Property owners interested in retrofitting their buildings can get funding support through various programs. Owner-occupied single-family residences and small multifamily buildings (1-4 units) can apply for funding through the Earthquake Brace and Bolt program. Owner-occupied single-family buildings built prior to 2000 may be eligible for the Earthquake Soft-Story Retrofit Program. Commercial…
The Retrofit Grants Program reimburses property owners of eligible building types a portion of their design and/or construction costs. Retrofit grants from the City of Berkeley are available to multi-family homes of 3+ units, non-residential buildings, hotels/motels, and mixed-use buildings. Single-family homes and duplexes are not eligible. You can be reimbursed up to 75% of your design…
Sellers or buyers of buildings used exclusively for residential purposes, or mixed-use buildings with at least two residential units can receive a rebate of their real estate transfer tax for voluntary seismic upgrades. Building sellers or buyers can receive a rebate of up to 1/3 of the City of Berkeley's base 1.5% transfer tax for voluntary seismic upgrades expenses incurred …
Participating in the Building Occupancy Resumption Program will reduce your business inspection delays in the event of a major disaster, such as an earthquake, by enabling owners of private buildings to hire licensed engineers to create post-disaster inspection plans for their buildings. This program works for residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use buildings. In the event of an…
Ava Community Energy Ava Community Energy (formerly East Bay Community Energy) is our community-governed, local power supplier that provides cleaner electricity to residents and businesses in Berkeley, Alameda County and beyond. Ava offers two different electricity services:
- Bright Choice, the basic plan, costs less than…
Energy efficiency upgrades can make your home or building healthier and more comfortable, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The links below include energy efficiency programs that may qualify you for high performance recognition and exemption for Berkeley's…
Owners of all buildings over 15,000 square feet in size are required to benchmark their energy use through the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager website. Submit your building’s benchmark report to comply with Berkeley’s Building Emission Saving Ordinance (BESO) and with…
Berkeley’s Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) requires property owners to hire a qualified assessor to conduct an energy assessment and prepare a report about the building’s energy performance and opportunities for improvement. Learn more about the BESO…
As a member of the public, you’re encouraged to be involved in the planning and development process. There are a number of ways. Review Zoning Applications Zoning Applications, also referred to as Zoning Projects, refer to the more complex proposed developments that allow for public input during the…
Depending on your project, you may need to work with a contractor, engineer, and/or architect. For most construction projects, you will work with a licensed contractor. For projects in Berkeley, you must work with a contractor licensed in California with a valid…