Berkeley · Land use · Senior or assisted living
Where is senior housing or assisted living allowed in Berkeley?
In Berkeley, senior housing or assisted living is needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) in 19 (R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-S and 14 more, all with a condition) and not allowed in 7 (Berkeley use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-S, R-SMU, R-BMU, C-C and 11 more
- Not allowed: R-1, ES-R, R-2, M, MM, MU-LI and M-RD
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Berkeley Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where senior housing or assisted living can go
Berkeley's code calls this use “Senior Congregate Housing”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| R-2A | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-3 | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-4 | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-5 | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-S | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-SMU Residential Southside Mixed Use District | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-BMU Residential BART Mixed Use District | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). Note cross-reference: Cell reads "See 23.302.070.H --Use-Specific Regulations"; the permit table for senior congregate housing is Table 23.302-8 under § 23.302.070.I (H is the ground-floor units rule). | § 23.202.020 |
| C-C | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-U | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-N | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-E | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-NS | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-SA | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-T | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-SO | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-DMU | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-W | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| C-AC | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.204.020 |
| MU-R | Needs an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling) — see note Note Table 23.302-8: Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people: UP(PH). | § 23.206.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- State law: A licensed care home for six or fewer residents is a residential use under state law (Health and Safety Code § 1566.3) and is allowed wherever homes are.
- Not covered here: Other zoning districts of Division 2 (e.g. mixed-use or special districts) whose tables are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Berkeley
Who this affects
HomeownersBuyersReal estate agentsSmall developers
Frequently asked questions
Can I have senior housing or assisted living in the R-2A zone in Berkeley?
Only with an use permit (new construction); zoning certificate or administrative use permit (change of use of an existing dwelling). Berkeley's use table lists it that way in R-2A (§ 23.202.020). The code adds a condition: “Permit requirements for senior congregate housing: change of use from an existing dwelling unit to accommodate six or fewer people: ZC; seven or more people: AUP; new construction to accommodate any number of people:…”
Can I have senior housing or assisted living in the R-1 zone in Berkeley?
No. Berkeley's use table does not allow it in R-1 (§ 23.202.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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