How to Fill Out California Form RE 252 (w/Examples) + FAQs

California Form RE 252 is the Branch Office License Application that every California real estate broker must file with the California Department of Real Estate before opening any business location other than the main office on file. The form authorizes a specific street address to be used for licensed real estate activity under the broker’s existing license, and skipping it — even by a few days — exposes the broker to discipline under Business & Professions Code §10163 for conducting licensed activity from an unlicensed location.

The DRE processes thousands of branch applications each year, and the agency’s published data shows that roughly 1 in 5 RE 252 submissions is returned for correction, almost always for the same handful of fixable mistakes. Getting it right the first time saves four to six weeks of processing delay and the embarrassment of explaining to your team why the new office cannot legally operate yet.

Here is what this guide covers:

📋 Every field on the current RE 252 (Rev. 9/22) explained in plain English with sample entries
🧾 A pre-filing checklist of every document, license number, and fee you must gather first
🧑‍💼 Three full walkthrough scenarios for sole proprietors, corporate brokers, and subdivision branches
💸 Exact fees, mailing address, processing time, and proof-of-filing rules
⚠️ The ten most common rejection triggers and the specific consequence of each

What California Form RE 252 Is and Who Must File It

California Form RE 252, titled Branch Office License Application, is the official document used by a licensed real estate broker to obtain a separate license certificate for each additional business location. The form is published and processed by the California Department of Real Estate, the state agency that licenses and regulates real estate brokers, salespersons, and corporations under the Real Estate Law. The current revision is dated 9/22, and that revision date is printed in the lower-left corner of page 1 — always confirm you have the latest version before mailing, because the DRE rejects superseded revisions.

The legal driver behind RE 252 is Business & Professions Code §10163, which states that a broker who maintains more than one place of business must obtain an additional license for each branch. A companion section, B&P Code §10165, requires the broker to notify the DRE of any change in the location of the main or branch office. The implementing regulation, 10 CCR §2715, spells out the procedural details.

Who must file RE 252:

A sole-proprietor broker opening a second (or third, or tenth) office under their individual broker license
A corporate broker (real estate corporation) opening any office other than the designated main office
A broker who already operates a branch and is moving that branch to a new street address — the move requires a new RE 252, not just a change-of-address form
A broker opening a temporary sales office at a new-home subdivision, model-home complex, or short-term project location

Who does not need RE 252: a salesperson changing offices (use RE 214), a broker simply changing the main office address (use RE 204), or a broker adding a fictitious business name without a new location (use RE 282 only).

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Branch applications are paper-only and arrive at the DRE with no opportunity to “fix it later” without delay. The DRE’s eLicensing portal currently does not accept RE 252, so the entire packet must be assembled, signed in wet ink, and mailed. Gathering everything below before opening the PDF prevents the most common cause of rejection: missing data the broker thought could be filled in from memory.

Your pre-filing checklist (minimum items):

Your active broker or corporation license ID number. The eight-digit number printed on your wall license. Without it, the DRE cannot match the application to your existing record and will return the packet unprocessed.
The exact street address of the proposed branch. A P.O. Box is not acceptable as a branch location under 10 CCR §2715; branches must be physical locations where licensed activity occurs.
The branch’s mailing address (if different from the street address). A separate mailing address is allowed and is where the DRE will send the license certificate.
The branch’s business telephone number. A working voice line, not a fax. The DRE uses this for licensee contact and consumer complaints.
The full legal name and license ID of the proposed branch manager (optional but strongly recommended). A licensed broker or broker-associate may be designated to supervise the branch under B&P Code §10164.
Any fictitious business name (DBA) the branch will use. If the branch operates under a DBA, you must also have an approved RE 282 on file and a current county-level Fictitious Business Name Statement.
The county-recorded Fictitious Business Name Statement. A stamped copy from the county recorder where the branch sits, dated within the last five years.
Payment of the $71 branch office license fee. A check or money order payable to Department of Real Estate. The fee is per branch, per application, and is non-refundable even if the application is denied.
Wet-ink broker signature on page 2. Photocopied or stamped signatures are rejected outright.
A copy of your current main-office license certificate (recommended, not required). Including it speeds matching and reduces the chance of a returned packet.

