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Local Rent Rules · last verified October 25, 2026

Berkeley, CA rent rules

Coverage, this period's allowable increase, notice periods, just cause and relocation — straight from the official sources, each linked and dated. 1 item is marked "not verified": we would rather show no figure than a guessed one.

Check a specific unit →

Not legal advice. LeaseHelper is a document automation service, not a law firm. This page summarises official sources and links each figure to them. Rules change — city figures are re-published every year — so check the "verified" date on each item and confirm with the agency before you act.

State law also applies here: California (statewide — Tenant Protection Act, AB 1482).

Which units are covered

fully covered built before

Fully covered (rent ceilings + just cause): most multi-unit buildings built before June 1980; single-family homes whose tenancy began before 1996; single-family homes with 5+ rooms rented individually.

1980-06

Berkeley Rent Stabilization and Good Cause for Eviction Ordinance (BMC ch. 13.76) · official source · verified October 25, 2026

partially covered

Partially covered: no rent ceiling, but eviction protection and deposit interest apply.

  • single-family homes with tenancies starting on or after January 1, 1996
  • most condominiums
  • new construction with a Certificate of Occupancy after June 1980

BMC ch. 13.76 · official source · verified October 25, 2026

exempt

No coverage at all: no rent limit, no just cause.

  • units sharing a kitchen or bath with a landlord who lived there before the tenancy
  • 'Golden Duplexes' owner-occupied on Dec 31, 1979 with an owner still in one unit
  • university housing and nonprofit co-ops
  • tenancies after Nov 7, 2018 on properties with an ADU where either unit is owner-occupied

BMC ch. 13.76 · official source · verified October 25, 2026

Maximum rent increase

aga pct by year

Annual General Adjustment to rent ceilings (65% of Bay Area CPI-U, July–June; cap 5% under Measure BB). Not available if registration fees are unpaid, a Board order denies it, there are serious code violations, or deposit interest is unpaid.

2026
%
1
effective from
2026-01-01
source url
https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/elected-rent-board/news/2026-aga-published-and-2025-security-deposit-interest-payment-due-soon
2027
%
2.5
effective from
2027-01-01
source url
https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/rights-responsibilities/rent-levels/annual-general-adjustment

BMC ch. 13.76 · official source · verified October 25, 2026

Notice periods

rent increase notice days

30 days' written notice (≤10%) or 90 days (>10%).

up to 10 %
30
over 10 %
90

Civ. Code §827(b) · official source · verified October 25, 2026

Just cause for eviction

applies

Fully and partially covered units have just-cause protection.

Yes

BMC ch. 13.76 · official source · verified October 25, 2026

Relocation assistance

omi ellis amounts Applies January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026

Owner move-in / Ellis Act relocation. Additional payment for households that are low income, include disabled or elderly tenants or minor children, or whose tenancy began before Jan 1, 1999.

standard
$19,413
additional qualifying household
$6,471
min tenancy months
12

Berkeley Rent Ordinance; Ellis Implementation Ordinance · official source · verified October 25, 2026

payment deadline

Owner move-in payment timing.

Deposit the payment with the Rent Board within 10 days of serving the notice.

Berkeley Rent Ordinance (OMI) · official source · verified October 25, 2026

Penalties

violation

Not verified — no figure shown. Not stated on the pages read. Not asserted.

Need the notice itself?

Generate a rent-increase, just-cause termination or relocation notice built from these exact figures, with the required city language.

See notices →

Rules change — last verified October 25, 2026. Dataset: legal-facts/v1, jurisdiction ca-berkeley.