Berkeley applies higher densities and reduced parking near BART stations and major AC Transit corridors through Downtown, Adeline, and Telegraph plans, aligning with state TOD streamlining laws.
Berkeley layers transit-oriented zoning through specific plans and area zoning around Downtown Berkeley BART, North Berkeley BART, Ashby BART, the Adeline Corridor Plan, and Telegraph Avenue. These districts allow higher floor area ratios, taller buildings, mixed use, and reduced parking. State laws AB 2097 and SB 35 add streamlining and parking elimination near major transit stops, which Berkeley must apply citywide. The 2023 state-mandated North Berkeley and Ashby BART rezoning unlocked thousands of potential units on BART-owned parcels under the joint development MOU between Berkeley and BART.
Misapplication of transit overlay rules exposes Berkeley to state Housing Accountability Act suits and HCD Housing Element decertification with significant funding consequences.
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 transit-oriented communities (toc).
See how Berkeley's transit-oriented communities (toc) rules stack up against other locations.
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