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City overview

Berkeley, CA

Know before you sign a lease

Population 124,000 · Alameda County · Zoning code effective Feb 2026

Verified from Berkeley Municipal Code (Feb 2026)

25

Zones

55

Business types

6

Mixed-use

8

Overlays

Residential districts

R-1 · Multi-unit 1R-2 · Two-familyR-2A · Restricted two-familyR-3 · Multi-familyR-4 · Multi-family high densityR-5 · High densityR-S · Residential southsideR-SMU · Residential small mixed-useR-BMU · BART mixed-useES-R · Environmental safety

Commercial districts

C-1 · General commercialC-N · Neighborhood commercialC-E · Elmwood commercialC-NS · North ShattuckC-SA · South area commercialC-SO · Solano AvenueC-T · Telegraph AvenueC-U · University AvenueC-W · West BerkeleyC-DMU · Downtown mixed-useC-AC · Adeline Corridor

Manufacturing districts

M · ManufacturingMM · Mixed manufacturingMU-LI · Mixed-use light industrialMU-R · Mixed-use residentialM-RD · Manufacturing R&D

Overlays

Hillside (H) overlaySouthside Plan areaArts District overlayBART station areas (AB 2097)

Click any zone to see allowed uses →

Cannabis snapshot

7 storefront + 7 delivery + lounges — 0.5-mi BART exemption

Storefront retail

null/7

Limited

Delivery-only

null/7

Limited

Medical dispensary

5/6

Limited

Consumption lounge

OPEN

Available

7 storefront retail permits (1 equity reserved). 7 delivery-only (4 equity + 3 non-equity). 6 medical dispensaries. Lounges permitted at approved retailers with Use Permit. Buffers: 600 ft from elementary schools, community centers, skate parks, other retailers; 1,000 ft from middle/high schools. Competitive screening — not open applications.

Medical: $25/1,000 GR (2.5%) · Non-medical: $50/1,000 GR (5%) — suspended Jan 2023–July 2025, standard business rates applied. Contact city for current rate. · Annual · Competitive screening via §12.22.020 · Zone Clearance required

Screening application + Zone Clearance + business license fees

Data from municipal code and CA Dept. of Cannabis Control where applicable. Verify with city planning before proceeding.

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Find where your business is allowed in Berkeley

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