Equitable Zoning Reform

On March 25, 2021 Council discussed equitable zoning reform as part of the City’s Housing Element update and unanimously passed legislation. Berkeley is required to zone for approximately 9,000 units and we want to begin the state-mandated required community input process earlier than usual before late 2022 adoption. Any major zoning revisions go through a variety of analyses, including a public safety assessment.

• Read the final legislation that was passed here. 
• Do you have questions? FAQs regarding this proposal are here.
• Read Climate Scientist and Nobel Prize Winner Dan Kammen’s Letter of Support here.
• Read Grist article “Zoned out: One woman’s half-century fight to desegregate Berkeley” here.
• Read Letter of Support from UC Berkeley’s Urban Displacement Project Director Karen Chapple here.

This was an action item to follow up on Council’s commitment to end exclusionary zoning by 2022, which we agreed to unanimously. Read the Resolution.