Brentwood, CA Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Business License
- Required for rental operation
- Standalone Registration
- No program
- Habitability Standards
- Civil Code §1941 apply
- STR Registration
- TOT registration needed
- Rent Control Caps
- AB 1482 applies many units
Summary
Brentwood requires owners of residential rental properties to obtain a city business license (the Transient Tax/rental business license) and pay the annual tax based on the number of units rented. The city does not operate a standalone rental registration/inspection ordinance but coordinates complaints through code enforcement.
1947.12. (a) (1) Subject to subdivision (b), an owner of residential real property shall not, over the course of any 12-month period, increase the gross rental rate for a dwelling or a unit more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, or 10 percent, whichever is lower, of the lowest gross rental rate charged for that dwelling or unit at any time during the 12 months prior to the effective date of the increase. In determining the lowest gross rental amount pursuant to this section, any rent discounts, incentives, concessions, or credits offered by the owner of such unit of residential real property and accepted by the tenant shall be excluded.
Full Breakdown
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. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a business license to rent out a single-family home?
Is my property covered by AB 1482?
What are the annual fees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brentwood
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Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Contra Costa County handle rental registration.