If any single item is missing, the DRE returns the entire packet by mail with a deficiency notice, and the four- to six-week processing clock restarts only when the corrected packet is received.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The only authoritative copy of RE 252 lives on the DRE website. Download the official RE 252 PDF directly from the agency’s forms page; never use a third-party reseller’s copy because revision changes happen quietly and an outdated version is grounds for rejection. The form is also indexed on the DRE Licensee Forms page, which lists every related document a broker might need (RE 204, RE 214, RE 282, RE 870, and others).

The PDF is fillable on screen using Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free. Type your entries directly into the form, then print the completed pages on plain white 8.5 × 11 paper. Do not submit a screenshot, a photo of a printed form, or a scanned-and-emailed copy — the DRE accepts only original printed pages with original wet-ink signatures.

If you prefer to handwrite, print the blank PDF first and complete every field in black ink, block capitals. Blue ink is technically accepted but reproduces poorly on the DRE’s microfilm archive and occasionally triggers a legibility rejection. Pencil is never acceptable.

The form has two pages: page 1 is the application itself, and page 2 carries the broker certification, signature block, and mailing instructions. Both pages must be submitted together; sending only page 1 is a frequent and avoidable cause of rejection.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out California Form RE 252 Line by Line

The line-by-line walkthrough below follows the exact field order printed on RE 252 (Rev. 9/22). Every field, no matter how obvious, gets its own subsection because the DRE rejection patterns prove that “obvious” fields are the ones brokers most often miss.

Field 1: Broker or Corporation Name

This field asks for the legal name of the broker or real estate corporation that already holds the main-office license. Write the name exactly as it appears on your current DRE wall license — middle initial, suffix, punctuation, and all. For a corporation, include Inc., LLC (where applicable), or Corp. if the wall license shows it.

A specific example: Carlos Rivera, a sole-proprietor broker, writes Rivera, Carlos Manuel on this line because that is the order printed on his DRE license. Linh Tran, broker-officer of Pacific Crest Realty Group, Inc., writes the corporate name verbatim, not her personal name.

A common nuance is the maiden-name vs. married-name issue. If your DRE record still shows your maiden name but your driver’s license shows your married name, write the maiden name on RE 252 and update your name separately using RE 215 — never mix the two.

The most common mistake on Field 1 is using a doing-business-as name here instead of the legal name, which causes the DRE to reject the application because the system cannot match the entry to a license record. The misconception driving that mistake is that the DBA “is” the brokerage; legally, the DBA is only a trade name attached to the underlying legal entity.

Field 2: Real Estate License Identification Number

Enter the eight-digit license ID number printed on your existing broker or corporation license. Format it as a continuous number with no spaces, dashes, or letters — for example, 01234567. Leading zeros matter; 1234567 (seven digits) is treated as a different number and will not match.

Carlos Rivera enters 01987654 in this box. Linh Tran enters her corporation license number, not her personal officer-broker number, because RE 252 attaches the branch to the corporation, not to her individually.

The frequent edge case is brokers who hold both an individual broker license and are the designated officer of a corporation. The branch belongs to whichever entity will operate at that address, and the license number must match that entity. Mixing them is the single fastest way to get the packet returned.

A field-specific mistake is transposing two digits, which causes the DRE matching system to either reject the file or, worse, attach the branch to the wrong broker entirely. The misconception is that “the DRE will figure it out from my name” — they will not; the license ID is the primary key.

Field 3: Main Office Address of Record

Write the street address currently on file with the DRE as your main office. This is not the new branch address; that comes later. Include suite or unit numbers and the city, state, and ZIP+4.

Linh Tran writes 4501 Mission Center Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92108-4421 because that matches the main office on her corporation’s record. If the address you enter here differs from the DRE’s record, the application is returned with instructions to first file RE 204 to update the main office.

