About/Contact Us

Who We Are

We implement Berkeley’s Rent Ordinance, which is intended to maintain affordable housing and preserve community diversity. The Berkeley Rent Board consists of: the Elected Board, which is made up of nine commissioners who direct policy; and the Agency, which is made up of City of Berkeley staff who oversee day-to-day operations. You can find descriptions of the Agency’s different units and how they work together to serve Berkeley tenants and landlords in the Divisions section below.

Our Mission

Our mission is to regulate residential rent increases in the City of Berkeley, protect against unwarranted rent increases and evictions, and provide a fair return to property owners. The Elected Board works to ensure compliance with legal obligations relating to rental housing, and to advance the housing policies of the City with regard to low- and fixed-income persons, marginalized communities, students, persons with disabilities, and older adults.

Stay Informed

Sign up for our email lists to receive quarterly newsletters, important announcements, and to stay in the loop about tenant and landlord workshops & events.
Follow us on Social Media for bite-sized tips, tools, and news you can use on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
Need services in another language? Call us at (510) 981-7368 and we will connect you to our over-the-phone interpretation service.

Press Inquiries

All press inquiries can be directed to our Digital Education & Media Coordinator at kginsburg@berkeleyca.gov.

Rent Board Meetings

Upcoming and past meetings, agendas, and more.

Registration

Information on rental unit registration in Berkeley.

Housing Counseling

Contact a housing counselor by phone or email, or make an appointment.

Divisions

Registration Unit

Approximately 40,000 rental units in the city of Berkeley must be registered with the Rent Board. Registration Unit staff maintain the Rent Board’s online Rent Registry and administer all components of the annual registration process, including property and tenancy registration, billing, fee collection, penalties, and waiver requests.
How to Contact Registration:
Phone: (510) 981-7368 Ext. 2
Email: rentregistry@berkeleyca.gov
Make an appointment: Registration Unit Appointment Form
Visit: 2000 Center Street, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704, Open M, T, Th, F 9:00 - 4:45pm (Closed Wednesdays)
Housing Counseling & Community Outreach

Staff in the Public Information Unit provide free housing counseling to Berkeley landlords and tenants on their rights and responsibilities under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance and closely related state and local housing laws. Housing counselors can also help clients navigate the Rent Board’s petition and mediation processes and provide referrals to other city departments. In addition, Rent Board staff provide regular workshops, webinars, and engage directly with tenants and landlords at community events throughout the City.
How to Contact Housing Counselors:
Make an appointment: Housing Counselor appointment Form
Phone: (510) 981-7368 Ext. 1
Email: rent@berkeleyca.gov
Hearings Unit

Hearings Unit staff administer the Rent Board petition process. The hearings examiner makes determinations on landlord and tenant petitions and is a member of the Rent Board’s mediation team. The hearings unit administrator processes petitions and related submissions, issues notices, handles all aspects of scheduling.
You can start the petition or mediation process by contacting a Housing Counselor.
Planning Unit

Planning Unit staff support housing counselors, the Hearings unit, and Legal unit by conducting property investigations to help determine coverage status under the Rent Ordinance. They also review certain applications submitted to the city’s Planning Department for compliance with Rent Ordinance-related legal requirements. Planning staff oversee implementation of the city’s Empty Homes tax law, and do research and data analysis to inform housing policy.
Legal Unit

The legal team is made up of the General Counsel and staff attorneys. They provide legal guidance to executive staff, the Elected Rent Board, and all agency units. The legal team ensures the legal validity of proposed policy changes; review literature and stakeholder communications; draft new regulations and amendments; provide training on Ordinance and regulation amendments; participate in compliance efforts; and manage all agency litigation. Legal staff also oversee the agency’s response to public records requests, and manage the Rent Board’s mediation program.
You can start the mediation process by contacting a Housing Counselor.
Finance Unit

The Finance Unit oversees finances for the Berkeley Rent Board, which includes budgeting, accounting, payroll, procurement, contracting, financial reporting, and fee-setting recommendations to ensure responsible stewardship of public funds. Through reporting, monitoring, and audit coordination, the Unit identifies fiscal risks, strengthens accountability, and supports the Agency’s mission and long-term financial health.
Executive Office

The Executive Office is responsible for providing operational oversight and strategic leadership for the Registration, Public Information, Hearings, Finance, Planning, and Administration units. Staff advise the elected Board on the operational impacts of proposed policy changes and work to streamline and enhance agency processes. The agency’s digital outreach and education efforts are also based in the Executive Office.
Administration Unit

Administration staff oversee the production of Board and Committee meetings in compliance with the Brown Act, and facilitate training and support of elected Rent Board commissioners. Administration Unit staff are also responsible for internal office management and ensure workplace health, safety, and operational effectiveness.