Details
Berkeley rent control is administered by the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board under the city’s Rent Ordinance, which voters amended with Measure BB in November 2024. The ordinance sorts rental units into three groups: “fully covered,” with a rent ceiling and eviction protection; “partially covered,” with eviction protection and registration but no rent ceiling; and exempt. Partially covered units can still fall under the statewide cap in Civil Code 1947.12, covered in the AB 1482 rent cap guide.
Quick answer: For a fully covered Berkeley unit, the 2026 Annual General Adjustment (AGA) is 1.0%, effective January 1, 2026, down from 2.1% in 2025. It applies to tenancies that began before 2025, and only if the landlord has paid registration fees. Partially covered units, such as most newer buildings, houses and condos, have no Berkeley rent ceiling. They may be under the state cap, which is 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. Owner move-in and Ellis Act relocation is $19,413 per household in 2026, plus $6,471 for qualifying households.
Is my unit covered by Berkeley rent control?
The Rent Board’s Measure BB page describes the groups this way:
| Coverage | Typical units | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Fully covered | Most units in multifamily properties built before 1980; single-family homes with tenancies that began before 1996; single-family homes with 5+ rooms rented individually | Rent ceiling (AGA), eviction protection, registration |
| Partially covered | New construction (certificate of occupancy after 1980); most single-family homes; most condominiums; certain federally subsidized units | Eviction protection and registration, no Berkeley rent ceiling |
Two points often trip people up.
- Vacancy decontrol. Since January 1999, a fully covered unit’s rent can be reset when a new tenancy begins. The ceiling then limits increases from that new starting rent.
- Houses. Coverage for a house depends on when the tenancy began. A single-family home rented since before 1996 is usually fully covered. The same house rented to someone new today is usually only partially covered.
The Rent Board’s unit lookup and counselors can confirm the status of a specific address.
Partially covered? The state rent cap likely applies
A partially covered unit has no Berkeley rent ceiling, but state law may still limit increases. The state cap applies to most housing whose certificate of occupancy is more than 15 years old. Alameda County is in the statute’s San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward area, so the cap is:
- 8.8% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027;
- 6.3% for increases that took effect August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.
The main state exemptions are:
- housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years;
- a house or condo owned by an individual (not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member) that gave the tenant the statutory exemption notice;
- an owner-occupied duplex.
A 1990s Berkeley apartment building is partially covered locally, but it is likely under the state cap. A condo owned by an individual who put the exemption notice in the lease may have no cap at all. Check yours with Is my rental exempt from the rent cap? and see all regions in California rent increase limits for 2026.
How much can rent go up in Berkeley in 2026?
Each year the Rent Board sets an Annual General Adjustment, and the rent ceilings of fully covered units rise by that percentage on January 1. The Board’s AGA page and published AGA list show:
| AGA year (effective January 1) | AGA |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.0% |
| 2025 | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 1.9% |
The AGA equals 65% of the change in the Bay Area Consumer Price Index from July 1 to June 30 of the prior year. It is capped at 5%. Measure BB lowered that cap from 7%. The 2027 AGA had not been published at the time of writing; the Board usually adopts it in the fall.
New tenancies wait for their first AGA. A landlord cannot take one for the rest of the calendar year the tenancy started, or for the following full calendar year. That is why the 2026 AGA applies only to tenancies that began before 2025.
- A tenancy that started on March 1, 2026 gets no AGA in 2026 or 2027.
- Its first AGA can come in 2028, with proper notice.
Say you have rented a fully covered Berkeley apartment since 2021 and your rent ceiling is $2,500. The 2026 AGA of 1.0% raises the ceiling by $25, to $2,525, with proper notice. If the same $2,500 unit were a partially covered 1990s apartment under the state cap, an increase taking effect October 1, 2026 could reach 8.8%, or $220, for $2,720. The rent increase calculator handles the state figure.
| Hypothetical $2,500 unit | Limit | Largest increase | Maximum new rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fully covered, 2026 AGA | 1.0% | $25.00 | $2,525.00 |
| Partially covered, state cap (effective Oct 1, 2026) | 8.8% | $220.00 | $2,720.00 |
Registration and notice rules in Berkeley
Registration controls whether a landlord may take the AGA. The AGA cannot be applied if registration fees are unpaid. For fiscal year 2026–27, the Rent Board fee notice sets:
- $397 per fully covered unit and $244 per partially covered unit;
- a due date of July 2, 2026;
- a 100% penalty if the fee is paid late.