The nuance most brokers miss is that a recent main-office move must be processed before the branch application — never simultaneously. The DRE processes them in queue order, and a mismatched main-office address kicks the branch packet out.

The common mistake is writing the new branch address here because the form’s heading says Branch Office Application. The consequence is automatic rejection because the addresses on file no longer reconcile. The misconception is that the DRE will infer which address is which from context; it does not.

Field 4: Proposed Branch Office Street Address

This is the physical location where licensed real estate activity will occur at the branch. Enter the full street address — number, street, suite or unit, city, state, and ZIP+4. A P.O. Box, private mailbox (PMB), virtual office, or co-working day pass address is not acceptable because 10 CCR §2715 requires a fixed location where the broker can be reached during business hours.

Carlos Rivera writes 2210 East Shaw Avenue, Suite 105, Fresno, CA 93710-8112. Janet Whitaker, opening a temporary subdivision sales office, writes 14872 Sycamore Trace Drive, Sales Pavilion, Roseville, CA 95747-0014.

The common edge case is a co-working space where the broker rents a private locking office (acceptable) versus a hot-desk membership (not acceptable). If audited, the broker must show a lease or written agreement granting exclusive, locked access to the space.

The mistake on Field 4 is listing a virtual-office address shared by multiple unrelated businesses, which the DRE flags during routine spot-audits and which can trigger a citation under B&P Code §10163. The misconception is that any address that receives mail qualifies as a branch — it does not; the broker must actually conduct licensed activity there.

Field 5: Proposed Branch Office Mailing Address

If the branch receives mail at a different address than the street address, enter that mailing address here. A P.O. Box is allowed in this field because it concerns mail delivery only, not the location of licensed activity. Leave the field blank if mail goes to the same street address as Field 4.

Janet Whitaker enters P.O. Box 4119, Roseville, CA 95678-4119 because the temporary sales pavilion has no secure mail receptacle on site. Carlos Rivera leaves Field 5 blank because mail is delivered directly to Suite 105.

The nuance is that the DRE mails the actual branch license certificate to whichever address is in Field 5; if Field 5 is blank, it goes to Field 4. Brokers operating in unattended subdivisions almost always want a separate P.O. Box here so the certificate is not lost.

The common mistake is duplicating Field 4 in Field 5, which is harmless but clutters the record. The more serious mistake is writing a home address in Field 5 for privacy and then forgetting that this address becomes part of the public license record. The misconception is that DRE addresses are confidential; they are not — the branch address appears in DRE’s public license lookup.

Field 6: Branch Office Business Telephone

Enter the voice telephone number that consumers and the DRE will use to reach the branch. Format as (XXX) XXX-XXXX. The number must be a working line on the date the application is signed.

Linh Tran enters (619) 555-0142. The line rings at the front desk of her San Diego branch and is answered during business hours by a licensed receptionist.

The edge case is a broker who plans to use a personal cell phone temporarily until a landline is installed; this is allowed, but the number on the application becomes the official number of record and changing it later requires a written notice to the DRE under B&P Code §10165.

The mistake is entering a fax number or a number that goes to permanent voicemail with no human follow-up; the DRE has cited brokers for “failure to maintain a reachable office” when consumer complaint calls go unreturned. The misconception is that any phone number “good enough for now” is acceptable — the number is part of the licensed record and is held to the same standard as the address.

Field 7: Fictitious Business Name (If Applicable)

If the branch will operate under a DBA, enter the exact DBA here. The DBA must already be approved by the DRE on a separate RE 282 and must match a current county-level Fictitious Business Name Statement. Leave the field blank if the branch will operate under the broker’s legal name only.

Carlos Rivera writes Rivera Valley Realty because that DBA is approved on his RE 282 and recorded in Fresno County. Linh Tran leaves the field blank because the San Diego branch operates under the corporation’s legal name.

The nuance is that a broker may use multiple DBAs, but each DBA must have its own approved RE 282 and must be authorized for the specific branch where it will be used. A DBA approved for the Fresno branch is not automatically approved for a Bakersfield branch.

