Berkeley Municipal Code Ch. 23.108 Zoning Districts and Map

23.108.010 Chapter Purpose.¶

This chapter identifies the districts that apply to land within the Berkeley city limits and establishes the official Berkeley Zoning Map. (Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)

Exceptions & meaning →

23.108.020 Zoning Districts.¶

A. Districts. Berkeley is divided into districts as shown in Table 23.108-1: Zoning Districts. Unique regulations apply within each district as established in Chapters 23.202--23.208 (Zoning Districts).

Table 23.108-1. ZONING DISTRICTS

DISTRICT SYMBOL	NAME OF DISTRICT
Residential Districts	Residential Districts
R-1	Residential Multi-Unit 1
ES-R	Environmental Safety Residential
R-2	Residential Multi-Unit 2
R-2A	Residential Multi-Unit 2A
R-3	Multiple-family Residential
R-4	Multi-family Residential
R-5	High Density Residential
R-S	Residential Southside
R-SMU	Residential Southside Mixed Use
R-BMU	Residential BART Mixed Use
Commercial Districts	Commercial Districts
C-C	Corridor Commercial
C-U	University Avenue Commercial
C-N	Neighborhood Commercial
C-E	Elmwood Commercial
C-NS	North Shattuck Commercial
C-SA	South Area Commercial
C-T	Telegraph Avenue Commercial
C-SO	Solano Avenue Commercial
C-DMU	Downtown Mixed-Use
C-W	West Berkeley Commercial
C-AC	Adeline Corridor Commercial
Manufacturing Districts	Manufacturing Districts
M	Manufacturing
MM	Mixed Manufacturing
MU-LI	Mixed Use-Light Industrial
MU-R	Mixed Use-Residential
M-RD	Manufacturing, Research and Development
Special Districts	Special Districts
SP	Specific Plan
U	Unclassified

B. Undesignated Areas. Any area not specifically designated as a district on the Zoning Map is subject to the Unclassified (U) district requirements.

C. Overlay Zones.

The Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map include the overlay zones shown in Table 23.108-2: Overlay Zones. Overlay zones impose additional regulations on properties beyond what is required by the underlying district. As shown in Table 23.108-2: Overlay Zones, provisions for overlay zones that apply to two or more districts are located in Chapter 23.210 (Overlay Zones). Provisions for overlay zones that apply only in one district are located in the Zoning Ordinance chapter for that district.

TABLE 23.108-2: OVERLAY ZONES

OVERLAY ZONE SYMBOL	NAME OF OVERLAY ZONE	LOCATION IN ZONING ORDINANCE
Overlay Zones that Apply in Two or More Districts
H	Hillside	23.210.020--Hillside Overlay Zone
C	Civic Center	23.210.030--Civic Center District Overlay Zone
Overlay Zones that Apply in One District
DA	Downtown Arts	23.204.130--C-DMU Downtown Mixed-Use District (Arts Overlay District)

If the overlay zone applies a standard to a property that conflicts with the underlying district, the overlay zone standard governs. If the overlay zone is silent on a standard in the underlying district, the underlying district standard applies.

D. Vacated Streets. Where a public street or alley is officially vacated or abandoned, the land area of the street or alley acquires the district classification of the property to which it reverts. (Ord. 7978-NS § 1, 2025; Ord. 7957-NS § 1, 2025; Ord. 7850-NS § 1, 2023; Ord. 7815-NS § 2, 2022; Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)

Exceptions & meaning →

23.108.030 Zoning Map.¶

A. Adoption. The City Council hereby adopts the City of Berkeley Zoning Map ("Zoning Map"), which establishes the boundaries of all districts and overlay zones provided for in the Zoning Ordinance.

B. Incorporation by Reference. The Zoning Map, including all legends, symbols, notations, references, and other information shown on the map, is incorporated by reference and made a part of the Zoning Ordinance.

C. Location. The Zoning Map is kept, maintained, and updated electronically by the City Clerk, and is available for viewing by the public at the Planning and Development Department and on the official City of Berkeley website. (Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)

Exceptions & meaning →