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Sunnyvale council directs staff to study expanded tenant protections but delays 3‑month relocation ordinance
Summary
After extensive public testimony, the Sunnyvale City Council voted 4–0 to direct staff to study additional tenant protections—including day‑one just‑cause protections, enhanced aid for vulnerable households and using fair‑market rent as a benchmark—while declining to introduce an ordinance to raise no‑fault relocation assistance from two to three months at this meeting.
Sunnyvale’s City Council voted unanimously on May 5 to direct staff to study expanded tenant protections and enforcement measures, but it stopped short of adopting an ordinance to raise relocation assistance for no‑fault evictions.
Housing staff summarized outreach and research showing increased engagement: 278 tenant survey responses and 212 landlord responses collected as part of the review of chapter 19.71 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code. Ryan Dyson, housing specialist, told the council the outreach “substantially increased our responses this time” and that neighboring cities including Mountain View, Palo Alto and San Jose have adopted three‑month relocation requirements.
The proposal from staff recommended introducing an ordinance to increase relocation assistance from two to three months for no‑fault just‑cause evictions and asked the council to direct continued study of additional protections, such as day‑one just‑cause coverage and extra assistance for vulnerable households.
Public commenters were sharply divided. Anil Babar of the California Apartment Association urged rejection, arguing the change would raise costs across the rental market and that the city had not presented evidence the current two months is insufficient. By contrast, Marie Bernard of Sunnyvale Community Services said the agency’s experience shows it typically takes “60 to 80 days or longer” for a household to secure new housing even with help, and she supported stronger relocation assistance and wraparound services. Tenant advocates with SB At Home and individual renters urged the council to adopt the three‑month floor and to pursue broader protections for people with children, seniors and low incomes.
Council members expressed concern that many renters and owners remain unaware of existing protections—staff said only about 15% of tenants reported familiarity with the city program—and emphasized enforcement and outreach. Council Member Chang, who said she had found no addendum in her own lease, pressed staff on compliance mechanisms for landlords who fail to post required notices.
Councilmember Srinivasan moved staff’s recommendation and ultimately supported a substitute motion, seconded and passed 4–0, to pursue Alternative 3: direct staff to continue studying day‑one protections, targeted assistance for vulnerable households and the use of fair‑market rent benchmarks, and to explore enforcement steps and expanded outreach. The council also agreed by friendly amendment that it would not introduce the three‑month ordinance at this time.
Next steps: staff will expand outreach in 2026 (mailers, in‑person events, web resources and social media), return with more analysis on day‑one protections and vulnerable‑population adjustments, and report on possible enforcement mechanisms for noncompliant landlords. The council did not adopt any change to relocation assistance at this meeting.
