Berkeley has no dedicated data-center ordinance. A data center is treated as a manufacturing or industrial use, allowed only in the West Berkeley M, MM, and MU-LI districts under a discretionary Use Permit, subject to CEQA, the West Berkeley Plan, and off-site performance standards.
Berkeley's Zoning Ordinance (Title 23) contains no data-center or crypto use class, so a server facility is reviewed under general manufacturing and industrial uses. Those are confined to West Berkeley's Manufacturing (M), Mixed Manufacturing (MM), and Mixed Use-Light Industrial (MU-LI) districts near the waterfront, plus the new M-RD Manufacturing/Research & Development district adopted in 2025. Chapter 23.206 requires a Use Permit or Administrative Use Permit; under Section 23.206.100 the review authority must find the project consistent with the adopted West Berkeley Plan, compatible with surrounding uses, and compliant with performance standards for off-site noise, vibration, and emissions. Discretionary permits trigger CEQA review. MU-LI 'protected industrial uses' rules further limit converting manufacturing space.
Building a data center outside the M, MM, or MU-LI districts, or without a Use Permit and CEQA clearance, is a zoning violation that halts approvals and draws City of Berkeley Planning enforcement, including stop-work orders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting lawn ornaments, statues, or yard art on private property. HOA architectural guidelines under the Davis-Stirling ...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting inflatable holiday decorations on private property. HOA architectural rules under the Davis-Stirling Act apply i...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley has no municipal ordinance limiting holiday lights on private residential property. Restrictions come from HOA architectural rules under the Davis-S...
Berkeley, CA
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Berkeley require building, plumbing, electrical, and/or gas permits under BMC Chapter 19.28 (Building Code) when they include u...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley treats outdoor smokers as open-flame cooking devices under California Fire Code 308.1.4 as adopted in BMC 19.48. Multifamily balcony setbacks (10 ft...
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley enforces the California Fire Code (CFC) as adopted in BMC Chapter 19.48. CFC 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame cooking on combustible balconies or within...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle data center zoning & siting.
See how Berkeley's data center zoning & siting rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.