// el cerrito · contra costa county
State law only: 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027 under AB 1482. No local cap; the 2019 just-cause ordinance was repealed by referendum. AB 1482 covers units older than 15 years; individually owned single-family homes and condos are exempt with the lease notice. The Rent Registry covers every rental unit regardless.
// the rulebook
El Cerrito has no rent cap; a 2019 just-cause ordinance was repealed by referendum, so state law governs and the AB 1482 ceiling is 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027. The burden here is paperwork per unit, not caps. The Rent Registry under ECMC 10.100, in place since June 2019, requires annual rent and tenancy reporting at business-license renewal, $50 per unit, online only from Jul 1, 2026 and due Jul 31. The FY 2026-27 stack for one unit is a business license at $100 new or $36 renewal plus $4, business tax of $138 per unit, the $50 registry fee, and a Residential Rental Inspection every two years at $247 for a single-family house or $320 for a multifamily building plus $87 for each additional unit. El Cerrito is 41.4% renter and 66.5% detached houses, so most of our owners here hold one hillside mid-century home, a flatland bungalow or an ADU. We file the registry report, renew the license, schedule the inspection cycle and attach the AB 1482 exemption notice where the house qualifies.
// what owners run into
A single rental house carries the $36 plus $4 license renewal, $138 business tax, the $50 registry report and a $247 inspection every two years. Each has its own form and its own deadline; the registry and license both land Jul 31.
From Jul 1, 2026 the annual rent and tenancy report is filed online, due Jul 31. Owners who mailed the form in prior years need the portal account set up before the deadline.
With 66.5% of units detached houses, most owners can take the AB 1482 single-family exemption, but only with the lease notice. Without it, the 8.8% cap and just cause after 12 months apply.
// start here
What your El Cerrito place should rent for, what the rules allow next year, and what we would do first. Written, within one business day.
// services
Priced to the market, screened to a written standard, leased with the notices your city requires.
The cap, the registry, the fee and the notice for your unit, each on its own calendar.
A 24-hour line, licensed vendors, your approval threshold, and the vendor's invoice with nothing added.
// questions
There is no city cap. A covered unit is limited to the state 8.8% for Aug 1, 2026 to Jul 31, 2027. An individually owned house or condo with the AB 1482 lease notice is uncapped, with 90 days notice required above 10%.
Yes. Every rental unit reports rent and tenancy to the Rent Registry each year at business-license renewal, $50 per unit, online only from Jul 1, 2026, due Jul 31. You also pay the $138 per-unit business tax and the $247 single-family inspection every two years.
El Cerrito has no local relocation rule. For an AB 1482 covered tenancy, state law requires just cause after 12 months and one month's rent in relocation. An exempt house with the lease notice owes nothing.
A typical East Bay management fee is 6 to 10% of collected rent plus half to one month of rent for leasing. Our full schedule is on the fees page.
// neighborhoods
// who else you will find
Listed so you can compare. Most quote fees by phone; ours are on the fees page.
// nearby
// next step
A written rental analysis for your property, free, within one business day. No obligation and no sales call unless you ask for one.