Rent Registry

ONLINE ACCESS 

Please Note: The online portal opens July 1, 2023, and will not be available sooner than this date, thank you.

To pay your business license and complete the rent registry, click here.
 
If you need to complete the rent registry portion only, click here.

INSTRUCTIONS – Click here to view the Rent Registry User Guide for Property Owners/Managers.

BACKGROUND

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.

REGISTRATION METHOD
Property owners/managers must renew business licenses, make payment, and complete the rent registry electronically. To prepare for your submission, please compile your documents/records and method of payment. This includes tenant history, including move-in and move-out dates, rental rates, rent increases and any applicable capital improvements

To submit your response and registration fees electronically through our secure online database, click here (Weblink Available Beginning 7/1/2023). 

Once the required forms and payments are completed, you will receive email confirmation of your submission.

Please note: All residential rental properties are required to renew their business license and complete the rent registry online.

RENT REGISTRY USER GUIDE
Please click here to access step-by-step instructions. 

Beginning July 3, 2023, staff will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1PM – 5PM to answer questions at 510-215-4361.

iMPORTANT DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
 
 Click below to view:

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.

CONTACT US

For any questions, please contact our office:

City of El Cerrito - 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Email: housing@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us | Phone: 510-215-4314 | Website: www.el-cerrito.org/rentregistry  

City Hall Hours are available here 

Please subscribe to our Community Development Department E-News www.el-cerrito.org/CommDev to receive program announcements.