Berkeley CHAPTER 18 RENTAL RESIDENTIAL HOUSING CODE § 10-18-7
RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNER AND MANAGER
Operative Text
A. Managing Agent For Multiple-Unit Building: In the event that the owner of a multiple-unit building appoints a managing agent, that managing agent shall: 1. Have an office at the multiple-unit building with regular business hours; or 2. Live at the multiple-unit building and have regular business hours thereat; or 3. Have an office within the corporate limits of the village with regular business hours; and 4. Be authorized to receive notices and process on behalf of the owner. B. Record Of Tenants: The owner of a rental residential property shall maintain a record for each property with the full legal names and dates of birth of every tenant in each dwelling unit. The owner of a rental residential property shall make available to the code official, upon request, the occupant records required to be maintained under this section. C. Emergency Contact Person: The owner or property agent of a rental residential property shall provide each tenant with the name and telephone number of a responsible person who, in emergency situations, will be available on a twenty four (24) hour basis and who has the authority to make repairs as needed. The owner shall also cause said information to be posted and maintained within the main entryway of every rental residential structure. D. Notice Of Maximum Occupancy: The owner of a rental residential property shall inform each tenant in writing, prior to occupancy, of the maximum number of persons allowable by the occupancy standards of the village property maintenance code as determined by the code official or the lease, whichever is less. E. Educational Programs: All owners and managers are encouraged to attend landlord training programs which include such issues as property maintenance, applicant screening, rental agreements, ongoing management, and community building. F. Tenant Applications: All owners and managers are required to have all prospective tenants complete a written application that encourages self-screening and uncovers past behavior to determine if the applicant meets the written tenant criteria. G. Leases: All owners and managers are required to lease rental residential dwelling units only pursuant to a written lease containing their rules and regulations. (2016 Code)
Berkeley CHAPTER 18 § 10-18-7 establishes a set of operational responsibilities for owners and managers of rental residential properties. It requires that managing agents for multi-unit buildings maintain accessible office hours and be authorized to accept legal notices on the owner's behalf. Owners must keep tenant records with full legal names and dates of birth, provide tenants with a 24-hour emergency contact who can authorize repairs, notify tenants in writing of maximum occupancy limits before move-in, and rent units only under written leases that include the property's rules and regulations. Tenant applications must be written and designed to assess whether applicants meet documented criteria.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Berkeley CHAPTER 18 § 10-18-7, compliant property operators generally maintain up-to-date records of each tenant's full legal name and date of birth and make those records available to the code official upon request. They provide each tenant with a written notice of maximum occupancy before the tenancy begins, post emergency contact information in the main entryway, and ensure that contact person is reachable around the clock with authority to authorize repairs. Operators also use written applications for all prospective tenants and execute written leases that incorporate the property's rules and regulations, while any appointed managing agent for a multi-unit building maintains accessible office hours and is formally authorized to receive legal notices on the owner's behalf.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Berkeley CHAPTER 18 § 10-18-7 gives tenants the right to receive, before occupancy begins, a written notice stating the maximum number of persons permitted in their unit. Tenants are also entitled to the name and phone number of an emergency contact person who is available 24 hours a day and has the authority to arrange repairs, and that information must be posted in the building's main entryway. If an owner or manager is not meeting these obligations — such as failing to provide emergency contact information or renting without a written lease — tenants may consider raising the issue with the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or reviewing available complaint processes under the code.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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