Just cause eviction rules in Berkeley, CA — sometimes called tenant protection or "for cause" eviction ordinances — list the specific legal reasons a landlord can end a tenancy.
Berkeley has one of the oldest just-cause eviction ordinances in the US. Landlords must cite a specific legal reason from BMC Chapter 13.76 to terminate a tenancy, and relocation payments apply for no-fault evictions.
Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 13.76 (Rent Stabilization and Eviction for Good Cause Ordinance) predates California AB 1482 by decades and applies to most rental units in the city. Landlords must serve notice citing one of the enumerated good causes, which include nonpayment of rent, breach of lease, nuisance, owner move-in (OMI), Ellis Act withdrawal, or substantial rehabilitation. No-fault evictions (OMI, Ellis, capital improvement) require relocation assistance payments set annually by the Rent Board and additional amounts for elderly, disabled, minor, or low-income tenants. Notices must be filed with the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, and the Board provides mediation and hearings. Tenants facing eviction can contact the Rent Board at (510) 981-7368 or the East Bay Community Law Center for free legal help. AB 1482 (Civil Code 1946.2) provides a statewide floor but Berkeley's local ordinance is generally more protective.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
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