Berkeley Rent Control: Rent Ceilings, AGA and Eviction Rules

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Berkeley has one of California’s longest-running rent control systems: the Rent Stabilization Board administers a Rent Ordinance that sets rent ceilings, limits annual increases and requires just cause to evict for most covered units. This guide explains the three coverage levels, how the Annual General Adjustment works (the Board set it at 2.5% for 2027), what registration and security deposit interest involve, and what all of it means if you own a Berkeley rental and want to sell.

Berkeley rent control at a glance

Administered by	Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board; housing counselor (510) 981-7368, rent@berkeleyca.gov
Annual General Adjustment	1.0% on January 1, 2026; 2.5% for 2027, set at 65% of the Bay Area CPI-U change per the Ordinance
Rent increase notice	30 days for increases of 10% or less; 90 days for increases over 10%
Security deposit interest	0.6% for 2026, owed in covered units; due by the end of December or deducted from January rent
Unused AGA	Measure X caps increases based on unused AGAs at 10% in any 12-month period
Registration	Landlords must register units and file a vacancy registration for tenancies starting on or after January 1, 1996; Rent Registry is searchable by address
Government-owned or subsidized units	Measure BB (November 2024) requires registration and an annual fee

Three levels of coverage

The Rent Board says Berkeley units fall into full, partial or no coverage.

In a fully covered unit the rent is controlled and the rent ceiling can only rise by the Annual General Adjustment, the landlord needs a just cause listed in the Ordinance to evict, and the tenant earns interest on the security deposit.

The Board’s examples of full coverage include most multi-unit properties built before June 1980, single-family homes with current tenants who moved in before 1996, and single-family homes where five or more rooms are rented individually under separate leases.

In partial coverage there is no rent ceiling, so the landlord can raise the rent by more than the local limit, but just cause and security deposit interest still apply.

Examples include single-family homes with tenancies that began on or after January 1, 1996, most condominiums, and new construction that received a certificate of occupancy after June 1980.

Some units have no coverage, such as shared kitchen or bath units where the landlord lived before the tenancy began, university housing, nonprofit cooperatives, and owner-occupied duplexes that were owner-occupied on December 31, 1979 (the Board calls them Golden Duplexes).

The Annual General Adjustment

On January 1, rent ceilings for most fully covered units rise by the AGA, which the Ordinance sets at 65 percent of the change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers in the San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose region.

The Board announced that rent ceilings rose 1.0% on January 1, 2026 and adopted a 2027 AGA of 2.5%, available for tenancies that started before January 1, 2026. To use it the landlord must give proper written notice: 30 days for increases of 10% or less and 90 days for larger ones.

A landlord cannot take the AGA in some cases, including failing to register the unit correctly, failing to comply with Board orders, an outstanding housing code violation tied to habitability, or failing to return security deposit interest.

A tenant who thinks the AGA was applied improperly can file a petition with the Rent Board. Measure X, according to the Board, also caps rent increases based on unused AGAs at 10% in any 12-month period.

Registration, the Rent Registry and security deposit interest

Berkeley landlords must register covered units, and the Rent Board keeps a Rent Registry where anyone can type in an address to see the registered rent ceiling for a unit.

Interest on security deposits for 2026 is 0.6%, owed to tenants of fully or partially covered units by the end of December or deducted from January 2027 rent. Under Rent Board Regulation 704, if the interest is not paid by January 31, the tenant can deduct 10% of the deposit from a rent payment during 2027.

Unpermitted units are still covered: the Board says an illegal or unpermitted unit is covered so owners are not rewarded for violating building and zoning codes, with a possible exemption only if it counts as new construction. Short-term rentals in covered units are exempt only if shorter than 14 days.

Just cause and relocation

For fully and partially covered units, a landlord needs one of the just causes written in the Rent Ordinance to end a tenancy.

The Rent Board also publishes annual adjustments to relocation assistance payments; its November 2026 news lists 2027 adjustments, so ask the Board or read the current notice rather than relying on an older figure.

