Berkeley Rent Board Registration: Pay by July 2 or Pay Double
If you own rental housing in Berkeley, you are required to both register your units with the Rent Board and pay an annual registration fee. While registration is ongoing, the fee is due each year—and for 2026, the deadline is July 2. Miss it, and you’ll pay double.
Who Needs to Pay Registration Fees
If you own a unit that is covered under Berkeley’s Rent Stabilization Ordinance and you intend to rent it at any point between July 2, 2026, and July 1, 2027, you must pay the registration fee.
This is true regardless of the unit’s current status.
You must pay if the unit is:
- Currently occupied
- Vacant (including during turnover between tenants)
- Being advertised for rent
- Already registered from a prior year
Registration is not a one-time requirement, and the fee is not tied to a new tenancy.
Example
Your tenant moved in in 2025. The unit is already registered.
You still must pay the 2026 registration fee if you plan to continue renting the unit.
What You’ll Pay
Registration fees are assessed per unit, based on the unit’s coverage type.
For payments due July 2, 2026:
- Fully covered units: $397 per unit
- Partially covered units: $244 per unit
These fees apply to all covered units, including those brought under registration requirements by Measure BB.
Fees are charged per unit—not per property.
If you’re unsure of your unit’s coverage type, confirm before paying—this determines the fee amount.
The Only Date That Matters
Deadline: July 2, 2026
Your payment must be:
- Received, or
- Postmarked
by that date.
Miss the Deadline? The Cost Doubles—And Keeps Doubling
There is no grace period.
If payment is not received or postmarked by July 2, 2026, a 100% penalty is applied:
- Fully covered units: $397 → $794
- Partially covered units: $244 → $488
If the fees remain unpaid, additional 100% penalties are applied every six months.
That means:
- Unpaid as of January 1, 2027:
- Fully covered: $794 → $1,588
- Partially covered: $488 → $976
- Still unpaid after another six months:
The amount doubles again
There is no cap on these penalties—the balance continues to increase until the fees are paid in full.
These penalties are assessed per unit.
For owners with multiple units, the total amount owed can increase significantly.
Additional Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with Rent Board registration requirements—including registering units and paying required fees—can result in additional restrictions.
- Fully covered units:
You may not impose rent increases while out of compliance. - Partially covered units:
You may be prohibited from pursuing certain eviction actions while out of compliance.
Compliance must be restored before these rights are exercised.
How to Pay
Online
Pay by credit card or e-check through the Rent Registry portal. To submit payment, select “Review and Submit” at the top of your dashboard.
By Mail (Read This First)
Check only. Must be postmarked by July 2, 2026 to be considered timely.
Do not wait until the last day to mail your payment.
USPS mail is not always postmarked on the day it is deposited, which can result in a late postmark and trigger a penalty.
In Person
Pay by check, cash, or credit card at the Rent Board office:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
9:00 AM – 4:45 PM
Drop Box
Located in the elevator lobby at:
2000 Center Street, Suite 400 (4th Floor)
Accessible:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Need Help?
Berkeley Rent Board Registration Unit
Phone: (510) 981-7368 ext. 2
Email: rentregistry@berkeleyca.gov
Bottom Line
- If your unit is covered and will be rented during the upcoming year, you must pay
- Registration is ongoing; fees are due annually
- July 2, 2026, is the deadline
- Miss it → the fee doubles
- Continued non-payment → penalties keep doubling every six months
- Out of compliance → you may lose the ability to raise rent or pursue evictions
Closing
This is one of the most expensive deadlines to miss—and one of the easiest to put off. Don’t wait until the last minute.