AMENDMENT TO
CHAPTER 6-66,
RENT CONTROL - MOBILEHOMES
City Council
June 20, 2023
Megan Basinger, Director Housing
& Community Services
1 MobilehomeParkLocations
2 Mobilehome Parks
16 Mobilehome Parks in the City of Santa Rosa
*Spaces
currently
under rent
control
Spaces
currently NOT
under rent
control
Total
spaces
Senior-Age Parks 11 1,546 398 1,679
All-Age Parks 5 406 67 475
TotalParks 16 1,952 465 2,154
3 *Spaces subject to rent control as of February 1, 2023 OrdinanceHistory
1993
• Added Chapter 6-66 to the City Code
• Purpose: To allow for reasonable annual rent increases to protect mobilehome residents, while providing a fair return to mobilehome park owners
• Legal Test: Park Owners are entitled to a fair return, but cities and counties have significant discretion
4 OrdinanceHistory
• Established Mobilehome Park Policy Board
(MHPPB) to administer and enforce the
Ordinance
• Operated from 1993-2001
• 5 Board Members appointed by the Council
• 2 non-voting board advisors selected by the
Board, one each to represent the residents and
the park owners 5
OrdinanceHistory
1995 – 2004
• Council adopted amendments to the Ordinance
13 times.
• Eliminated MHPPB. Created a process for pass-
throughs and fair return rent increases hearings
heard by an independent arbitrator
• Hearings paid for by administrative fees collected
6 History of Allowable Annual
Rent Increases
• 100% of CPI
• 1993: Max 8% / Min 4%
• 1995: Max 7% / Min 3%
• 2004: Max 6% / No Min
• 2023: 70% of CPI, Max 4% 7
Sonoma County jurisdictions
with Mobilehome Rent Control
Annual Limits – 100% CPI / 6% Cap
• County of Sonoma
• Cotati
• Petaluma*
• Sebastopol
Windsor (2023) – 75% of CPI/4% Cap
Rohnert Park – ½ of 1% Less than CPI/4% Cap
City of Sonoma – 80% CPI/5% Cap
* Evaluating an Amendment to Ordinance
8 2023 Ordinance Amendment
• Council adopted an Amendment to the
Ordinance:
• Reduced maximum rent increases from 100% of
CPI up to 6% to 70% of CPI up to 4%
• Ordinance effective January 6, 2023
• Parks with rent increases on January 1st
increased at 100% of CPI
• Allows for 10% rent increase on In-Place Transfer
9 Further Amendment
• Desire to adjust 2024 rent increases for residents
whose rent increased prior to January 6th
• Additional language added to Ordinance to limit
the cumulative rent increases for calendar years
2023 and 2024 to the lessor of:
• (A) Four percent (4%) rent increase for 2023, plus the allowed increase in rent for 2024 under Chapter 6-66
equal to 70% of the increase in annual CPI as of August 2023, not to exceed 4%), or
• (B) Eight percent (8%) of the rent charged for the space in 2022. 10
Examples:
11 2022 Space Rent $700.00
5.7% CPI Increase 5.70%
Allowed Rent $739.90
2023 Rent $739.90
70% CPI (4.2% CPI*) 2.94%
Rent Increase $21.75
Estimated 2024 Rent $761.65
2022 Space Rent $700.00
4% CPI Increase 4%
Allowed Rent $728.00
2023 Rent $728.00
70% CPI (4.2% CPI*) 2.94%
Rent Increase $21.40
Estimated 2024 Rent $749.40
Recommendation
It is recommended by the Housing and Community Services Department that the Council introduce an ordinance
amending Chapter 6-66 of the Santa Rosa City Code, Rent Control — Mobilehomes, to limit the cumulative rental
increase for any mobilehome space in the combined
calendar years 2023 and 2024 to the lesser of:
(A) Four percent (4%) rent increase for 2023, plus the
allowed increase in rent for 2024 under Chapter 6-66
(equal to 70% of the increase in annual CPI as of
August 2023, not to exceed 4%), or
(B) Eight percent (8%) of the rent charged for the space in 2022.
12 QUESTIONS?
13