Sonoma council studies update to mobile-home closure rules as residents press for stronger protections

The Sonoma City Council held a study session to review updates needed to the city's mobile home park closure and conversion ordinance to comply with state law, with staff laying out new appraisal, notice and mitigation requirements and dozens of residents urging stronger tenant protections.

Jennifer Gates, the city's community development director, told the council the city currently regulates mobile homes through three code chapters and that "the city of Sonoma has 3 mobile home parks with over 450 total units," which provide important affordable housing in the community. Gates said changes required by AB 2782 include requiring a state-certified appraisal of the in-place value of a mobile home when a displaced occupant cannot be reasonably relocated and extending resident notice of an application from 15 to 60 days.

Gates described the application process: an applicant proposing closure or conversion must pay for an independent Mobile Home Relocation Impact Report that documents park conditions, resident lists, comparable parks in Sonoma County and estimated full relocation costs. She listed mitigation options the council may impose, including payment for physical moving costs and a lump-sum payment to cover first and last month's rent and security deposit, compensation for rent differences during the first year, and, where a home cannot be moved, payment of fair market value determined by appraisal.

Gates also summarized recently adopted SB 610 provisions that require a technical inspection report from the Department of Housing and Community Development in certain disaster scenarios and noted the law contains a narrow exemption that may relieve park owners of paying in-place value after a defined disaster event. When asked about that provision, Gates and the city attorney said staff would analyze the effect and report back at the Dec. 3 study session. The city attorney said other tenant protections in state law would remain in force aside from that limited exemption.

Residents and organized homeowners emphasized vulnerabilities if parks close. Lynn Marie de Vincent, representing the Tri Park Committee, said "there are approximately 74 homeowners here in support of our campaign" and urged the council to adopt a local finding (citing Government Code section 65863.72(b)) that would allow the city to reject conversions that would materially contribute to a shortage of housing affordable to low- and moderate-income households. Bonnie Joy Koslan, president of the Moon Valley Homeowners Association, cautioned that many Sonoma mobile homes were built before 1976 and may not be movable under federal guidance, leaving elders at risk of displacement.

Several residents submitted a draft ordinance prepared by attorney Will Constantine and paid for by mobile homeowners; John Kyle, representing Pueblo Serenity, asked staff to consider that draft alongside staff's work. Council members said they would review local models (including Watsonville and Santa Cruz), take homeowners' proposals seriously and ask staff to return with specific policy options. Council members also requested that staff produce an inventory of the city's affordable housing units and analyze ways to reduce displacement pressure so residents can remain locally if conversion occurs.

Staff told the council it would bring a follow-up study session on Dec. 3 to request policy direction and that a proposed ordinance would be developed for return in early 2026. The council did not take formal action this evening; the session was for information and public input.