DATE: June 29, 2026
TO: Housing Policy & Resource Committee
FROM: Deputy Director of Development Services
SUBJECT
Title
Work Session Update on the Feasibility of a Rental Registration System
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That the Housing Policy & Resource Committee receives an update and continues to postpone further consideration of a Rental Registration System until the financial outlook of the City of Hayward improves and the City can identify an ongoing funding source to offset the indirect fiscal impacts.
End
SUMMARY
In September of 2025, staff presented a report to the City Council on the feasibility of implementing a Rental Registration System (RRS) in the City of Hayward. The report presented benefits and challenges, including an estimated annual cost of $250,000 to the General Fund. At that meeting, Council directed staff to continue to explore the concept and return in a year. The main concern was starting a new major program with staffing impacts and new costs considering the City’s financial challenges and recent staffing reductions.
Since that time, staff has continued evaluating the potential for a new RRS program, as well as a third-party software to streamline the administrative functions of a potential RRS. Staff generally support pursuing an RRS. However, staff continues to recommend postponing further consideration of an RRS due to: 1) a funding gap to pay for indirect costs, 2) ongoing staffing reductions across the City that create risk for implementing and managing a new major program, and 3) caution over raising fees for landlords at the same time as pursuing the business license tax modernization that is also increasing costs to landlords. This report outlines the operational and fiscal considerations of an RRS and recommends returning tothe HPRC next year with an update on the availability of funding, including consideration of funding from the General Fund, Affordable Housing Special Revenue Funds, and development fees to cover the indirect fiscal impacts.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report