A. The City of Berkeley hereby acts pursuant to Government Code Chapter 12.75 (commencing with 7060 et seq.) to establish certain requirements, procedures, restrictions and mitigations concerning the withdrawal of residential rental accommodations from rent or lease in accordance with Government Code Section 7060. The City also acts pursuant to its general police powers to protect the health, welfare and safety of its citizens. In adopting these provisions, it is the intent of the City of Berkeley to accord tenants the maximum protections which are available pursuant to Government Code Section 7060 and to provide certain additional rights and protections necessary to deal with the housing shortage in the City of Berkeley.

B. Nothing in this chapter shall otherwise diminish any power which currently exists or which may hereafter exist in the City to grant or deny any entitlement to the use of, or physical modifications to, real property, including, but not limited to, building, planning, zoning and subdivision map approvals. Nothing in this chapter shall entitle an owner of property which has been withdrawn from rent or lease to any special consideration in the granting of any entitlement to the use of said property, nor shall the fact that the property may be vacant be considered as a basis for granting any requested change in use. (Ord. 6529-NS § 2, 2000: Ord. 5751-NS § 1 (part), 1986: Ord. 5732-NS § 1 (part), 1986)