How to Fill Out California Form RE 308 (w/Examples) + FAQs

California Form RE 308 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 broker’s main office of record. The form, currently published as RE 308 (Rev. 1/22), exists because Business and Professions Code §10163 requires a separate branch license for each additional place where a broker conducts licensed activity.

Failing to file RE 308 before opening a branch is not a paperwork problem. It is unlicensed activity, and the DRE can discipline the broker under B&P §10177, suspend commissions earned at that location, and order the office closed. According to the DRE’s most recent annual report, California has more than 437,000 active licensees and roughly 40,000 branch offices, and the DRE rejects or returns thousands of branch applications each year for missing fees, mismatched license IDs, or incorrect branch manager information.

Here is what this guide covers:

• 📋 What RE 308 is, who must file it, and the statute behind it
• 🗂️ Every document, license number, and fee you need before you start
• ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on the form with named examples
• 🏢 Three full filled-out scenarios for sole proprietors, corporations, and relocations
• ⚠️ The most common mistakes, the consequences, and the FAQs brokers ask most

What Form RE 308 Is and Who Must File It

Form RE 308 is the official application a California real estate broker uses to license a branch office, defined by the DRE as any location, other than the main office, where the broker or the broker’s salespersons meet with the public to conduct licensed real estate activity. The form is issued by the California Department of Real Estate, the agency that regulates real estate licensees under the Real Estate Law. The legal trigger sits in B&P Code §10163, which states that a broker who maintains more than one place of business in the state must apply for and procure an additional license for each branch location.

Every individual broker, broker-associate operating their own DBA, and corporate broker doing business at more than one address must file RE 308. Salespersons never file this form. Corporate brokers file through their designated officer, the natural-person broker who holds the corporation’s license under B&P §10211. A property management company, a mortgage loan originator broker, and a commercial leasing brokerage all file the same RE 308 because the DRE does not separate branch licenses by activity type.

The form also covers branch relocations. If a licensed branch moves across the street, across town, or to a new suite number, the broker files a new RE 308 to update the address. The DRE treats every distinct street address as its own branch, so a broker with three suites in three different cities needs three branch licenses, three RE 308 filings, and three fees. Filing the form is also the only way to formally name a branch manager, which the DRE encourages but does not require under 10 CCR §2715.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything below before you open the PDF. RE 308 is short, but the DRE rejects incomplete filings and keeps the fee while you re-do the paperwork, so a five-minute prep step prevents a four-week processing delay. The DRE Forms page hosts the current edition, and the DRE fee schedule confirms the per-branch cost.

• Main broker license ID number. The 8-digit ID printed on your wall license; without it, the DRE cannot link the branch to your main office.
• Corporate license ID (if a corporation). The corporation’s separate 8-digit ID, not the designated officer’s individual ID.
• Exact branch street address. A physical street address inside California; P.O. boxes are not accepted because the DRE must be able to inspect the office.
• Branch business name or DBA. The fictitious business name you use at that branch, which must already be approved on an RE 282 if it differs from your legal name.
• Branch manager’s license ID (optional but recommended). The 8-digit ID of the broker or broker-associate who will supervise that office.
• Branch telephone number. A working number that reaches the branch directly, used for DRE audits and consumer complaints.
• Fee payment. A check or money order for $35 per branch payable to the Department of Real Estate; cash is not accepted by mail.
• Designated officer signature (corporations). The officer who signs RE 204 must also sign RE 308; a salesperson signature voids the filing.
• Date the branch will open. The DRE expects the form on file before activity begins, so know your target opening date.
• Mailing address for the license certificate. Where the DRE will mail the wall certificate, which you must post at the branch under 10 CCR §2753.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The only authoritative source for RE 308 is the official DRE Forms library, where the form is posted as a fillable PDF labeled RE 308 (Rev. 1/22). Do not download RE 308 from third-party form mills, blog posts, or template aggregators, because old revisions still circulate online and the DRE returns submissions made on superseded versions. The revision date appears in the lower-left corner of the form, and you should confirm it matches 1/22 before you type a single character.

You can complete the PDF on a computer using Adobe Acrobat Reader, which the DRE PDF help page recommends, or you can print it and complete it by hand in black ink only. Blue ink, pencil, and red ink are returned. Typed entries are preferred because the DRE scans every filing and handwriting that crosses field boundaries triggers data-entry errors.

