UPDATED: Rent Board Adopts to Extend Amnesty Period for Units Newly Required to Register Under Measure BB

MEASURE BB IMPOSED NEW REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN UNITS

Measure BB, passed by Berkeley voters in November 2024, requires owners of certain units (such as units with government subsidies like Section 8 and Shelter + Care) to register with the Rent Board and pay registration fees. These units (“Measure BB Units”) were previously exempt from registration requirements. 

Measure BB went into effect on December 20, 2024, meaning the registration obligation took effect at that time.

FEES AND PENALTIES FOR MEASURE BB UNITS

Measure BB units were billed for the following fees:

• A prorated FY 2024-25 registration fee for the period of January 1, 2025 - June 30, 2025
• The annual FY 2025-26 registration fee for the period of July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026

These fees were due July 1, 2025. The Rent Ordinance imposes an automatic, 100% penalty on overdue accounts. 

IF YOU OWN A RENTAL UNIT SUBJECT TO MEASURE BB AND YOUR ACCOUNT IS OVERDUE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE AMNESTY PERIOD TO AVOID PAYING PENALTIES

The 100% penalty is firmly set in the Rent Ordinance. However, the Board’s policy is to prioritize compliance over penalties to ensure accurate data collection and program efficiency. The Board also recognizes that new obligations can be challenging and require a transition period. Therefore, the Board has implemented a registration fee penalty amnesty program for Measure BB units.

How To Pay Your Fees

1. For each unit to be registered, file with the Registration Unit the Measure BB Vacancy Registration (VR) form that was mailed to you with your original bill. Staff cannot process your payment without the VR! If you do not have it, please contact a Registration Unit Administrator to get one. The VR to register tenancies for the first time under Measure BB is different from our standard VR. Using the correct form will help avoid processing delays. You can file your VR by email, mail, by bringing it to our office, or placing it in our dropbox.
2. Pay your fees. You can include a check for just the amount of fees owed with your VR if you mail it or place it in the dropbox. You can also pay in person by check, cash, or credit card. Once payment is received, staff will automatically waive the penalties in our system. 
   
   To avoid possible overpayment, please do not try to pay through the rent registry. Your account balance will show both fees and penalties, and the system does not accept partial payments. We want to make sure you pay only what you owe under the amnesty program!
3. Check your account. Please allow staff about 3 days to process your Measure BB VR and payment. Then, set up your 3Di account if you haven’t already and verify that your account is current (no fees are due).  

No Hardship Declaration or Waiver Application Required

Owners of Measure BB units who follow the process outlined above to pay their accounts in full by January 2, 2026, will automatically receive the waiver. No additional paperwork is required.

OWNERS OF UNITS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO REGISTER PRIOR TO MEASURE BB ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AMNESTY, BUT CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE WAIVER PROCESS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30.

The amnesty period applies only to units newly required to register under Measure BB. Owners of units that were previously required to register may, however, reduce or eliminate penalties under the Regulation 883 administrative waiver period. 

Owners who pay fees in full by September 30, 2025, may be eligible for a waiver of all or part of the penalties owed, depending on their past payment history. 

FAILURE TO ADDRESS OVERDUE ACCOUNTS WILL RESULT IN ONGOING PENALTY ASSESSMENTS AND POTENTIAL COLLECTION ACTION

The Rent Ordinance mandates a 100% penalty on the remaining unpaid registration fees every six months. If overdue fees and penalties are not settled, the account balance will continue to increase, risking collection actions against owners. Owners are advised to work with the Rent Board to avoid this situation!

UNSURE ABOUT WHETHER YOU QUALIFY FOR AMNESTY OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT FEES AND PENALTIES? 

Contact our registration unit in the following ways:

• Make an appointment: Fill out our online appointment form
• Email: rentregistry@berkeleyca.gov
• Call: (510) 981-7368 (RENT) Ext. 2
• Visit our office: 2000 Center St., 4th floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
• Office hours: M, T, Th, F, 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. We are closed to the public on Wednesdays, but our drop box is available in the 4th floor elevator lobby from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.