Berkeley BESO Compliance Guide

Install one or more upgrades (see the list of options below) to achieve at least six credits. You can get credit for any upgrades that you made in the five years before selling.

Submit the required documentation on the BESO Portal and pay the $150 filing fee to receive a BESO Certificate of Compliance. If needed, a paper BESO application with payment by check may also be submitted by mail. 

If the home already has an electric heat pump for water heating, space heating, or both, the building may be exempt from additional upgrades. 

To qualify: 

• All dwelling units in the building must be served by an electric heat pump water heater or heat pump HVAC system.
• Submit the required documentation (Building Permit or Home Energy Score Report) on the BESO Portaland pay the filing fee to receive a BESO Certificate of Compliance.

If you do not complete the upgrades before sale, you can defer responsibility to the buyer.

To defer upgrades:

• Coordinate with the buyer and title company to submit a BESO Upgrade Deposit Form.
• Deposit $5,000 to the City ($2,500 each from the seller and buyer).

The buyer will have two years from the date of sale to complete upgrades. The City will hold the $5,000 deposit and refund it to the buyer to offset the cost of the upgrades once they are complete.