The City of El Cerrito reminds the public that Monday, July 31 is the deadline to register or renew your rental property information through the City’s online portal.
Rental property owners within the City of El Cerrito are required to hold an active business license and participate in a rental housing inspection program in order to ensure health and safety compliance.
Applicability: All residential rental properties in El Cerrito, including single-family residences and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are subject to reporting. Registration fee: $43.00/per unit.
Exceptions: Hotels/motels, bed & breakfast, affordable housing, on-site manager units.
On May 21, 2019, the City Council adopted the Rent Registry Ordinance, El Cerrito Municipal Code Chapter 10.100 (Ordinance No. 2019-03), that took effective June 20, 2019. The ordinance establishes an annual reporting requirement to submit data into a City database information regarding rents and other relevant information about rental units during the annual business license renewal process.
The annual reporting requirement applies to all owners of residential rental property, with some exceptions. The data collected will be used to inform the City Council about the rental market, trends and housing stock in El Cerrito. The City Council has not, at this time, provided any direction for the Rent Registry to be used to regulate rents in the City. Participation in the program is mandatory.
Starting July 1, 2023, all rental properties will be required to register or renew their rental property information through the City’s online portal by July 31, 2023. Paper applications will not be accepted. The annual fee is $43.00 per unit for the reporting period of July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.
Once registration opens on July 1st, staff will be available for questions and step-by-step instructions will be available on this website to guide property owners/manager through the process. Detailed instructions, including online account access information, will be provided with Business License Renewal Notices were mailed on June 22, 2023.
SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS
- Applicability: All residential rental properties in El Cerrito, including single-family residences and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are subject to reporting.
- Registration fee: $43.00/per unit.
- Reporting Period: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.
- Exceptions: Hotels/motels, bed & breakfast, affordable housing, on-site manager units.
Note: Please review the ordinance for all legal requirements.
RENT REGISTRY PROGRAM DATA: 2017 – 2019
The data for the July 2017 – June 2020 reporting period was presented to the City Council on March 2, 2021 here along with a report from the Tenant Protections Task Force. The Task Force dissolved on December 20, 2020. The data for 2020 – 2021 is under review and will be available summer 2023.
DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
- 2023 Rent Registry Notice
- 2023 Rent Registry Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 2023 Online Rent Registry Form – Online Form (Weblink Available on 7/1/2023)
- Rent Registry Ordinance
- Business Licenses in El Cerrito
- Business License Renewal FAQ
- Rental Housing Requirements in El Cerrito
- Tenant Protections: Background Information
- Affordable Housing in El Cerrito
- El Cerrito Affordable Housing Strategy
