Berkeley · Renting & eviction

Relocation payments in Berkeley

City rule: code-work or fumigation moves earn a daily payment (29 days or less) or one-time allowance (30+ days), set by City Council resolution.

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Key points

Relocation pay: City rule: code-work or fumigation moves earn a daily payment (29 days or less) or one-time allowance (30+ days), set by City Council resolution.

Each rule below links to the section of the Berkeley Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Berkeley's code says

Berkeley code What Berkeley's code adds
Amount	A daily payment set by City Council resolution, based on household size. Applies: Temporary relocation of 29 consecutive days or less while the unit is brought up to code or fumigated. § 13.84.070 · code text A per diem payment to compensate for hotel or motel accommodations and meals. Such payment amount shall be established by City Council resolution and be based upon tenant household size. Reasonable pet boarding costs, up to a maximum rate set by City Council resolution. Applies: Relocations of 29 days or less for code work or fumigation, when temporary housing won't accept lawfully kept pets (not caged pets); proof required. § 13.84.070 · code text The tenant household shall receive reimbursement for reasonable boarding costs. The maximum reimbursement rate shall be established by City Council resolution. A one-time dislocation allowance set by City Council resolution. Applies: Temporary relocation of 30 consecutive days or longer while the unit is brought up to code or fumigated. § 13.84.070 · code text A one-time dislocation allowance to help defray incidental relocation expenses. The amount of the dislocation allowance shall be established by City Council resolution. Actual moving and storage costs, or a fixed payment set by City Council resolution. Applies: Relocations of 30 consecutive days or longer for code work or fumigation; the household chooses reimbursement or the fixed payment. § 13.84.070 · code text The household’s choice of reimbursement for actual moving and storage expenses or a fixed payment, subject to the following requirements: Actual reasonable moving costs: transport, packing, unpacking, insurance, moving damage, storage, utility disconnect/reconnect, other reasonable moving costs. Applies: Relocations of 30 days or longer for code work or fumigation, if the household picks documented costs; covers moving out and moving back. § 13.84.070 · code text Moving costs shall consist of actual reasonable costs of moving, including transportation of personal property, packing and unpacking, insurance of personal property while in transit, compensation for any damage occurring during moving, storage of personal property, disconnection and reconnection of utility services and any additional reasonable costs associated with the required moving. No more than the Federal Highway Administration's fixed residential moving cost schedule rates. Applies: Relocations of 30 days or longer for code work or fumigation; applies to reimbursed actual moving costs, per one-way move. § 13.84.070 · code text Payments for a one-way move shall not exceed rates established in the fixed residential moving cost schedule approved by the Federal Highway Administration and published in the federal register on a periodic basis. The difference between the old unit's rent and the temporary unit's rent. Applies: Relocations of 30 days or longer for code work or fumigation, when the temporary rent is higher than the vacated unit's rent. § 13.84.070 · code text The rent differential payment shall be equal to the difference between the rent paid on the unit or room to be vacated and the rent paid for a unit or room temporarily leased during the period of relocation, with the following restrictions: No more than a yearly City ceiling based on the prior year's average market rents, by bedroom size. Applies: Rent differential payments during temporary relocation for code work or fumigation. § 13.84.070 · code text The rent differential payment shall not exceed a ceiling established annually by the City based on the average market rent statistics gathered and published by the rent stabilization program for the prior calendar year. Based on the rent the household itself pays for the temporary unit. Applies: Households receiving a rental subsidy, during temporary relocation for code work or fumigation. § 13.84.070 · code text The rent differential payment for a tenant household receiving a rental subsidy shall be based on the amount of rent paid by the tenant household for the unit or room leased by the tenant household during the period of relocation. Documented utility costs in the replacement housing. Applies: Relocations of 30 days or longer for code work or fumigation, if the owner had been paying that utility for the vacated unit. § 13.84.070 · code text Reimbursement for the documented utility cost(s) that the tenant household incurs in their replacement housing, if the owner had been paying that particular utility cost for the vacated unit or room.
Exemptions	No relocation payments when the move is caused by an earthquake or other natural disaster. Applies: Applies to temporary relocation payments for code-compliance work. § 13.84.030 · code text A tenant household shall not be eligible for relocation assistance and payments pursuant to this chapter if the required relocation of the tenant household is the result of an earthquake or other natural disaster.
When it is paid	Within 10 days after the owner receives the household's payment request. Applies: Initial payment for code-work or fumigation relocations of any length; for 29 days or less includes daily pay, all of it if under 10 days. § 13.84.070 · code text The initial relocation payment shall be due within ten (10) days of the owner’s receipt of the tenant household’s request for relocation payment. Immediately once the owner receives documents verifying the household's expenses. Applies: Relocations of 29 days or less lasting over 10 days, when the owner paid only the first 10 days of daily payments up front. § 13.84.070 · code text Such payments are due to the tenant household immediately upon owner’s receipt of documentation verifying the household’s expenses. Monthly, at least 7 days before the household's monthly rent is due. Applies: Relocations of 30 days or longer: later rent differential, utility and storage payments; owner may pay the rent differential as one lump sum instead. § 13.84.070 · code text Such payments shall be made at least seven days in advance of when the tenant household’s monthly rental payment is due.
When relocation is owed	City finds the unit unsafe during code work, not mainly caused by the tenant; or owner-initiated code repairs or fumigation. § 13.84.030 · code text A tenant household shall be eligible for relocation assistance and payments pursuant to this chapter if the City determines that the condition of a building or portion thereof is such that a unit or room cannot be safely occupied by that tenant household while the building or portion thereof is being brought into code compliance and if such condition was not primarily or entirely created by the tenant household occupying the unit or room.

The California rule underneath

Where Berkeley's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies. For the statewide rule on its own, see Relocation under California's just-cause law.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
No-fault eviction relocation assistance	One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice Applies: For no-fault just causes (owner move-in, withdrawal from market, substantial remodel, government order) on covered units; regardless of the tenant's income. Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a Berkeley landlord have to pay relocation?

City rule: code-work or fumigation moves earn a daily payment (29 days or less) or one-time allowance (30+ days), set by City Council resolution.

General information, not legal advice.

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Berkeley Municipal Code — full text