Via the city of Berkeley
By Kasia Pawlowska | SF Gate
During a raucous meeting that stretched nearly six hours last week, the Berkeley City Council unanimously voted to adopt an ordinance that would effectively end single-family zoning in most of the city. The measure legalizes “middle housing” — duplexes, townhomes, courtyard apartments and other small multifamily dwellings — in areas previously limited to single-family homes. While the move was celebrated by some housing advocates as an overdue step toward equity, it drew hours of divided public comments.
The ordinance sets a density cap of 70 units per acre across residential zones, preserves current height limits of 35 feet, or three stories, and keeps lot coverage at 60%. Berkeley’s hillside neighborhoods are not included in the ordinance until a fire safety and evacuation study is executed.