The DRE does not currently accept RE 308 through the eLicensing portal. eLicensing handles license renewals, salesperson transfers, and address changes for the main office, but the branch license application remains a paper-only submission mailed to Sacramento. A small number of brokers attempt to file in person at the DRE Sacramento headquarters; walk-ins are accepted but not faster, because the application still routes to the same processing queue.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out RE 308 Line by Line

The form has one page, divided into a header block, a main-office identification block, a branch identification block, a branch manager block, a fee block, and a signature block. Work top to bottom and never skip a field, even fields that look optional. The DRE treats blank required fields as defects and returns the form with the fee uncashed.

Field 1: Main Office Broker License ID Number

This field asks for the 8-digit license ID of your main office broker license, the license already on file with the DRE. Enter the number exactly as printed on your wall certificate, with no dashes, spaces, or letter prefixes. Maria Lopez writes 01234567 in the box because her wall license reads License #01234567.

A common edge case is the corporate broker who confuses the corporation’s license ID with the designated officer’s personal ID. Use the corporation’s ID here if the branch will operate under the corporate license, because the branch attaches to the corporate record, not the officer’s individual record. The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which causes the DRE to either reject the form outright or, worse, attach the branch to the wrong broker’s record and create a licensing tangle that takes weeks to unwind. A misconception many filers carry is that the NMLS number, the DBA number, or the corporate entity number from the Secretary of State can substitute here; none of those work, and only the DRE-issued 8-digit license ID is valid.

Field 2: Name of Broker (or Corporation)

This field asks for the legal name on the main broker license. Enter the name exactly as it appears on the wall certificate, including suffixes like Inc., LLC (for the rare corporate broker formed before LLC restrictions tightened), or Jr. Carlos Hernandez writes Hernandez Realty, Inc. because the corporation, not Carlos personally, holds the broker license.

The nuance here is the broker doing business under a fictitious name. The DRE requires the legal name first, not the DBA. If your DBA is Sunset Coast Properties but the license issues to Maria Lopez, you write Maria Lopez in this box and put the DBA in the branch name field below. The most common mistake is filers who write the DBA here and leave the legal name off, which causes the DRE to refuse the application because the name does not match the license record. A frequent misconception is that a married filer can use a new married surname before updating the underlying license; the DRE matches names character-for-character, so update the main license with RE 204 first.

Field 3: Main Office Address

Enter the current main office address of record exactly as it appears in the DRE database, including suite or unit number. This is not the new branch address; this field anchors the branch to your existing main office. Janet Park writes 4501 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90010 because that is the address printed on her wall license.

The edge case appears when the broker has recently moved the main office but has not yet filed an RE 204 address change. File RE 204 first, wait for the update to post, and then file RE 308. The common mistake is listing the new branch address in this box, which causes the DRE to interpret the form as an address change for the main office and creates a record conflict. A misconception is that listing a mailing address here is acceptable; the DRE wants the physical location of business, because the main office must be a real, inspectable place under 10 CCR §2715.

Field 4: Branch Office Business Name

Enter the name the branch will display on signage, business cards, and advertising. If the branch operates under the broker’s legal name, repeat the legal name. If the branch operates under a fictitious business name, enter the already-approved DBA that you registered with the DRE on RE 282. Aisha Bennett writes Bay Area Premier Homes because she filed RE 282 last month and received DRE approval.

The nuance is the unapproved DBA. Filers sometimes invent a branch name on the spot, but the DRE will only license the branch under a fictitious name that already sits on file. The mistake is filing RE 308 and RE 282 simultaneously and assuming the DRE will process them together; in practice, the branch application gets returned and you re-file after the DBA approval clears. A common misconception is that the branch can use any name that the broker controls under their corporate structure; the DRE looks only at its own DBA file, not at Secretary of State filings.

Field 5: Branch Office Street Address

Enter the physical street address of the new branch, including suite, unit, or floor. The address must be a real California location where licensed activity will occur. Marcus Chen writes 789 K Street, Suite 410, Sacramento, CA 95814 because that is the suite he leased for his second office.

The edge case is shared executive suites and coworking spaces. The DRE accepts these only if the broker has a dedicated, identifiable space with signage and locked file storage; a hot desk in a shared lounge does not qualify. The most common mistake is entering a P.O. Box, a UPS Store mailbox, or a virtual office address, all of which the DRE rejects because none of them allow consumer walk-in or DRE inspection. A misconception is that home addresses are not allowed; in fact, a home office can be licensed as a branch as long as the broker meets the recordkeeping and signage rules in 10 CCR §2725.

Field 6: Branch Mailing Address (if Different)

This field captures a mailing address that differs from the physical branch location, such as a corporate accounting office that receives all mail. Leave it blank if mail goes to the same street address. Hernandez Realty, Inc. writes PO Box 9912, San Diego, CA 92169 because all licensee mail routes to the corporate headquarters.

