lists Friday Oct 2, 2026

Public art and walking tours

The City says it “currently has more than 25 sculptures as part of its Public Art Program”, and every park on its list except Redwood Grove carries “Public Art” among its amenities. Arts Los Altos, an all-volunteer nonprofit, says its “First Friday walking tours run 5-6pm monthly, and meet at the Mandahlia sculpture” downtown.

Pages read Oct 25 2026

Los Altos Stage Company

The company, “formerly known as the Bus Barn Stage Company”, was founded in June 1995 and plays in a 99-seat theater on Hillview Avenue.

Company’s About page, read Oct 25 2026

The parks

The City’s parks page names 11 parks, and Redwood Grove, a nature preserve along Adobe Creek, is one of them. More in The story of Los Altos, below.

Parks page undated, read Oct 25 2026

Community

Los Altos Village Association

The Association says, “Since 1963, the Los Altos Village Association has been the premier merchants’ organization” of downtown, a claim that is its own. It says it “presents more than a three-dozen fun, family-friendly events every year in Downtown Los Altos.”

Association’s pages read Oct 25 2026

The Historical Commission

The City’s Historical Commission is “a five-member body, appointed by the Los Altos City Council”, and one of its four purposes is to “Identify, protect, and promote awareness of the city’s history and heritage”.

City page read Oct 25 2026

City rules and regulations

Re-roofs

A re-roof takes a permit and inspections. The City’s Building page lists “Residential Re-roofs” among the simple residential building permits that contractors can apply for and obtain online through its eTRAKiT program. Its Inspections page says, “Inspections are required for all permits that are issued.” All building inspections are booked online in eTRAKiT.

City pages read Oct 25 2026

The City’s building codes

The City repealed Title 12 (Buildings and Construction) and added a new Title 12 by ordinances adopted October 28, 2025. Its Permit Submittal page says, “Submittals received after December 22nd will need to reflect the 2025 California Building Codes.”

Code and page read Oct 25 2026

See 5 more

What street tree upkeep includes

The City’s code says upkeep of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers on the strip between the property line and the curb “includes, but is not limited to: deep root watering, root pruning, installing root barriers, clearance and structural trimming, fertilizing, pest control, and removal of branches, leaves, and other debris.” Where there is no curb, the strip runs to the edge of the pavement.

Code read Oct 25 2026

Removing or planting a street tree

The City’s code says, “Unless authorized by permit, no person shall:” and the list that follows includes “Remove or in any way injure or mutilate any street tree”. The City’s Planting page says, “If a resident wishes to remove or plant a tree in a City right-of-way, a no-fee permit is required to be submitted to the City’s Park Maintenance Division.”

Code and page read Oct 25 2026

Protected trees

The code protects four kinds of tree: one 38 inches around (12 inches across) measured 48 inches above grade, a native species 10 inches across or more at the same height, a tree the historical commission has designated as a heritage tree or is considering for it, and a tree the City required to be saved or planted with a development review. It adds, “It is unlawful to remove any protected tree from private or public property in any zoning district without first obtaining a tree removal permit.” The City’s Native Tree List names 24 trees, among them coast live oak, valley oak and blue oak.

Code read Oct 25 2026

Pruning that counts as removal

The code says “Significant pruning” means cutting “more than thirty-three (33) percent of the living foliage material (including branches) of a tree in any twelve (12) month period such that it damages a tree as determined by a certified arborist or as otherwise determined by the development services director”, and it counts as tree removal.

Code read Oct 25 2026

A hazardous tree

For a “Hazardous or dangerous condition of a tree requiring immediate action for the safety of life or property”, the code says a tree may be removed on the order of the development services director, the public works director or any member of the police or fire department, “without the necessity of applying for a tree removal permit.”

Code read Oct 25 2026

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Storms, flood and drainage

Sandbags

The City provides “a complimentary sandbag station to help residents protect property from flooding during the rainy season”, in the parking lot of McKenzie Park on Fremont Avenue. “The station is accessible daily and will remain open through the end of the season.” “Bags, sand, and shovels are provided.” The City says it is “available to residents and is not for commercial or contractor use”, and “Residents are responsible for the disposal of sandbags.”

City pages undated, read Oct 25 2026

Your roof gutters and downspouts

The City’s flood tips page says, “Be sure to clean the gutters and drainage downspouts attached to your roof twice a year to ensure a well-flowing drainage system.” It also says, “Inspect for leaks or damage to rain gutters that could cause a flat roof to flood.” And, “Direct flows from downspouts away from your foundation, without discharging flows to adjacent properties.”

City page undated, read Oct 25 2026

See 6 more

Leaves in the street gutter

The same page says, “When leaves collect in gutters and block drains, water can back up and cause ponding that can flood yards and homes.” Those are the street’s gutters, not the roof’s, and the City asks owners, “Do not pile leaves in the gutter before a storm, as this leads to drains becoming clogged and higher probability of flooding.” The City says it cleans “all storm drain inlets prior to the rainy season”, and the General Plan Update’s report says “The most common cause for local flooding is due to vegetation and debris blocking storm drain infrastructure”.

