Sonoma council studies tighter rules for mobile home park closures amid resident alarm

SONOMA, Calif. — The Sonoma City Council spent most of its April 15 meeting on a study session to revise Chapter 9.82 of the municipal code, the city's rules for mobile home park closures and conversions. Staff said the update is intended to comply with state law (AB 2782 and SB 610) and to add local policy choices about how to protect residents who would be displaced.

City staff summarized the state requirements: applicants must provide a relocation impact report, the city must arrange a certified appraiser to establish in-place market value when a home cannot be relocated, and affected residents must receive the relocation impact report at least 60 days before any public hearing. SB 610 requires a technical inspection by the California Department of Housing and Community Development after a declared disaster; in those cases the owner is not automatically required to pay the in-place market value of destroyed homes, staff said.

"The city of Sonoma has three mobile home parks with over 450 units," the Community Development Director told the council, noting the parks supply a significant share of local affordable housing and that the ordinance aims to mitigate adverse impacts on residents.

Tenant advocates, park residents and nonprofit legal services…