The common mistake is writing a DBA that has been registered with the county but never approved by the DRE on RE 282; the application is rejected because the DBA is unauthorized. The misconception is that county recording is sufficient — the DRE requires its own separate approval.

Field 8: Designated Branch Manager (Optional)

Enter the full legal name and DRE license ID of the licensed broker or broker-associate who will manage the branch. Designation is optional under B&P Code §10164, but designating a manager shifts day-to-day supervisory responsibility and is a strong best practice for any branch the responsible broker cannot personally visit weekly.

Linh Tran enters Marcus Delgado, License ID 02156788 because Marcus is a broker-associate who works full time at the San Diego branch. Carlos Rivera leaves Field 8 blank because he personally manages both his Fresno offices.

The edge case is appointing a salesperson as branch manager — this is not allowed; only a licensed broker or broker-associate qualifies. Naming a salesperson here causes immediate rejection.

The mistake on this field is leaving it blank when the responsible broker rarely visits the branch, which is permissible on paper but invites a supervision citation if a transaction goes wrong. The misconception is that branch managers must be designated; they are not legally required, but the broker remains personally responsible for everything that happens at the branch either way.

Field 9: Date Branch Will Open

Enter the date the branch will begin conducting licensed activity, in MM/DD/YYYY format. The date must be on or after the date the DRE issues the branch license; conducting activity before issuance is a violation of B&P Code §10163.

Janet Whitaker enters 07/15/2026 because the subdivision’s grand opening is scheduled for that Saturday and she has timed her application to allow six weeks of DRE processing.

The nuance is that the DRE treats this date as informational, not binding. The license is valid from the date of issuance regardless of what is written here, but the field helps the agency prioritize urgent applications when project deadlines are documented.

The mistake is writing a date that has already passed by the time the packet arrives in Sacramento, which signals to the DRE that the broker may already be operating illegally. The misconception is that backdating somehow legitimizes prior activity — it does not, and it can compound a §10163 violation.

Field 10: Type of Business Activity at the Branch

Check the box or boxes describing the licensed activity that will occur: general brokerage, property management, mortgage loan origination, business opportunity sales, or other. Most branches check more than one box.

Carlos Rivera checks General Brokerage and Property Management because Rivera Valley Realty handles both at the Fresno branch. Linh Tran checks General Brokerage and Mortgage Loan Origination because Pacific Crest also originates loans under its NMLS company endorsement.

The edge case is a branch that will only do back-office support (file storage, accounting) with no client-facing activity; this still requires RE 252 if the broker’s name appears on the door, because the DRE treats holding out as licensed activity.

The mistake is checking only General Brokerage when the branch will also originate loans, which can lead to a separate violation under DRE mortgage rules. The misconception is that activity types can be added later informally — they cannot; a written notice to the DRE is required to expand the scope.

Page 2: Broker Certification and Signature

Page 2 contains a certification statement that the information is true and correct, followed by a signature block. Sign in wet black ink, print your name beneath the signature, and date the line in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Carlos Rivera signs Carlos M. Rivera, prints CARLOS MANUEL RIVERA below, and dates 06/03/2026. For a corporation, the signature must be that of the designated officer-broker; Linh Tran signs as Linh Tran, Designated Officer.

The nuance is that electronic signatures (DocuSign, Adobe Sign) are not accepted on RE 252 even though the DRE accepts them on some other forms. The branch application must arrive with original ink.