The nuance is the multi-branch corporation that wants every license certificate mailed to one central place. That is fine, but you must list the central address here on every RE 308. The mistake is leaving this field blank when mail truly does go elsewhere, which causes the wall certificate to be delivered to a vacant suite where it sits unposted. A misconception is that the mailing address overrides the physical address for licensing purposes; it does not, and the physical address is what determines the branch license.

Field 7: Branch Telephone Number

Enter a working ten-digit phone number that reaches the branch. Janet Park writes (213) 555-0123 because that is the desk line at her Wilshire Boulevard office.

The edge case is the broker who routes all calls through a central call center. The DRE prefers a direct branch number, but a central number is acceptable as long as a caller asking for the branch is connected to a licensee at that branch. The mistake is entering a personal cell number that does not identify the brokerage on voicemail; the DRE has cited this as an advertising rule violation. A misconception is that a number is optional; it is required, and a blank phone field returns the form.

Field 8: Branch Manager Name and License ID

Enter the name and 8-digit license ID of the broker or broker-associate who will manage the branch. The DRE does not require a branch manager, but naming one shifts day-to-day supervision liability and is strongly recommended for any office where the main broker is not present daily. Marcus Chen writes Priya Desai, License #01876543, because Priya holds a broker license and will run the Sacramento branch.

The nuance is naming a salesperson as branch manager, which is not allowed; only a broker or broker-associate qualifies under B&P §10164. The mistake is naming a manager who has not yet signed an RE 215 broker-associate affiliation, which creates a supervision gap the DRE will flag on audit. A misconception is that the branch manager replaces the main broker for compliance; the main broker remains responsible for every transaction at every branch under B&P §10159.2.

Field 9: Filing Fee

Enter the fee amount and attach a check or money order for $35 per branch, payable to the Department of Real Estate, as confirmed on the DRE fee schedule. Carlos Hernandez writes $35.00 and clips a corporate check to the form.

The edge case is filing two RE 308 forms in one envelope for two new branches; you can do that, but you must enclose two separate $35 checks or one combined $70 check, and you must clearly indicate the allocation on a cover letter. The most common mistake is sending cash in the mail, which the DRE returns; the second most common mistake is making the check payable to State of California or DRE instead of the full agency name. A misconception is that the fee is annual; the $35 is a one-time branch license fee, and the branch license then renews on the same four-year cycle as the main broker license under B&P §10153.2.

Field 10: Signature and Date

The broker, or for a corporation the designated officer, signs and dates the form in black ink. Maria Lopez signs her legal name and writes 03/14/2026.

The nuance is electronic signatures. The DRE accepts a typed signature inside the PDF only when the form is submitted through a future eLicensing channel, which RE 308 does not currently support, so a wet-ink signature is required on the mailed paper. The mistake is letting an office assistant or a salesperson sign on the broker’s behalf, which voids the application and can trigger an unauthorized-practice referral. A misconception is that the date is optional; an undated signature is treated as no signature at all under 10 CCR §2715.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Below are three of the most common RE 308 fact patterns, each followed start to finish by a named broker.

Scenario 1: Maria Lopez, Sole Proprietor Opening a Second Office

Maria is an individual broker licensed since 2014. She runs Sunset Coast Properties (her DBA on file via RE 282) from her home in Santa Monica and is opening a second office in Pasadena.

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Main Office License ID	01234567
Name of Broker	Maria Lopez
Main Office Address	123 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Branch Business Name	Sunset Coast Properties
Branch Street Address	55 South Lake Ave, Suite 720, Pasadena, CA 91101
Branch Mailing Address	(left blank)
Branch Telephone	(626) 555-0144
Branch Manager	(left blank — Maria self-supervises)
Filing Fee	$35.00, check #1042
Signature and Date	Maria Lopez, 03/14/2026

Scenario 2: Hernandez Realty, Inc., Corporate Broker Adding a Branch With a Branch Manager

Carlos Hernandez is the designated officer for Hernandez Realty, Inc., a corporate broker headquartered in San Diego. The corporation is opening a Chula Vista branch and naming broker-associate Priya Desai as branch manager.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Main Office License ID	01998877 (corporate ID)
Name of Broker	Hernandez Realty, Inc.
Main Office Address	1500 Fifth Ave, Suite 300, San Diego, CA 92101
Branch Business Name	Hernandez Realty – Chula Vista
Branch Street Address	333 H Street, Suite 210, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Branch Mailing Address	PO Box 9912, San Diego, CA 92169
Branch Telephone	(619) 555-0177
Branch Manager	Priya Desai, License #01876543
Filing Fee	$35.00, corporate check #20456
Signature and Date	Carlos Hernandez, Designated Officer, 03/14/2026

Scenario 3: Janet Park, Relocating an Existing Licensed Branch

Janet operates Park & Park Realty with a main office in Koreatown and a licensed branch in Glendale. The Glendale lease ended, and Janet is moving the branch one mile away to a new suite. She files a fresh RE 308 to update the branch address.

