Berkeley Approves ‘Middle Housing’ Ordinance

The city of Berkeley, which pioneered single-family zoning as an exclusionary tool in the early 20th century, is working to reverse decades of restrictions that have limited multi-family development.

According to a San Francisco Chronicle article by Darrell Owens, Berkeley began allowing high-density apartments in the 2000s, but continued to restrict them in most neighborhoods. Meanwhile, single-family homes remain out of reach for the vast majority of residents, with median sale prices of $1.6 million. “On Thursday, Berkeley’s City Council is poised to rectify this regrettable history by voting on the final draft of its ‘Middle Housing’ ordinance. The proposed rezoning would allow the construction of more low-density, multifamily homes.”

For Owens, “Berkeley’s plan is superior to the strategy of adding accessory dwelling units to the back of residential lots” because it preserves more open space and backyard privacy by building up. Owens also points out that multi-family buildings have a lower carbon footprint.

While the city council unanimously supported the ordinance, there was debate over how dense is too dense. For Owens, the key is to have the same density limit in all neighborhoods. “That’s the crucial point: to abolish exclusionary zoning.”

The ordinance approved by the City Council on Thursday permits buildings of up to three stories and up to eight units on a typical 5,000 square foot lot. The ordinance applies citywide, with the exception of the city’s hilly neighborhoods, where denser development could increase fire risk.