Research Zoning Permits and Zone Designations

Access three databases to find current or historical information on buildings and parcels. Use Permits Online for the most comprehensive and current data, or supplement your research with interactive maps from Building Eye. Discover what zone a property is in and find related information in the Community GIS Portal.

Permits Online 

Get involved in current or upcoming zoning projects by visiting Permits Online and click on the Zoning tab to search by address or project number. This is the main tool to use for researching development permits that allow for public input. It has the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on ongoing projects, as well as the history of past ones. View the Record Info tab for project status and all of the documentation or attachments on file.  

Visit Permits Online 

SEARCH FOR ZONING PERMITS AND PRELIMINARY APPLICATIONS

Active Projects Reports

When an application for a zoning permit, design review, or landmark review is submitted, the Land Use Division reviews the application for completeness.  Once deemed complete, the application is reviewed to ensure it complies with the applicable local, State, and Federal regulations before the division takes final action.  Pre- Applications, depending on the type, may make a project eligible to proceed under State laws.  You can look up active preliminary applications, design review, landmark review, and zoning permits (Administrative Use Permits, Use Permits, Variances), and see where they are in the process.

Permit status terms and what they mean:

• "Pending " - the initial application fee hasn't been paid yet.
• "Under Review" - the project is still undergoing the first completeness check and a completeness determination has not been made.
• "Incomplete Pending Applicant" - the application was deemed incomplete, and more information was requested.
• "Resubmittal Pending Staff" - the applicant has turned in more information that is being reviewed by staff.
• "In Review" - the project was deemed complete and accepted for permit processing review.

Zoning Permits in an Open Appeal Period Report

When a decision is issued on a discretionary zoning project, such as Administrative Use Permit (AUP) and Use Permit, there is an appeal period, per Berkeley Municipal Code 23.410 Appeals and Certifications.  You can look up which zoning projects are currently in the appeal period, meaning the decision may be appealed to either the Zoning Adjustments Board for AUPs, or to the City Council of Use Permits and Variances.

The report provides the zoning permit number, project address and description, and the project status.  For the zoning permits that are in open appeal period, the report also shows the dates of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination and project decision, and the start and end date of the appeal period.  You can find additional information, including project documents and notices of decision, by searching the Zoning tab of permits online by project number or address.

To access the active project and open appeals reports:

1. Under the Zoning tab at Permits Online, select "Reports" from the top of the page.
2. Select the report you want to view: "Active Pre-Applications," "Zoning Active Design Review," "Zoning Active Landmark Project," "Active Zoning Projects," or "Zoning Permits - Open Appeal Period."
3. If the report does not automatically open, it should be in your Downloads folder.

Please see Filing an Appeal on a Zoning or Land Use Decision for more information on appealing a project.

Building Eye 

Browse an interactive map of planning permits using Berkeley’s Building Eye. Search by address to find information about zoning and building permit applications for that property. Building Eye will show you basic information, such as permit number, type, and status. Click through to Permits Online for more detailed information. Sign up for notifications and alerts for planning permits you may be monitoring.  

Visit Building Eye 

PARCEL and Zoning search TOOL 

Visit the  Parcel and Zoning Search Tool to use the parcel and zoning lookup tool to find what zoning district or fire zone your property is in. Search parcel conditions in an interactive map that displays the address and zoning for adjacent parcels. 

To access these features, please read and accept the disclaimer on the Search page. At any time, click on the All Layers icon to reveal all information “layers” available to you. Search for an address and once you reach the Property Summary page for a subject property, you can click on a wealth of data, including:  

• Planning and Building Layer - to view zoning, historic resource designations, fire district, and other parcel information. 
• Environment Layer - to view seismic information and the applicability of the creek ordinance to the subject property
• Community Services Layer – to view information about services provided to the neighborhood, such as fire stations, police patrol areas, and street sweeping. 

 USE THe Parcel and Zoning search tool 

As another option, see a printable map of Berkeley's Zoning Districts.