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Berkeley, CA Rental Property Rules: Relocation Assistance (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Standard payment
About 18,000 dollars
Enhanced bonus
About 7,500 dollars
Code
BMC 13.84
Trigger
No-fault eviction

Summary

Berkeley landlords issuing no-fault evictions must pay relocation assistance scaled by tenancy length, with elderly, disabled, and child-occupied households receiving enhanced payments under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance.

(A) Assist the tenant to relocate by providing a direct payment to the tenant as described in paragraph (3). (B) Waive in writing the payment of rent for the final month of the tenancy, prior to the rent becoming due. (3) (A) The amount of relocation assistance or rent waiver shall be equal to one month of the tenant's rent that was in effect when the owner issued the notice to terminate the tenancy. Any relocation assistance shall be provided within 15 calendar days of service of the notice. (4) An owner's failure to strictly comply with this subdivision shall render the notice of termination void.

Source: Berkeley Rent Stabilization BoardView official code

Full Breakdown

BMC Chapter 13.84 implements relocation rules administered by the Rent Stabilization Board. Standard relocation payment in 2026 is roughly 18,000 dollars per unit for tenants displaced by owner move-in, withdrawal under the Ellis Act, or substantial rehab. Enhanced payments add 7,500 dollars when the household includes a senior, disabled person, or minor child. Payments are due before the tenant must vacate. Berkeley's payment levels exceed AB 1482's statewide one-month rent floor by anchoring to actual displacement costs in a tight housing market.

Violations & Fines

Failing to pay timely relocation assistance voids the eviction notice and exposes landlords to treble damages, attorney fees, and Rent Board enforcement actions including civil penalties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When must the payment arrive?
Half is due when the notice is served and the balance before the tenant must vacate, per Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board regulations.
Does AB 1482 preempt Berkeley's amount?
No. AB 1482 sets a statewide floor of one month's rent. Berkeley's higher local payment remains valid because state law expressly allows stronger local protections.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Berkeley

Fire Regulations: Fire Pits & Backyard FiresSome RestrictionsRent ControlHeavy RestrictionsSecurity Deposit RulesSome RestrictionsAB-1482 Notice DisclosureSome RestrictionsPass-Through ChargesSome RestrictionsRental RegistrationSome RestrictionsTenant Anti-HarassmentSome RestrictionsRent Increase NoticeSignificant RestrictionsSource-of-Income DiscriminationSignificant RestrictionsRepairs & HabitabilitySome RestrictionsNo-Fault EvictionsHeavy RestrictionsJust Cause EvictionHeavy RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Wildfire ZonesSignificant RestrictionsFire Regulations: Propane StorageSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: FireworksHeavy RestrictionsFire Regulations: Outdoor BurningSignificant Restrictions

All Berkeley rules

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Relocation Assistance in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Alameda County handle relocation assistance.

Oakland, CA
Light Restrictions