The most damaging mistake on page 2 is failing to sign at all, which is the single most common rejection trigger reported by DRE intake staff. The misconception is that printing the name is the same as signing; it is not, and the application is returned without review.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Carlos Rivera, Sole-Proprietor Broker Opening a Second Office in Fresno

Carlos has held an individual broker license since 2014 and runs Rivera Valley Realty from a main office in Clovis. He is opening a second office on East Shaw Avenue in Fresno to serve the city’s east-side market.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Field 1 — Broker Name	Rivera, Carlos Manuel
Field 2 — License ID	01987654
Field 3 — Main Office Address	455 Pollasky Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612-1108
Field 4 — Branch Street Address	2210 East Shaw Avenue, Suite 105, Fresno, CA 93710-8112
Field 5 — Branch Mailing Address	(left blank)
Field 6 — Branch Phone	(559) 555-0188
Field 7 — Fictitious Business Name	Rivera Valley Realty
Field 8 — Branch Manager	(left blank — Carlos manages personally)
Field 9 — Open Date	08/01/2026
Field 10 — Business Activity	General Brokerage; Property Management
Page 2 — Signature	Carlos M. Rivera, dated 06/15/2026
Fee	$71 check payable to Department of Real Estate

Scenario 2: Linh Tran, Designated Officer of Pacific Crest Realty Group, Inc., Opening a San Diego Branch

Linh runs a real estate corporation headquartered in Mission Valley and is opening a branch in the Gaslamp Quarter staffed by a broker-associate named Marcus Delgado.

Form Section	What Linh Enters
Field 1 — Corporation Name	Pacific Crest Realty Group, Inc.
Field 2 — License ID	02034512 (corporation number, not Linh’s personal number)
Field 3 — Main Office Address	4501 Mission Center Road, Suite 220, San Diego, CA 92108-4421
Field 4 — Branch Street Address	612 Fifth Avenue, Suite 410, San Diego, CA 92101-6604
Field 5 — Branch Mailing Address	(left blank)
Field 6 — Branch Phone	(619) 555-0142
Field 7 — Fictitious Business Name	(left blank — corporation operates under legal name)
Field 8 — Branch Manager	Marcus Delgado, License ID 02156788
Field 9 — Open Date	09/02/2026
Field 10 — Business Activity	General Brokerage; Mortgage Loan Origination
Page 2 — Signature	Linh Tran, Designated Officer, dated 07/10/2026
Fee	$71 corporate check payable to Department of Real Estate

Scenario 3: Janet Whitaker, Opening a Temporary Subdivision Sales Office in Roseville

Janet is a broker based in Sacramento who has contracted with a homebuilder to sell a new 142-home subdivision in Roseville. She needs a branch license for the on-site sales pavilion that will operate for roughly 18 months.

Form Section	What Janet Enters
Field 1 — Broker Name	Whitaker, Janet Elaine
Field 2 — License ID	01445221
Field 3 — Main Office Address	2901 K Street, Suite 410, Sacramento, CA 95816-3320
Field 4 — Branch Street Address	14872 Sycamore Trace Drive, Sales Pavilion, Roseville, CA 95747-0014
Field 5 — Branch Mailing Address	P.O. Box 4119, Roseville, CA 95678-4119
Field 6 — Branch Phone	(916) 555-0173
Field 7 — Fictitious Business Name	Sycamore Trace by Whitaker Realty
Field 8 — Branch Manager	(left blank — Janet on site daily)
Field 9 — Open Date	07/15/2026
Field 10 — Business Activity	General Brokerage
Page 2 — Signature	Janet E. Whitaker, dated 06/01/2026
Fee	$71 check payable to Department of Real Estate

A fourth named filer worth noting is Aisha Robinson, a broker-associate who is not eligible to file RE 252 in her own name; she must instead be designated on her responsible broker’s RE 252 under Field 8. A fifth, Marcus Delgado, appears on Linh’s application as the designated branch manager and demonstrates how Field 8 connects two licensees on a single form.

How to File the Completed Form

RE 252 is a mail-only filing in 2026. The DRE’s eLicensing portal supports renewals, salesperson transfers, and address changes for individual licensees, but it does not accept branch office applications. Anyone who tells you to “just file it online” is referring to a different form; do not waste a day trying to upload RE 252.

Mail the original signed packet, the $71 fee, and any required attachments to:

Department of Real Estate Attn: Licensing — Branch Office P.O. Box 137001 Sacramento, CA 95813-7001

Acceptable payment methods are a personal check, business check, cashier’s check, or money order, all payable to Department of Real Estate. Cash is not accepted by mail. Credit card payments are not accepted for branch applications because the form has no RE 909 credit-card authorization slot.

