23.304.050 Building Height | Berkeley Municipal Code

23.304.050 Building Height.

A. Projections Above Height Limits. Table 23.304 5 shows features that may project above allowed height limits. For rules that apply to wireless telecommunication facilities, see Chapter 23.332 (Wireless Telecommunication Facilities).

Table 23.304-5. ALLOWED PROJECTIONS ABOVE HEIGHT LIMIT
Structures Allowed Above Height Limit	Maximum Projection Above Height Limit		Limitations		Permit Required
Structures Allowed Above Height Limit	Residential Districts	Non-Residential Districts	Residential Districts	Non-Residential Districts	Permit Required
Towers, antennas, poles used for the transmission of electricity, telephone, cable television or other messages	No maximum		None		None
Flag poles, skylights, solar energy equipment, and similar structures	No maximum		None		None
Chimneys, water tanks, heating and air conditioning equipment, vents, pipes and necessary mechanical roof appurtenances	4 ft. or the minimum height required by the Building Code [1]	No maximum	Maximum 3 ft. in width [1]	No additional limitations	None
Other building and site features, including but not limited to, mechanical penthouses, elevator equipment rooms and cupolas, domes, turrets and other architectural elements	No maximum		May not exceed 15% of the average floor area of all of the building’s stories. No tower or similar structure may be used as habitable space or for any commercial purpose, other than the mechanical needs of the building		AUP

[1]May exceed allowed height and width with an AUP.

B. Rooftop Structures in Residential Districts. Decks, railings, trellises, pergolas, and other similar structures may be built above a roof but less than the residential addition height limit of the district. These structures may exceed the residential addition height limit with an AUP.

C. Parapets Allowed Above Height Limit. Parapets may exceed the height limit by up to five feet as of right in the following districts:

1. The R-3, R-S, R-SMU, and C-T districts located within the Southside Plan boundaries.

2. The C-DMU district (see Section 23.204.130(E)(1)(b)).

3. The R-BMU district (see Section 23.202.150(F)).

4. The C-AC district (see Section 23.204.150(E)(4)). (Ord. 7890-NS § 37, 2023: Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)