Form Section	What Janet Enters
Main Office License ID	01445566
Name of Broker	Janet Park
Main Office Address	4501 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Branch Business Name	Park & Park Realty – Glendale
Branch Street Address	600 N Brand Blvd, Suite 415, Glendale, CA 91203
Branch Mailing Address	(same as branch street)
Branch Telephone	(818) 555-0188
Branch Manager	Janet Park (self)
Filing Fee	$35.00, personal check #2099
Signature and Date	Janet Park, 03/14/2026

Aisha Bennett, a fourth named broker who runs Bay Area Premier Homes, files a parallel RE 308 for an Oakland branch using the same pattern as Maria. Marcus Chen, a fifth named broker, files for a Sacramento branch and names Priya Desai as manager.

How to File the Completed Form

RE 308 is a paper-only filing today. The DRE has not migrated branch applications to eLicensing, so the only two channels are mail and walk-in.

Mail (the standard channel). Send the signed original RE 308 with the $35 check to: Department of Real Estate, P.O. Box 137001, Sacramento, CA 95813-7001, the licensing address listed on the DRE Contact page. Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Processing typically takes four to six weeks. The proof-of-filing you keep is the certified mail receipt and a photocopy of the signed form.

Walk-in. You may hand-deliver the form to the DRE Sacramento office at 1651 Exposition Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815. The cashier accepts checks, money orders, and credit cards. Processing time is the same four to six weeks; walk-in does not jump the queue. Keep the cashier’s stamped receipt as proof of filing.

Fax and email are not accepted. The DRE does not accept RE 308 by fax or by email attachment, and a faxed form is treated as never received. The DRE Forms page reiterates this restriction.

What Happens After You File

After the DRE receives RE 308, the application enters the licensing queue at the Sacramento headquarters. A licensing analyst verifies the main broker license, the branch address, the DBA approval, the branch manager license (if named), and the fee. If anything is missing, the DRE returns the application by mail with a deficiency notice and does not cash the check until the file is complete.

When the application clears, the DRE issues a branch office license certificate that arrives by U.S. Mail at the address listed in the mailing-address field. Post the certificate at the branch in a place visible to the public, as required by 10 CCR §2753. The branch then appears on the broker’s public license lookup record within 48 hours of issuance.

The branch license carries the same expiration date as the main broker license, so both renew together every four years using RE 209. If the main license is suspended, surrendered, or expires, every branch license attached to it dies the same day. Closing a branch does not require RE 308; instead, file an RE 213 cancellation.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Each error below has caused real applications to be returned. Watch for all of them.

• Using an outdated form revision. An old RE 308 from a third-party site triggers an automatic return because the DRE only accepts Rev. 1/22.
• Transposing the main license ID. A single wrong digit attaches the branch to the wrong broker, which can take weeks to unwind.
• Listing a P.O. Box as the branch address. The DRE rejects mail-only addresses because branches must be inspectable.
• Writing the DBA in the legal-name field. The DRE matches the legal name first, and a DBA in that box voids the form.
• Filing under an unapproved DBA. A fictitious name without a prior RE 282 approval is not licensable.
• Naming a salesperson as branch manager. Only brokers and broker-associates qualify under §10164, and a salesperson voids the field.
• Sending the wrong fee. Anything other than $35 per branch causes a return; $40 and $30 both fail.
• Sending cash by mail. The DRE returns cash and treats the filing as never received.
• Letting an assistant sign for the broker. Only the broker or designated officer may sign, and a substitute signature voids the form.
• Skipping the date next to the signature. An undated signature is treated as no signature.
• Submitting by fax or email. Both channels are unsupported and the application is discarded.
• Filing after the branch already opened. Operating before licensing is unlicensed activity under §10177 and can trigger discipline.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

• Do confirm you have the Rev. 1/22 version, because the DRE rejects superseded editions.
• Do type the form in Adobe Acrobat for clean OCR, because the DRE scans every page.
• Do file RE 282 first if you use a DBA, because the DRE will not license a branch under an unapproved name.
• Do mail by certified mail with return receipt, because that is your only proof the DRE received the form.
• Do keep a photocopy of the signed form and the check, because deficiency letters arrive weeks later.
• Do post the issued certificate at the branch, because 10 CCR §2753 requires public display.

