What does the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board do?

The Berkeley Rent Board administers the city's rent stabilization framework. It sets the Annual General Adjustment (AGA) — a percentage applied to base rents — handles individual rent adjustment petitions, hears tenant complaints, processes registration, and enforces the city's just-cause framework.

What does the Berkeley AGA usually run at?

The AGA is set annually by the Rent Board and historically lands in the 2–3% range. The percentage is tied to CPI but adjusted by Board policy. Pull the current AGA from the Rent Board's website before serving any rent increase notice.

What does Berkeley rent stabilization cover?

Most pre-1980 residential rentals in Berkeley. Costa-Hawkins (1995 state law) exempts post-1995 construction, single-family homes, and individually-owned condos from rent control, but most of these units are still covered by Berkeley's just-cause framework and the city's Tenant Protection Ordinance.

Is registration mandatory in Berkeley?

Yes. Rent-Board-covered units must register annually with the Rent Stabilization Program. Registration captures current rent and tenancy details, and the fee is per-unit. Non-registration bars lawful rent increases and certain terminations.

How strict is Berkeley on OMI?

Strict. Owner move-in requires Rent Board petition, extended notice periods for senior, disabled, and long-term tenants, substantial relocation per the Board's schedule, and continued post-eviction occupancy verification. SB 567's state-level $10,000-per-tenant penalty stacks on Berkeley's local penalties.

Berkeley Landlord Laws 2026 — Rent Stabilization Board, Annual Allowable, Just-Cause

TL;DR

The Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board administers rent stabilization on most pre-1980 residential rentals. The Annual General Adjustment (AGA) typically runs 2–3% (set yearly). Just-cause from day one. Mandatory annual registration. The Tenant Protection Ordinance overlays harassment liability on top.

The Rent Stabilization Board — what it controls

The Berkeley Rent Board has direct authority over:

Annual General Adjustment (AGA) — the percentage rent can rise on covered units. Set annually, tied to CPI with Board adjustment.
Individual rent adjustments — petitions for hardship-based or capital-improvement-based rent changes.
Registry — every covered unit registers annually with rent and tenancy data.
Just-cause enforcement — administrative process for tenant complaints about terminations.
Decreased-services petitions — tenants can petition for rent reductions if services were cut.

What Costa-Hawkins exempts (and what it doesn't)

The state Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995) limits local rent control. In Berkeley that means post-1995 construction, single-family homes, and individually-owned condos are exempt from rent control — and Berkeley honors vacancy decontrol when a covered tenant moves out and a new tenancy starts.

"Exempt from rent control" does not mean "outside Berkeley's tenant protections." Most Costa-Hawkins-exempt units are still subject to just-cause eviction rules and the TPO.

Just-cause from day one

Berkeley applies just-cause eviction rules from the start of any covered tenancy — not at the 12-month AB 1482 threshold. Every termination needs a statutory just cause, and no-fault grounds carry relocation obligations under the Board's schedule.

The Tenant Protection Ordinance

Berkeley's TPO defines a list of conduct as unlawful harassment with civil penalties and attorney's fees. The conduct list parallels the major California TPOs: unauthorized entry, refusal to repair, frivolous notices, service interference, retaliation. Berkeley's enforcement posture is among the more aggressive in the state.

Berkeley OMI is a multi-quarter project

Owner move-in here requires Rent Board petition with documentation, extended notice for vulnerable tenants, substantial relocation per Board schedule, and post-eviction occupancy verification. SB 567's $10,000-per-tenant state penalty stacks on Berkeley's local penalties. A wrongful OMI here is a six-figure exposure.

Common questions — Berkeley landlord laws

What is the Berkeley AGA?

The Annual General Adjustment — the rent-cap percentage set yearly by the Rent Board. Historically 2–3% range.

Does Berkeley rent control cover SFRs?

Costa-Hawkins exempts single-family rentals from rent control. They remain covered by Berkeley's just-cause framework and TPO.

Is annual registration required?

Yes, for Rent-Board-covered units. Per-unit fee. Non-registration bars lawful rent increases and certain terminations.

When does just-cause apply?

From day one of tenancy under the Berkeley framework. Not the 12-month AB 1482 threshold.

How does Berkeley handle OMI?

Rent Board petition, extended notice, substantial relocation, ongoing occupancy verification. SB 567 stacks. This is not a routine eviction path.

Berkeley runs one of California's oldest rent boards. The AGA, the registry, the just-cause — all administered through one office.