Brentwood, CA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Anyone engaged in the business of renting residential property in Brentwood must obtain a business license from the Finance Department, with fees calculated based on the number of units and gross receipts per the master fee schedule. Registration is annual. While Brentwood does not operate a proactive rental inspection program (unlike Oakland or Berkeley), rental units must comply with state habitability standards under Civil Code §1941 and §1941.1 (working plumbing, heat, hot water, weatherproofing, functional locks, smoke/CO alarms, pest-free). Short-term rental operators (under 30 days) have additional requirements — STR use may be restricted in some zones and a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) registration is required. Statewide rent control under AB 1482 (2019) applies to most multi-family properties more than 15 years old and to single-family homes owned by corporations or REITs, capping annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI (up to 10%) and requiring 'just cause' for eviction after 12 months of tenancy. Single-family homes owned by natural persons are generally exempt from AB 1482 if the statutory disclosure is served. Mobile-home park spaces have separate state rent-control rules. Landlords should maintain current contact information with the city and respond promptly to code enforcement inquiries.