Use certified mail with return receipt (USPS green card) or a tracked private carrier such as UPS or FedEx delivered to the DRE’s physical address at 2201 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95818 if you choose tracked private carriage. The green card or tracking confirmation is your proof of filing and is the document a court or auditor will ask for if the DRE later questions the timing.

Expected processing time is four to six weeks from receipt during normal volume periods, and up to eight weeks during the December–February surge driven by year-end license renewals. The DRE does not offer expedited processing for branch applications regardless of project deadline, so plan backwards from your branch opening date and mail the packet at least eight weeks early.

Keep a complete photocopy of the signed application, the front and back of the check, and the certified mail receipt in a single file. If the DRE later loses the packet — which happens — your photocopy plus the green card lets you reconstruct the filing without paying the fee twice.

What Happens After You File

After the DRE receives your packet, an intake clerk timestamps it and verifies the fee. The packet then moves to the licensing examiner, who matches the broker name and license ID against the DRE database, confirms the main office address, and reviews each field for completeness. If anything is missing, the examiner generates a deficiency notice and returns the entire packet by mail with a checklist of what to fix.

If the application passes review, the DRE issues a branch license certificate printed with the branch address, the responsible broker’s name, the designated branch manager (if any), and an effective date. The certificate arrives by U.S. mail at the address in Field 5 (or Field 4 if Field 5 is blank), typically four to six weeks after submission. The license must be conspicuously displayed at the branch under 10 CCR §2753; inspectors check for it during routine and complaint-driven audits.

Once issued, the branch license remains active until the broker’s underlying license expires. There is no separate branch renewal cycle; renewing the broker’s main license automatically renews every branch under it. If the broker’s main license lapses, every branch license lapses with it, and any activity at the branch becomes unlicensed activity.

A closed branch must be reported to the DRE in writing within ten days of closure. The notice does not have a dedicated form; a signed letter on broker letterhead identifying the branch address, license ID, and closure date is sufficient and is filed at the same Sacramento P.O. Box.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Branch applications fail for predictable reasons. Avoiding the list below puts you ahead of roughly four out of five applicants.

Using an outdated revision of RE 252. Consequence: automatic rejection because the DRE only processes the current revision.
Writing the DBA in Field 1 instead of the legal broker name. Consequence: the application cannot be matched to a license record and is returned.
Transposing digits in the license ID number. Consequence: the file may be attached to the wrong broker entirely or returned for clarification.
Listing a P.O. Box as the branch street address. Consequence: outright denial under 10 CCR §2715.
Naming a salesperson as branch manager. Consequence: rejection because only brokers and broker-associates qualify under B&P Code §10164.
Submitting an electronic or stamped signature on page 2. Consequence: the application is returned without review.
Mailing the packet without the $71 fee or with a fee made out to the wrong payee. Consequence: the entire packet is returned and the processing clock restarts.
Using a DBA in Field 7 that has not been approved on a separate RE 282. Consequence: rejection and a possible inquiry into unauthorized DBA use.
Listing a main office address in Field 3 that does not match the DRE’s current record. Consequence: rejection with instructions to file RE 204 first.
Operating at the new branch before the license certificate issues. Consequence: violation of B&P Code §10163, citation, and possible fine.
Sending only page 1 and forgetting page 2. Consequence: the application is unsigned and is returned.
Backdating Field 9 to a date already in the past. Consequence: signals possible unlicensed activity and invites scrutiny.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

Do download a fresh PDF for every filing, because the DRE updates revisions quietly and stale copies are rejected.
Do mail by certified mail with return receipt, because that green card is your only proof of timely filing.
Do photocopy the entire packet before mailing, because lost packets do happen and reconstruction without copies is painful.
Do file at least eight weeks before the planned open date, because the DRE does not expedite branch applications for any reason.
Do verify the main office address on file by checking the DRE public license lookup before mailing, because mismatches are the #2 rejection trigger.
Do designate a branch manager when you cannot personally supervise weekly, because supervision citations follow absent broker-of-record arrangements.

