Residential district

Berkeley R-5 Zoning: High-Density Residential

High-density, multi-story residential district near shopping, transit and jobs, allowing 40 ft. and 4 stories by right and up to 65 ft. and 6 stories with a Use Permit, with small open-space requirements.

404 ac

mapped in this district

8.2%

of Berkeley's districted land

governing sections

shared rules that apply

Where R-5's rules live

The district's own sections in Berkeley Municipal Code, Title 23 (Zoning):

§23.202.020
§23.202.030
§23.202.040
§23.202.120

Shared rules that apply in R-5

Supplemental use-specific regulations §23.302.07026 of 28 districts

Lot requirements §23.304.02025 of 28 districts

Setbacks §23.304.03025 of 28 districts

Usable open space §23.304.09023 of 28 districts

Building height §23.304.05022 of 28 districts

Accessory Dwelling Units (Chapter 23.306) §23.30622 of 28 districts

Lot coverage §23.304.12020 of 28 districts

Building separation in residential districts §23.304.04017 of 28 districts

Parking and loading (Chapter 23.322) §23.32211 of 28 districts

Other residential districts in Berkeley

ES-R Environmental Safety-Residential R-1 Residential Multi-Unit 1 R-2 Residential Multi-Unit 2 R-2A Residential Multi-Unit 2A R-3 Multiple-Family Residential R-4 Multi-Family Residential R-BMU Residential BART Mixed Use R-S Residential Southside R-SMU Residential Southside Mixed Use

Is your parcel in R-5? Check an address and ask what you can build, with the section behind each answer.

Check an address

Sources: Berkeley Municipal Code, Title 23 (Zoning); City of Berkeley “Zoning Districts” layer, last edited Jun 6, 2025. Research only, not legal advice. Back to Berkeley zoning.