Berkeley’s rules are more protective than the statewide baseline for covered units, so a landlord planning an owner move-in or other no-fault termination should speak with the Board’s housing counselors or an attorney before serving notice.

Selling a Berkeley rental

Rent control affects value and process. A buyer of a fully covered building inherits the rent ceilings and the registration history, and a missing or late registration can block the AGA for years, so it is worth looking up the unit in the Rent Registry before you price the property.

A single-family home with a tenant who moved in before 1996 is fully covered, which surprises many owners who assume houses are exempt.

If you would rather not untangle registration, notices or a long-term tenancy, you can sell the house as-is with the tenant in place. See our Berkeley tenant-occupied page and the statewide guide. If the property also has unpermitted work, our permits guide and zoning and ADU guide are useful.

Owner checklist

Before you list, or before you serve a rent increase, work through this list:

• Look up the address in the Rent Registry and note the current rent ceiling and coverage level.
• Confirm the unit is properly registered and that vacancy registrations were filed for tenancies starting after January 1, 1996.
• Check whether any unused AGA is in play and whether Measure X’s 10% cap applies.
• Confirm security deposit interest has been paid for each year owed.
• Resolve any open housing code violation that could block the AGA.
• Gather leases, notices and rent history for a buyer or cash offer.

Our Berkeley cash offer process shows how a no-repairs sale works.

The statewide baseline that sits under Berkeley rules

Local ordinances sit on top of the California Tenant Protection Act (AB 1482), codified in Civil Code sections 1946.2 and 1947.12.

As summarized in a City of Long Beach memo, the law caps annual rent increases at 5 percent plus the change in the Consumer Price Index or 10 percent, whichever is lower, requires just cause to end most tenancies, and exempts some housing types such as buildings less than 15 years old.

The same memo notes that it was set to expire on January 1, 2030 unless renewed. Our statewide guide to selling a tenant-occupied home explains how these protections interact with a sale.

How to sell a house in Berkeley

1. Look up your unit in the Berkeley Rent Registry.
2. Collect leases, registration filings and rent history.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the property as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, showings or tenant move-out required.

See also our Berkeley page and the Alameda County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Is Berkeley rent controlled?

Yes. The Rent Ordinance fully covers most multi-unit properties built before June 1980 and single-family homes with tenants who moved in before 1996, with limits on annual rent increases and just cause eviction.

What is Berkeley’s 2027 AGA?

The Rent Board adopted a 2027 AGA of 2.5%, calculated at 65% of the regional CPI increase. The 2026 AGA was 1.0%.

How much notice is required for a Berkeley rent increase?

The Rent Board says 30 days for increases of 10% or less and 90 days for increases over 10%.

Are single-family houses exempt from Berkeley rent control?

Not always. A single-family home with a tenant who moved in before 1996 is fully covered, while tenancies that began on or after January 1, 1996 get partial coverage with no rent ceiling but with just cause protection.

Do Berkeley landlords owe security deposit interest?

Yes, for fully and partially covered units. The 2026 rate is 0.6%.

Can I sell a Berkeley rental with a tenant in it?

Yes. The tenancy and its protections continue with the property, and a cash buyer can purchase it as-is with the tenant in place.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Berkeley
• We Buy Houses in Alameda County
• Alameda County Property Tax Guide
• Sell a Tenant-Occupied House in Berkeley
• Berkeley Building Permits Guide
• Berkeley Code Enforcement Guide
• Berkeley Zoning and ADU Guide
• Berkeley Cash Offer Process
• Selling a Tenant-Occupied Home in California
• All California Guides

Sources

• Berkeley Rent Board: Is Your Unit Covered by Rent Control?
• Berkeley Rent Board: 2027 AGA Published
• Berkeley Rent Board: Annual General Adjustment
• Berkeley Rent Board: Measure X changes
• California Civil Code section 1947.12 (statewide rent cap)
• California Civil Code section 1946.2 (statewide just cause)
• California Courts: California Tenants guide

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.