Chapter 23.208 — SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS
Berkeley Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-02 · Berkeley
23.208.010 Specific Plan District.¶
A. Purpose. The Specific Plan (SP) district establishes allowed use and permit requirements in areas subject to an adopted Specific Plan.
B. Allowed Uses.
1. Allowed uses and permit requirements in the SP district are as established in the applicable Specific Plan.
2. If the applicable Specific Plan is silent on a use allowed in another district, the use is allowed with a Use
Permit.
C. Required Permits.
1. Before approving a permit application in a SP district, the City must approve a Master Development Plan
Permit consistent with the applicable Specific Plan. To approve a Master Development Plan Permit, the review
authority must make all findings required by the Specific Plan.
2. Applications for a Master Development Plan Permit and subsequent required permits shall be submitted
and processed in accordance with Section 23.404--Common Permit Requirements and 23.406--Specific Permit
Requirements. (Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)
23.208.020 Unclassified District.¶
A. Purpose. The purpose of the Unclassified (U) district is to:
1. Implement the General Plan designations for areas included in the U district zoning classification; and
2. Provide a district designation until such areas are classified into a residential, commercial, or
manufacturing district.
B. Allowed Uses.
1. All uses not prohibited by law are permitted in the U district.
2. A Use Permit is required to establish any use, consistent with the procedures in this section.
C. Use Permit Procedures. The City shall review and act on Use Permit applications in the U district as follows:
1. Each application shall be first submitted to the Planning Commission with the Planning Commission
making a report to the ZAB. If the Planning Commission fails to take an action on the report within 30 days
after a Use Permit application is deemed complete, the ZAB will consider the application without a Planning
Commission report.
2. After Planning Commission review, the ZAB shall take an action to approve, conditionally approve, or
deny the application. The ZAB’s decision is not effective until after action by the City Council. ZAB decisions
may not be appealed.
The ZAB will send a report of its decision, including findings and any conditions, together with the Planning Commission report, to the City Clerk within 14 days of final action.
The City Council will review and act on the application within 30 days of the ZAB decision.
The Council may affirm, reverse, or modify the ZAB decision.
D. Development Standards. All development standards in the U District shall be set forth in the Use Permit, including lot size, density, building height, setbacks, building separation, lot coverage, floor area ratio (FAR), usable open space, and off-street parking.
E. Use Permit Findings. To approve a Use Permit in the U district, the ZAB, Planning Commission, and City Council must all make the findings in Section 23.406.030.F--Administrative Use Permits (Findings for Approval). (Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)
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