Berkeley declared itself a sanctuary city in 1971 for Vietnam War draft resisters and has expanded the policy ever since, prohibiting city employees and police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement except as state law requires.
Berkeley was the first US city to adopt a sanctuary resolution, originally protecting Vietnam draft resisters, and broadened it during the 1985 Latin American refugee movement and again after federal immigration enforcement expansions in 2017. BMC Chapter 13.106 codifies the policy, barring use of city resources to investigate, detain, or transfer individuals based on immigration status. The Berkeley Police Department follows California Senate Bill 54, the TRUST Act, which generally prohibits state and local cooperation with federal civil immigration detainers. City employees may not ask about immigration status when delivering services or responding to crimes.
Employees who knowingly violate the policy face discipline up to termination, and the city retains civil remedies against contractors that breach sanctuary contract clauses.
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...
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