Don’ts

• Don’t open the branch before the DRE issues the license, because pre-license activity is sanctionable under §10177.
• Don’t use a virtual office or a UPS Store mailbox, because the DRE will reject the address.
• Don’t name a salesperson as branch manager, because only brokers and broker-associates qualify.
• Don’t send cash, because the DRE returns it and treats the filing as never received.
• Don’t assume eLicensing supports RE 308, because branch applications remain paper-only.
• Don’t forget to update RE 308 when the branch moves, because every distinct address is its own branch license.

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

Pros of filing on your own

• Cost. You save the $150–$400 a license-services firm charges, because RE 308 is short and self-contained.
• Speed. A self-filer can mail the form the same day the lease is signed, while a third-party firm adds intake delay.
• Direct DRE contact. You receive any deficiency letter directly and can fix it without a middleman, because the DRE writes to the broker of record.
• Education. Filing yourself teaches you the licensing structure that governs every branch you open later.
• Control. You sign and mail your own check, which means no escrowed funds sit at a third party.

Cons of filing on your own

• Higher error risk. First-time filers transpose digits and use the wrong fee more often than experienced filers.
• No DBA filtering. A license-services firm catches an unapproved DBA before mailing, while a self-filer learns about it from a return letter.
• Lost time on returns. A deficiency cycle adds three to six weeks, which can delay the branch opening past your lease commencement.
• No address vetting. Firms know which suite types the DRE rejects, while self-filers sometimes lease a virtual suite and have to re-lease.
• Compliance blind spots. A firm flags missing RE 215 affiliations for the named branch manager, while a self-filer may not.

Key Related Forms and Statutes

B&P §10163 is the statute that requires the branch license, B&P §10164 governs branch manager qualifications, and 10 CCR §2715 sets the regulatory display rules. The DRE issues parallel forms that interact with RE 308: RE 204 for main office address changes, RE 282 for fictitious business names, RE 213 to cancel a branch, RE 215 for broker-associate affiliations, and RE 209 for license renewal. Each plays a role in keeping a branch in good standing.

The Real Estate Bulletin periodically clarifies branch supervision expectations, and the DRE audit manual lays out what auditors look for when they visit a branch. Read both at least once before you open your first branch.

FAQs

Is California Form RE 308 required for every branch office?

Yes. Every California real estate broker must file RE 308 for each location, other than the main office, where licensed activity occurs, under B&P §10163.

Can a salesperson file RE 308?

No. Only the broker, or for a corporation the designated officer, may file RE 308; salespersons cannot hold or apply for branch licenses under California law.

Is the $35 branch fee annual?

No. The $35 fee is a one-time application fee; the branch license then renews together with the main broker license on the four-year cycle.

Can I file RE 308 through eLicensing?

No. The DRE eLicensing portal does not currently support branch license applications, so RE 308 must be mailed or walked in on paper.

Do I write my legal name or my DBA in the Name of Broker box?

Yes — legal name only. Field 2 must show the exact name on the broker license; the DBA goes in the Branch Business Name field after RE 282 approval.

Can my branch address be a P.O. Box?

No. The branch must be a physical, inspectable California street address; P.O. Boxes, UPS Store mailboxes, and virtual suites are rejected.

Do I have to name a branch manager in Field 8?

No. The branch manager field is optional, but naming one shifts daily supervision and is strongly recommended when the main broker will not be present.

What license ID goes in Field 1 for a corporate broker?

Yes — use the corporate ID. Field 1 takes the corporation’s 8-digit DRE license ID, not the designated officer’s individual broker license number.

Can I use a typed electronic signature on RE 308?

No. RE 308 requires a wet-ink signature in black ink because the form is mailed; typed e-signatures are not accepted on paper submissions.

What happens if I open my branch before the DRE issues the license?

No good outcome — pre-license activity is unlicensed practice under B&P §10177 and can lead to discipline, fines, and forfeited commissions.

Do I file a new RE 308 when my licensed branch moves to a new suite?

Yes. Every distinct street address is a separate branch license, so a relocation requires a fresh RE 308 and a fresh $35 fee.

Can I combine fees for two branches into one check?

Yes. A single check for the combined amount is acceptable as long as a cover letter clearly identifies which application each portion covers.

How long does processing take?

Yes — typically four to six weeks. Mail and walk-in submissions move at the same speed, and certified mail receipts are the only reliable proof of filing date.

Does closing a branch use RE 308?

No. Branch closures use RE 213, not RE 308; filing the wrong form leaves the branch active and renewable.