NEWS

January 1, 2026: New State Laws Take Effect.  These include:
AB 628, which requires landlords to provide a working stove and fridge (some exceptions for group housing, etc)
AB 325, a ban on algorithmic pricing using competitor data
AB 414, gives tenants who paid security deposit electronically the right to get their deposit back electronically after moving out. It also clarifies deposit returns on leases with multiple tenants .
AB 1414, tenants can now opt out of a bundled internet service when signing or renewing a lease, month-to-month tenants can opt out at any time. 

January 1, 2026: Berkeley EMBER wildfire prevention regulations now in effect. Inspections and enforcement will start later in Spring 2026. Berkeleyside has a summary at https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/01/07/berkeley-zone-zero-final-rules and more info is available on the city website at https://www.berkeleyfiresafe.org/ 

July 1, 2025: AB2801 Pre-Move-In Photo Requirement takes effect. For tenancies that begin on or after July 1, 2025, a landlord must photograph the unit immediately before or at the start of a new tenancy to document the condition of the unit.  

June 17, 2025: City Council Votes on Fire Safety Requirements
Berkeley City Council has voted to implement the new EMBER fire safety requirements. Learn how you can keep your yard and neighborhood safe at https://www.berkeleyfiresafe.org/ 

May 23 - June 1, 2025: Cooperative Reuse Furniture Donation Program
Moving? Cal students and staff can donate unwanted furniture, electronics, and food. Due to limited space, donations only accepted with UCB ID, however, anyone is welcome to come and get free stuff. Cooperative Reuse is a partnership between UC, the City, & others, details at calmoveout.com 

April 17, 2025: Rent Board to Create Policy based on new City Wildfire Prevention Law.  Berkeley's new wildfire prevention policies include banning anything flammable within 5 feet of houses in very high fire risk zones.  Rent Board committees will identify potential impacts, such as changes to outdoor space or increased yard maintenance responsibilities, and clarify how these intersect with existing laws on housing services and landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities.

February 20, 2025: Rent Board Reaffirms its support for Berkeley's Sanctuary City Policies.  The resolution passed unanimously.  Here are links to information on immigrant rights in California related to housing.
State of California Civil Rights Department: https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/10/Immigration-Rights-Fact-Sheet_ENG.pdf
Asian Law Caucus: https://www.asianlawcaucus.org/news-resources/guides-reports/immigrant-tenants-rights 

February 10, 2025: Rent Board Outreach Committee Meeting
Agenda items include: Measure BB outreach, language accessibility guide, and tenant survey data metrics.
Agenda at https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/legislative-body-meeting-agendas/2025%20February%2010_Outreach%20Committee%20Agenda_PACKET.pdf

January 1, 2025: New State Laws Take Effect
New laws affecting the renting of housing signed by the Governor in 2024 take effect on January 1, 2025. A summary of some of these laws can be found here.

December 20, 2024: Berkeley Measure BB Now in Effect
Please visit https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/laws-regulations/measure-bb-changes-berkeleys-rent-ordinance for the list of changes to the Rent Ordinance.

For details on the Right to Organize a tenant association or tenant union, please see https://rentboard.berkeleyca.gov/rights-responsibilities/tenant-right-organize