Oakland, CA – In the Oakland Community and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan’s ordinance amendment to lower ceiling height requirements to the State standard of 7 feet passed unanimously and will heard at the Tuesday, May 7th Council Meeting. (Link to Item)
The new ordinance covers units for one- and two-family houses and townhouses and aligns us with the State standard of 7 feet ceiling heights for habitable spaces and 6 feet 8 inches for bathrooms, toilet rooms, and laundry rooms. Oakland had a more restrictive, higher ceiling requirement, but after hearing from multiple working- and middle-class homeowners, President Kaplan learned that lifting a house to meet Oakland’s ceiling standard was cost prohibitive for many. With yearly rising construction costs, legalizing and building secondary units for small homeowners to create needed housing is a priority. This simple step alone may add more units of housing and provide shelter to our residents in need of more affordable housing options.
Said Kaplan: “I am pleased to be able to help advance these vital goals of expanding our housing supply and making it easier for small property owners to get things done in Oakland.”
Kaplan’s office looks forward to continuing to work in partnership with community, building and planning leadership and staff, and stakeholders to help facilitate construction and make housing units more affordable and available to our residents.