Condominium Conversion

Follow the conversion process to convert your property to a condominium so that individual units can be sold to new owners. The Residential Condominium Conversion Packet details the steps to ensure you are compliant with local laws and provides a checklist so you can check your application for completeness.

The Condominium Conversion Process

1. Prepare the application form found in the Residential Condominium Conversion Packet according to the "Residential Condominium Conversion Projects—Application Submittal Requirements." You must include all items on the form to make the application complete.
2. Submit the application together with your payment to:
   Permit Service Center
   1947 Center St., 3rd Floor
   Berkeley, CA 94704
3. Planning will review the application for completeness.
4. Planning will also route the application materials to the following agencies for their review:
   • Housing - verifies there is sufficient information to estimate the Affordable Housing Mitigation Fee (AHMF)
   • Rent Board Program - verifies the project is eligible to convert to condominiums
   • Engineering - reviews the subdivision map
5. If the application is incomplete, Planning will send a letter within 30 days of application submission date to the applicant listing items required for staff to consider the application complete.
6. When the application is deemed complete by Planning, it is routed to the contract inspector.
   • Inspector contacts applicant to set up an inspection.
   • Inspector creates a checklist with all violations.
     • Checklist is routed to Building & Safety, Planning, Fire Department, and Public Works to call out visible life and safety violations and disclosure items.
     • Planning sends the checklist to the applicant.
7. Apply for and obtain permits to correct the visible life and safety violations.  You can also decide to correct any of the “disclosure” items that are not immediate issues.
   • Notify Planning when the work is completed.  Staff will contact the contract inspector who will conduct a final inspection to verify all visible life and safety violations are corrected and will note whether any disclosure items are corrected.
   • If the applicant decides not to correct the disclosure items, Planning Staff will prepare a Notice of Disclosure for recordation with the final map.
8. If the project contains four or fewer units:
   • Engineering requests a Mylar copy of the map from the surveyor or licensed engineer and obtains the City Engineer’s signature.  Engineering gives the signed Mylar to Planning.
   • Housing prepares the fee documents, obtains necessary City official signatures (City Attorney, City Manager), provides escrow instructions, and transmits the documents and instructions to Planning.
   • Planning receives above items and obtain Planning Director’s signature.  Planning routes the map and all relevant documents to City Clerk’s office to sign the fee documents and notifies applicant.
   • Applicant’s title company picks up map and records with County after Planning notifies applicant that documents are ready for pick-up.
9. If project contains five or more units:
   • Planning prepares report to Planning Commission for Tentative Tract Map approval.
   • Approval obtained by Planning Commission.
   • Applicant satisfies all conditions listed on resolution adopted by  Planning Commission.
   • Applicant applies for Final Map approval.
   • Engineering requests for a Mylar copy of the map from the surveyor or licensed engineer and obtains the City Engineer’s signature.  Engineering gives the signed Mylar to Planning.
   • Housing prepares the fee documents, obtains necessary City official signatures (City Attorney, City Manager), provides escrow instructions, and transmits the documents and instructions to Planning.
   • Planning receives the above items and prepares City Council report for Final Map approval. City Clerk signs the fee document at this time.
   • Final Map is approved; City Council adopts a Resolution.
   • Planning routes map and all relevant documents to City Clerk for signature and notifies applicant.
   • Applicant’s title company picks up map and records with County after Planning notifies applicant that documents are ready for pick-up.
10. You can elect to pay the Affordable Housing Mitigation Fee upfront or at point of sale. Please review the AHMF in the Residential Condominium Conversion Packet for more information.