City pages undated, read Oct 25 2026

Where roof water may go

The City’s stormwater code says a detached single-family home project that is not part of a larger plan of development and creates or replaces 2,500 square feet or more of impervious surface (the code’s definition includes rooftops) “shall install one or more of the following site design measures:”, and the first two on the list are “Direct roof runoff into cisterns or rain barrels for reuse.” and “Direct roof runoff onto vegetated areas.” The section does not say whether a re-roof counts as creating or replacing impervious surface.

Code read Oct 25 2026

The creeks

The City names Adobe, Hale, Permanente and Stevens Creeks as places where “Properties near these creeks may be more susceptible to flooding”, and says the list “is not a complete list of all flood-prone properties”. Its floodplain page says “Flooding is likely to be limited to properties closer to creek areas; however shallow flooding could occur in areas throughout the city including city streets.” The flood risk page adds that Valley Water and the City maintain public drainage facilities, “but residents can help reduce flooding by keeping drainage areas on their property free of leaves, branches, trash, and other debris.”

City pages undated, read Oct 25 2026

Pipes to a creek

The City’s code lists among the things nobody may do “unless a written permit has first been obtained from the appropriate agency or department”: “Discharge into or connect any pipe or channel to a watercourse”.

Code read Oct 25 2026

Check the flood map for your address

For a Special Flood Hazard Area, an area with a 1 percent annual chance of flooding, the City sends owners to the FEMA Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov to search an address; FEMA flood maps are also at the Main Library reference desk and the Planning Division counter at City Hall. The General Plan Update’s report says “The majority of the City is located outside the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas”. According to FEMA’s Community Status Book, the City’s current effective map date is 05/18/09, while Valley Water says a revised map for the Permanente Creek area took effect on September 5, 2024.

City pages undated, read Oct 25 2026; FEMA’s book read Oct 25 2026

Flood insurance

The City’s flood risk page says, “Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage.” It adds that flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program, and that “A 30-day waiting period generally applies before coverage becomes effective.”

City page undated, read Oct 25 2026

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Programs, loans and insurance

Near Los Altos Rebuilding Together Peninsula: no-cost home repairs

Rebuilding Together Peninsula’s apply page lists Los Altos among the places it serves: “Your home is in San Mateo County, or in the cities of Palo Alto, Mountain View, or Los Altos*.” It says its service “is provided at no cost to qualifying homeowners”. The page gives no application window; it says staff review a request generally within two weeks.

Program page read Oct 25 2026

Near Los Altos Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley: Home Repair

Habitat’s Home Repair page lists Los Altos among the Santa Clara County cities where “Services are currently available”. It says the program “preserves homeownership for low-income residents while alleviating critical health and safety concerns”.

Habitat’s page read Oct 25 2026

See 7 more

County-wide Free defensible space inspection

The Santa Clara County Fire Department’s wildfire page says, “Sign-up for a complimentary defensible space inspection through our Fire Prevention Division.” Its pages add, “If you live in a hillside community and would like a free inspection of your property, contact the Fire Prevention Division at (408) 378-4010.”

Department’s pages read Oct 25 2026

County-wide FireSafe Council: free chipping and the HIZ home assessment

The Santa Clara County FireSafe Council’s City Programs page says, “The following programs are available FREE to WUI residents residing in Santa Clara County.” The list includes the Community Chipping Program and the HIZ Assessment. The page lists additional city programs for Los Altos Hills and Saratoga residents and none for Los Altos.

Council’s page read Oct 25 2026

Check back City and SVCE heat pump rebates: check back

The City and Silicon Valley Clean Energy offer rebates that “are exclusively available for replacing gas furnaces and water heaters with electric heat pump alternatives”. The City’s pages say “City of Los Altos rebate funds have been fully claimed” and that the Council approved replenishing them, and ask you to “check back in November for program updates and availability.” The Clean Energy page says, “SVCE baseline rebates remain available.” It says, “If you are a customer from Los Altos, Milpitas, Mountain View, or Sunnyvale, you can find your core rebate amounts on the City Rebates tab.”

City pages undated (their tables say ‘As of March 2026’), read Oct 25 2026

County-wide Valley Water rebates

The City’s Using Water Wisely page lists Valley Water’s residential rebates, “Santa Clara Valley Water Graywater Rebate” and “Santa Clara Valley Water Landscape Rebates”, and gives the tip “Harvest Rainwater – Rainwater harvesting involves collecting runoff from your roof and storing it for future use.” Valley Water’s own Rainwater Capture Rebate page says: “If you have an existing gutter or downspout system not currently capturing rainwater, Valley Water will help you install rain barrels, cisterns, and rain gardens.” It sends you to an online application for the details and steps to qualify. Page read November 5, 2026.

