New Residential Rental Unit Fees
At its May 24, 2021 meeting, the City Council approved an annual registration fee of $167 per residential rental unit, as well as fees for late payment, failure to register, and change in rental property ownership.
Deadline Extended to January 31, 2022
The City has extended the deadline for landlords to register their units. Landlords will now have until January 31, 2022 to register their units and pay the rental registration fee (a five-month extension from the previously approved deadline). Staff will waive the failure to register penalty as long as the landlord registers his or her units and pays the rental unit registration fees before January 31, 2022. February 1, 2022 will be considered the first late day for payment or registration.
The expiration date of all rental registration certificates issued under Interim Rent Control are extended until January 31, 2022.
The City will distribute additional information about how to register and re-register rental units and pay the annual fee during Fall 2021. Information will be mailed to landlords who registered their rental units with the City during Interim Rent Control, emailed to people signed-up for Housing Issues updates, and posted to this webpage.
Please sign up for email updates from the City on Housing Issues to ensure you are notified.
Residential Rental Unit Registration Fee
$167 per unit per year
The City will not issue any refunds for the rental unit registration fee, including if there is a change in ownership or the rental unit is removed from the rental market.
Late Payment Penalty
Landlord Registration and Change in Ownership fees are due at the time the landlord submits registration or change in ownership. Landlords must register by January 31, 2022, and annually each July 31 thereafter. The City will grant a grace period for registration, registration fees, and change in ownership fees through the end of the day each August 31 thereafter. To avoid a late payment penalty, a landlord’s registration and payment must be postmarked on or before August 31. A penalty of 20% will be added on the first day of each month following August 31 up to a maximum of 100%. The penalty will be assessed on the total amount unpaid, including any unpaid residential rental unit registration fees and any unpaid change in ownership fees from the previous year. Late fees will not be assessed on failure to register penalty fees. If August 31 falls on a nonbusiness day, the due date will be extended to be the next business day.
Failure to Register Penalty
Landlords must register by January 31, 2022, and annually each July 31 thereafter. The City will grant a grace period for registration through the end of the day each August 31 thereafter. After that date penalties will be assessed for failure to register. A penalty of 20% will be added on the first day of each month following August 31 up to a maximum of 100%. If August 31 falls on a nonbusiness day, the due date will be extended to be the next business day.
Change in Ownership Fee
$15 per property
This fee is due at the time the rental unit registration information is updated with the new owner information.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the rental unit registration fee due?
The fee is due at the time of the rental unit registration, which was required to take place by July 31, 2021 during the first annual registration period. The City has implemented an extended grace period both for registration and payment of fees due until January 31, 2022. No late fees will be charged to landlords registering and paying before January 31, 2022. In future years, registration and fees will be due every July 31st, with a grace period for registration and fee payment through August 31st.
Who is responsible for paying the fee?
For the first annual rental unit registration fee paid under the permanent program, which is due January 31, 2022, a landlord may pass-through to a tenant 50% of the fee for the registration of tenant's rental unit if such tenant continuously occupied the rental unit during the period of August 12, 2019 through October 31, 2020 (as set forth in CCMC Section 15.09.230.D.2). The pass-through fee is not considered rent and should appear as a separate line item on the rent statement. A landlord may collect a maximum of one-twelfth of the pass-through fee per month. For subsequent annual fees, the landlord is responsible for paying the entire fee.
Why are these fees in place?
On September 29, 2020, the City Council amended the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapter 15.09 to add permanent residential rent control and tenant protections programs.
CCMC Section 15.09.230.D contains provisions for the City Council, by resolution, to establish a fee for the registration of rental units intended to recover the City’s reasonable costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the City’s residential rent control and tenant protections programs.
At its meeting on May 24, 2021, the City Council approved an annual registration fee, as well as fees for late payment, failure to register, and change in rental property ownership. The meeting agenda and staff report contain more information about the information considered by the City Council when they approved the fees.
In September 2021, the City administratively extended the registration grace period to January 31, 2022.