Privacy & Surveillance in Berkeley, CA (2026)
3 verified privacy & surveillance rules for Berkeley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Security Camera Rules
Berkeley does not license private home security cameras, but it puts city-owned cameras and other surveillance technology through a public approval gate. Under BMC Chapter 2.99, the City Manager cannot buy, deploy, or share data from cameras or similar tools without a City Council vote at a noticed public meeting.
Berkeley City Surveillance Camera Oversight
Significant RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 2.99.030(1)(a)-(d)
1. The City Manager must obtain City Council approval, except in Exigent Circumstances, by placing an item on the Action Calendar at a duly noticed meeting of the City Council prior to any of the following: a. Seeking, soliciting, or accepting grant funds for the purchase of, or in-kind or other donations of, Surveillance Technology; b. Acquiring new Surveillance Technology, including but not l...
Facial Recognition Ban
Berkeley bars its own City Manager and anyone acting on the City's behalf, including police, from obtaining, retaining, or using Face Recognition Technology or any information it produces. Municipal Code Section 2.99.030(5) makes acquiring or using it a violation of the surveillance ordinance.
Berkeley Bans Police Facial Recognition
Heavy RestrictionsBerkeley, CA, Municipal Code § 2.99.030(5)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, it shall be a violation of this ordinance for the City Manager or any person acting on the City Manager's behalf to obtain, retain, request, access, or use: i) any Face Recognition Technology; or ii) any information obtained from Face Recognition Technology, except for personal communication devices as defined by Section 2.99.020 or section 2...
License Plate Readers
Berkeley cannot deploy automatic license plate readers without the City Council approving a public Surveillance Use Policy first. BMC Chapter 2.99 names ALPR as covered Surveillance Technology and requires Council sign-off before acquisition, use expansion, or any data-sharing deal with an outside agency.
Berkeley ALPR Surveillance Approval Rule
Significant RestrictionsBerkeley Municipal Code § 2.99.030(1)
1. The City Manager must obtain City Council approval, except in Exigent Circumstances, by placing an item on the Action Calendar at a duly noticed meeting of the City Council prior to any of the following: a. Seeking, soliciting, or accepting grant funds for the purchase of, or in-kind or other donations of, Surveillance Technology; b. Acquiring new Surveillance Technology...; c. Using new Sur...
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