Berkeley · Land use · Single-family home
Where is a single-family home allowed in Berkeley?
In Berkeley, a single-family home is needs a permit in 20 (R-1, ES-R, R-2, R-2A, R-3 and 15 more, 8 with a condition) and not allowed in 5 (Berkeley use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: R-1, ES-R, R-2, R-2A, R-3, R-4, R-5, R-S and 12 more
- Not allowed: R-BMU, 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 a single-family home can go
Berkeley's code calls this use “Single-Family Residential”. 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-1 | Needs a zoning certificate — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) Note Hillside Overlay: Cell reads "ZC* UP(PH) Hillside Overlay": the second entry, UP(PH), applies in the Hillside Overlay (Use Permit). | § 23.202.020 |
| ES-R Environmental Safety-Residential District | Needs an use permit | § 23.202.020 |
| R-2 | Needs a zoning certificate — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) Note Hillside Overlay: Cell reads "ZC* UP(PH) Hillside Overlay": the second entry, UP(PH), applies in the Hillside Overlay (Use Permit). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-2A | Needs a zoning certificate — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) Note Hillside Overlay: Cell reads "ZC* UP(PH) Hillside Overlay": the second entry, UP(PH), applies in the Hillside Overlay (Use Permit). | § 23.202.020 |
| R-3 | Needs an use permit — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) | § 23.202.020 |
| R-4 | Needs an use permit | § 23.202.020 |
| R-5 | Needs an use permit | § 23.202.020 |
| R-S | Needs an use permit — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) | § 23.202.020 |
| R-SMU Residential Southside Mixed Use District | Needs an use permit — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) | § 23.202.020 |
| C-U | Needs an use permit — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.204.060.B.3; 23.302.070.H) | § 23.204.020 |
| C-N | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-E | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-NS | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-SA | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-T | Needs an use permit — see note Note *: * = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.204.060.B.3; 23.302.070.H) | § 23.204.020 |
| C-SO | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-DMU | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-W | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| C-AC | Needs an use permit | § 23.204.020 |
| MU-R | Needs an administrative use permit | § 23.206.020 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: § 23.202.040(C) and (D); § 23.302.070(H) (named in the Use-Specific Regulations column; text of 23.202.040 not in the packet).
- State law: State law lets most single-family lots add an ADU and a JADU (California ADU law) and a second home or a lot split under SB 9 (Gov. Code § 65852.21).
- 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
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a single-family home in the R-1 zone in Berkeley?
Only with a zoning certificate. Berkeley's use table lists it that way in R-1 (§ 23.202.020). The code adds a condition: “* = Use-Specific Regulations Apply (see 23.202.040(C) and (D); 23.302.070(H)) Cell reads "ZC* UP(PH) Hillside Overlay": the second entry, UP(PH), applies in the Hillside Overlay (Use Permit).”
Can I have a single-family home in the R-BMU zone in Berkeley?
No. Berkeley's use table does not allow it in R-BMU (Residential BART Mixed Use District) (§ 23.202.020).
General information, not legal advice.
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