City page, old in places, read Oct 25 2026

State-wide Free weatherization for LIHEAP households

The State’s look-up names Central Coast Energy Services, Inc. as the energy weatherization provider for Los Altos, phone (408) 675-1910. The provider says, “Weatherization Services are available FREE to renters and homeowners, including those residing in mobile homes.” It also says, “You MUST qualify for LIHEAP in order to be eligible for weatherization.”

Pages read Oct 25 2026

County-wide BayREN and PG&E weatherization

The City’s electrification page points residents to BayREN: “BayREN: Rebates and financing, contractor locator and home energy advisors.” BayREN’s EASE Home page lists Santa Clara County and says it “covers 80% of the cost for essential weatherization upgrades, including insulation and duct sealing.” To qualify you are a PG&E customer, have a household income under or at 120% of area median income, and live in a single-family home (four or fewer units) built before 2010. PG&E’s Energy Savings Assistance page offers to “Improve the energy efficiency of your home at no cost to you.” for income-qualified households in a house, mobile home or apartment at least five years old, and names no county.

City page read Oct 25 2026

State-wide Check back Earthquake Brace + Bolt: check back

The California Residential Mitigation Program, a joint body, runs Earthquake Brace + Bolt, and its 2025 Northern California ZIP list names Los Altos with the ZIP codes 94022 and 94024. The program page says, “EBB program registration is open for a limited time each year.” When we read the registration page on October 20, registration was closed.

ZIP list of 2025; registration page as read Oct 20 2026

Who serves your home in Los Altos

Fire: The Santa Clara County Fire Department serves Los Altos. The City’s fire code says, “The California Fire Code shall be enforced by the Santa Clara County Fire Department”.
Water: California Water Service, through its Los Altos Suburban District.
Sewer: The City collects it: “The City of Los Altos provides sanitary sewer services to most residents and businesses within the City.” The Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant treats the wastewater of Los Altos, the plant’s own page says.
Garbage and recycling: Mission Trail Waste Systems, which provides collection for “garbage, recycling and organics” for the city of Los Altos, the City’s page says.
Electricity: Silicon Valley Clean Energy generates it and PG&E delivers it: “SVCE generates clean electricity for you to use in your home or business and PG&E delivers it on their existing power lines.”
Storm drains: The City owns and maintains the storm drain system within its limits, “approximately 55 miles of storm drainpipe (12-inch and larger)”. Valley Water and the City maintain public drainage facilities. That is the street’s storm system, not roof gutters.
Creeks and flood control: Valley Water, whose Lower Peninsula Watershed page lists Los Altos among the cities of a watershed with “creeks flowing from the Santa Cruz Mountains into southwest San Francisco Bay”.

Useful links: Los Altos School District · Mountain View Los Altos High School District · Santa Clara County Fire Department (Los Altos Fire Services) · City of Los Altos: Building (permits and inspections through eTRAKiT) · City of Los Altos: Tree Removal, Tree Care and Tree Maintenance · City of Los Altos: Sandbag Station and Flood Tips · County of Santa Clara: Weed Abatement Program · Santa Clara County FireSafe Council · Valley Water · California Water Service (Los Altos Suburban District) · Silicon Valley Clean Energy · Los Altos History Museum · Downtown Los Altos (the Los Altos Village Association) · Arts Los Altos · Santa Clara County Library District (Los Altos Library)

The homes of Los Altos

Los Altos’s median home was built in 1964. About 43 percent of its homes went up before 1960, and the 1950s were its biggest decade of building, with about a third of the homes; the percentages are our own calculations from the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 tables. About 87 percent of the homes are one-unit homes, and about 82 percent are owner-occupied.

1907 to 1940

Bungalow, Mission and period revival homes

The City’s 2011 historic context says the residential architecture of 1907 to 1940 centers on bungalows, Mission, period revival, Prairie, Italian villa and Spanish colonial revival houses, and that “The majority of properties in the residential context are homes built in the 1920s and 30s”. It adds that “Los Altos Park was subdivided in December of 1925 and contains a variety of small homes on small lots of a uniform size.”

The 1950s and 1960s

Ranch homes in the postwar tracts

The City’s early-1990s design guidelines say “most of the housing stock was developed during the 1950’s” and, of its many styles, “the dominant one is ranch”. The City’s 2026 report says “A majority of these developments are relatively old townhouses or condominium neighborhoods constructed in the 1950s and 1960s”, concentrated “in the west-near El Monte Avenue-and in the south, along Woods Lane.”

Landmarks and designated resources

The City’s historic inventory

The City’s 2026 report says its Historic Resource Inventory “includes 81 designated Historic Resources” besides 23 Landmarks, and that they “are primarily residential, and most date from the late 1800s or early 1900s.”

Older roofs and gutters need a different hand: Gutter Repair · Roof Repair · Gutter Installation

The story of Los Altos

History and character