Don’t:

Don’t sign electronically, because RE 252 requires wet ink and electronic signatures are returned without review.
Don’t combine multiple branch applications on one form, because each branch requires its own RE 252 and its own $71 fee.
Don’t list a virtual office or hot-desk address, because the DRE audits and a shared address triggers denial and potential discipline.
Don’t write “same” or “see above” in any field, because intake staff will not interpret shorthand and will return the packet.
Don’t pay with cash or credit card, because neither is accepted by mail for branch applications.
Don’t open the branch before the certificate arrives, because doing so is a §10163 violation regardless of intent.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Pros of filing RE 252 yourself:

No professional fee, because the only cost is the DRE’s $71 license fee and postage.
Faster turnaround on simple cases, because no third-party review step is added.
Full control over the data, because you confirm every field directly from your own records.
Builds compliance literacy, because brokers who file their own forms understand DRE procedures better.
No coordination delays, because you mail when you are ready instead of waiting on a paralegal calendar.

Cons of filing on your own:

No second set of eyes, because solo filers miss simple errors that a compliance officer would catch.
Higher rejection risk on first submission, because pattern-recognition matters and most brokers file RE 252 only once or twice a career.
Time cost, because reading B&P Code §§10163–10165 and 10 CCR §2715 takes hours.
No recourse if the packet is lost, because the broker absorbs the resubmission burden alone.
Potential downstream cost, because a rejection that delays opening past a lease start date can cost more than any compliance attorney’s fee.

FAQs

Do I need a separate RE 252 for each branch office?

Yes. Each branch requires its own application, its own $71 fee, and its own license certificate under B&P Code §10163. Combining branches on one form is rejected.

Can I file RE 252 through the DRE’s eLicensing portal?

No. The eLicensing portal does not accept branch office applications in 2026. RE 252 must be mailed in original wet-ink form to the DRE’s Sacramento P.O. Box.

Is the $71 branch office fee refundable if my application is denied?

No. The fee is non-refundable regardless of outcome, so confirm every field is correct before mailing the packet to the DRE.

Do I write my legal name or my DBA in Field 1?

No to the DBA. Field 1 always takes the legal broker or corporation name as printed on your DRE wall license; the DBA only goes in Field 7 if applicable.

Can a salesperson be designated as the branch manager in Field 8?

No. Only a licensed broker or broker-associate qualifies as a branch manager under B&P Code §10164.

Is a P.O. Box acceptable as the branch street address in Field 4?

No. Field 4 requires a physical street address where licensed activity actually occurs. A P.O. Box is allowed only in Field 5 for mail delivery.

Do I have to designate a branch manager?

No. Designation is optional, but the responsible broker remains personally liable for everything at the branch whether or not a manager is named.

Can I e-sign RE 252 with DocuSign?

No. RE 252 requires an original wet-ink signature on page 2; electronic signatures are returned without review even though they are accepted on other DRE forms.

Does RE 252 cover the use of a fictitious business name?

No. The DBA itself must be approved on a separate RE 282 before it can be entered in Field 7 of RE 252.

Can I start operating at the branch as soon as I mail the application?

No. Licensed activity may begin only after the DRE issues the branch license certificate; earlier activity violates B&P Code §10163.

How long does the DRE take to process RE 252?

Yes, expect four to six weeks during normal periods and up to eight weeks during the winter renewal surge, with no expedited option offered.

Do I need to file RE 252 if I am only moving an existing branch to a new street address?

Yes. A move to a new street address is treated as a new branch filing and requires a fresh RE 252, a new $71 fee, and a new license certificate.

What happens to my branch license if my main broker license expires?

Yes, the branch license lapses automatically with the main license, and any activity at the branch after the lapse is unlicensed activity under California real estate law.

Do I need to notify the DRE when a branch closes?

Yes. A written notice on broker letterhead must be sent to the DRE within ten days of closure, identifying the branch address, license ID, and closure date.

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