Berkeley Home Sale Climate Mandates

Berkeley has begun requiring climate-related upgrades or equivalent compliance steps when certain homes are sold, making building electrification part of the transaction process.

The ordinance centers on energy audits, disclosure of a BESO score, and credits for measures such as heat pumps, electrical upgrades, solar, and batteries, with a buyer-deferral option backed by a city escrow deposit. The policy is notable because it turns home resale into a mechanism for residential decarbonization, while also raising cost and fairness concerns for some sellers and buyers.