Rental Registration: Berkeley vs Oakland
How do rental registration rules compare between Berkeley, CA and Oakland, CA?
Berkeley and Oakland have similar restriction levels.
Berkeley, CA
Alameda County
Berkeley requires landlords of covered units to register annually with the Rent Stabilization Board, pay a per-unit fee, and comply with the Rental Housing Safety Program inspection cycle.
View full Berkeley rules →Oakland, CA
Alameda County
Oakland requires all rental property owners to pay the Rent Adjustment Program fee and register with the city. The fee funds the Rent Adjustment Program which administers rent control and just-cause eviction protections.
View full Oakland rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Berkeley | Oakland |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | BMC 13.76 and 19.42 | - |
| Registration | Annual with Rent Board | Required for all residential rentals |
| Safety inspection | Four-year self-certification cycle | - |
| Business license | Required under Title 9 | - |
| Penalty | Rent increases and evictions barred for unregistered units | - |
| RAP Fee | - | Annual per-unit fee |
| Pass-Through | - | 50% may be passed to tenants |
| Tenant Notice | - | Required at beginning of tenancy |
| Delinquency | - | Bars no-fault evictions |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Berkeley FAQ
Do I have to register a single-family rental in Berkeley?
Most rental units, including single-family homes and ADUs, must register with the Rent Board and comply with the Rental Housing Safety Program.
What happens if I do not register?
Unregistered landlords cannot legally raise rent or evict tenants, and may face fines assessed by the Rent Board.
Oakland FAQ
Do I need to register my rental in Oakland?
All residential rental property owners must pay the annual Rent Adjustment Program fee and be registered with the city's business tax system.
What happens if I don't pay the RAP fee?
Delinquent landlords face penalties, cannot pursue certain rent adjustments, and as of 2024, are barred from conducting no-fault evictions.
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