Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. We will be in touch with you shortly.

Berkeley BESO Compliance Guide

What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know About Berkeley’s New Energy Requirements

📌 What Berkeley Homeowners Need to Know Before Selling?

Berkeley’s new Building Emissions Saving Ordinance (BESO) requirements officially take effect on January 1, 2026, changing how certain residential properties are prepared and marketed for sale.

If you’re planning to sell a single-family home or duplex in Berkeley, energy compliance is now part of the transaction process, much like inspections, disclosures, and sewer compliance.

The biggest change?
Eligible Berkeley homes must now receive a Home Energy Score before being publicly listed for sale, and sellers must either complete qualifying resilience upgrades or formally transfer responsibility to the buyer.

📌 The New Requirement Before Listing

Before marketing a qualifying property for sale, Berkeley sellers must obtain a Home Energy Score (HES) from a certified assessor.

The Home Energy Score evaluates:

  • Insulation performance

  • Heating and cooling systems

  • Water heating systems

  • Overall energy efficiency

Homes receive a score from 1 to 10, with higher scores indicating stronger energy performance.

Berkeley also requires the Home Energy Score to appear in MLS public remarks for qualifying listings. Failure to comply may result in a non-compliance penalty.

Option 1

Complete upgrades before selling to meet the Resilience Standard

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. 

Option 2

Qualify for a heat pump exemption

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.

Option 3

Defer upgrades to the buyer

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.

WORK WITH US

Insightful local knowledge and extensive expertise. We looks forward to earning your family’s trust and leveraging our success for your benefit for generations to come. We looks forward to earning your family’s trust and leveraging our success for your benefit for generations to come.

Contact Us