New zoning changes in Berkeley

The City Council in Berkeley, Calif., approved housing zoning changes to encourage new construction. This order goes into effect on Nov. 1, 2025. It is expected to make building new housing simpler, more cost effective and faster. Currently, the Bay Area is among the most expensive places to live in the United States.

A new preset checklist of objective standards for builders will streamline the processing time from six to 15 months to as little as 30 days. In addition to the time builders will save, application fees are now 50% to 75% less than the previous discretionary permits. With more predictable outcomes with the preset standards builders can expect their projects to be more efficient and affordable

The building standards for the projects entail a single 35-foot maximum height standard, which cannot be changed or exceeded with any additional permit, a maximum lot coverage standard of 60%. Also front and rear setbacks must total at least 20 feet, with a minimum of five feet in the front and five feet in the rear. The new zoning changes also remove extra requirements when adding bedrooms to an existing home.

These changes are known as “Middle Housing” zoning changes. It applies to all parts of Berkeley that are primarily zoned for residential use.

Read More