The AGA page lists other conditions that can block an increase. Check it before paying an AGA you think the landlord is not entitled to.
Measure BB added reporting duties for new tenancies:
- For tenancies starting on or after December 20, 2024, the landlord must give the tenant written notice of the Rent Ordinance’s coverage within 15 days of the start of the tenancy.
- Owners of partially covered units must report new tenancies to the Rent Board within 15 days.
The notice period for an increase matches state law under Civil Code 827: 30 days’ written notice for an increase of 10% or less and 90 days for more than 10%. See the rent increase notice guide.
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Just cause eviction in Berkeley
Berkeley’s eviction protections are broader than its rent ceiling. The Rent Board’s Rent Control 101 page says: “With few exceptions, even Berkeley tenants who don’t live in units with rent control are protected under the Eviction for Good Cause section of the Ordinance.” Both fully and partially covered tenants therefore need a just cause before they can be evicted.
Measure BB changed several of the ordinance’s rules. Get the current list of causes and exceptions from the Rent Board before relying on any single ground. The statewide rules in California just cause eviction set the floor. State law generally gives way to a local just cause law adopted on or before September 1, 2019, or to a later one that is more protective.
Berkeley relocation payments for 2026
Berkeley requires relocation payments for owner move-in and Ellis Act evictions. The Rent Board’s 2026 adjustment notice sets these amounts from January 1, 2026:
| Payment (effective January 1, 2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard payment per household | $19,413 |
| Additional payment for qualifying households | $6,471 |
| Total for a qualifying household | $25,884 |
A household qualifies for the additional payment if it includes a low-income, disabled or elderly tenant or a minor child, or if the tenancy began before January 1, 1999. The 2026 amounts reflect a 1.5% CPI increase over 2025.
For an Ellis Act withdrawal, the relocation money is deposited with the Rent Board when the owner files the Notice of Intent to Withdraw (BMC 13.77.055). The Board’s Ellis Act page explains the process.
Say a tenant has rented since 1997 and receives an owner move-in notice in 2026. The tenancy predates January 1, 1999, so the household qualifies for both payments: $19,413 plus $6,471, or $25,884. The state’s one-month payment under Civil Code 1946.2 is credited against local amounts. See California relocation assistance and the Ellis Act explained.
Buyout offers in Berkeley
Some landlords offer money for a tenant to leave, often called cash for keys. This guide does not cover any Berkeley-specific buyout ordinance. Ask the Rent Board whether local rules apply before you sign.
State law has no statewide buyout-disclosure statute. The practical benchmark is what you would be owed in a no-fault eviction: $19,413 or $25,884 in 2026. How to weigh an offer is covered in cash for keys in California.
Where to get help in Berkeley
The Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board is at 2000 Center Street, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704.
- Phone: (510) 981-RENT (7368).
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: rentboard.berkeleyca.gov.
The Board offers housing counseling, mediation, petitions and a unit information lookup.
Questions people ask
What is the Berkeley rent increase for 2026?
The 2026 Annual General Adjustment is 1.0%, effective January 1, 2026, for fully covered units whose tenancy began before 2025. It was 2.1% in 2025.
Is my Berkeley house rent controlled?
Only if the tenancy began before 1996, or if the house has 5 or more rooms rented individually. Most other single-family homes are partially covered: they have eviction protection and registration but no Berkeley rent ceiling.
What is the maximum AGA in Berkeley?
5%. Measure BB lowered the cap from 7% in November 2024. The actual AGA is 65% of the Bay Area CPI change, which has recently been far below the cap.
How much relocation does a Berkeley landlord pay for owner move-in?
$19,413 per household in 2026, plus $6,471 for qualifying households, including those whose tenancy began before January 1, 1999.
Related California renter guides
- Oakland rent control and tenant rights
- San Francisco tenant rights and the Rent Board
- California rent increase limits for 2026 by county
- Rent increase calculator: your maximum legal rent
- Just cause eviction rules under state law
- When a California landlord must pay you to move
- Cash for keys and tenant buyouts in California
This page explains what the cited California law says. It is not legal advice. Last verified September 28, 2026.