Berkeley

In Compliance
Out of Compliance
Unincorporated Area
Unincorporated Area
Unincorporated Area

Overview

Population
121385
Density
11593
Avg. Household Income
$
104716
Experiencing Rent Burden
52
Providing adequate housing options is a key function of local governments. To help residents ensure their local government is meeting this need, we’ve compiled important information about this jurisdiction’s housing efforts below.
Housing Element is In Compliance
This city is currently working on implementing its housing element.
Housing Element is Out of Compliance
This city is currently working on implementing its housing element.
Good Progress
This city is currently on track to meet their RHNA housing targets.
Making Slow Progress
This city is falling behind. It is not on track to meet its housing targets.
Housing Targets
Every 8 years California assesses housing need and assigns each city with a target they must hit. If 
Berkeley
 repeats its efforts from the previous cycle 
it will only meet 53% of the identified need.
Current RHNA Target
2022
 
-
 
2030
On Target
Behind
Hit Target
Missed
420
 / 
8934
 units
Very Low Income
Low Income
Median Income
Above Median Income
State Statutes
Organizers fighting for fair housing can use many state laws to ensure that jurisdictions meet their housing targets.
Builder’s Remedy
When a city’s Housing Element is out of compliance, the Builder’s Remedy allows developers to bypass the zoning code and city plans another couple of words.
Does not apply
Does not apply
Does not apply
SB 423
When cities lack a compliant housing element or are behind on RHNA, this statute streamlines approval of projects that meet a threshold of affordable units.
50% Affordable
50% Affordable
Conditions in 
Alameda County
HE Compliance
How does
 
Berkeley
 
compare to its neighboring cities?
This city is currently doing a better job than its neighbors at meeting housing needs.
Progress
0
0
Income
-17
-17
Density
49
49
Join the Fun!
Join
Key parts of
Berkeley
’s housing element are currently being worked on. Get involved to hold them accountable for meeting their deadlines.
Alameda County
's Volunteers
49
Current Watchdogs
  
Level IV
49/70 Volunteers
Upcoming Opportunities
Add Event
These upcoming events and tasks are great opportunities to make a difference in your community.
Event Name
Date
Type
Stop by Drinks & Agendas
Each Friday at 12:00PST our team gets together via Zoom to monitor local agendas so we can direct watchdogs to key meetings where decisions are being made about housing.
Become a Volunteer
Watchdog Reports
Add Report
Our watchdogs are on the ground observing and taking part in the fight for fair housing. Read their reports below.
Berkeley
's Reports
Anonymous
  
04
/
22

Lots of neighborhood pushback against building tall housing in a district with a lot of single family houses. However, we got enough YIMBY turnout that the planning commission voted to increase the height by five stories!

Read More
   
/
 Loss
24
/
50
 Pro Housing
   
/
 Win
24
/
50
 Pro Housing
   
/
Deferred
24
/
50
 Pro Housing
Anonymous
  
02
/
22

Commissioners were in general leaning towards allowing 2-4 units by right. Some of them were hesitant about letting the buildings get too large. Many were skeptical of FAR limits as unnecessary additional regulation (height limits and setbacks, etc, would be sufficient).

​

NIMBYs were making arguments about fire safety (need for 4-foot escape passages), shading their solar panels (nevermind people having to live farther from their jobs and increasing VMT), and not wanting overly large structures in general.

​

Only about a dozen people showed up to give public comment, kind of evenly split between YIMBYs and NIMBYs. Perhaps a few more NIMBYs, but they didn't seem to be swaying commissioners.

Read More
   
/
 Loss
5
/
12
 Pro Housing
   
/
 Win
5
/
12
 Pro Housing
   
/
Deferred
5
/
12
 Pro Housing
Anonymous
  
10
/
21

First public outreach about housing element.

Survey for people who didn't attend to contribute: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/berkeleyhousing

Website with details about Berkeley Housing Element: https://www.cityofberkeley.info/housingelement/

​

I live tweeted this meeting: https://twitter.com/howtoadu/status/1453533943211302913

​

Probably 50+ attendees, Nico Nagle was there from East Bay YIMBY and there were a lot of student advocates. See the age demographic slide for a glimpse into how the meeting went. 

​

I'd say the majority of speakers I heard were pro-housing. Even the more concerned voices stuck to "affordable housing" and "right kind" of housing arguments.

​

The city's consultants seem serious about engaging the public. 

​

They did a cool thing where they pulled up maps in the breakout sessions and let us literally list properties or neighborhoods where we thought the city should develop housing. There was a lot of support for residential above first floor commerce along the main roads like College Ave, small duplex-quadplex development spread throughout the city's less dense residential neighborhoods, and some taller buildings near BART stations (in parking lots, auto body shops, etc).

Read More
Saratoga Community Workshop/Info Session - Oct 27, 2021
   
10
/
21
 Loss
/
 Pro Housing
Saratoga Community Workshop/Info Session - Oct 27, 2021
   
10
/
21
 Win
/
 Pro Housing
Community Workshop/Info Session
   
10
/
21
Deferred
/
 Pro Housing
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