Sonoma County Tenant Ordinance

Sonoma County (Santa Rosa) adds these tenant protections on top of California landlord-tenant law — applies Rental properties in the unincorporated area of Sonoma County.

Law: Sonoma County Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance (Ordinance No. 6496)

Just cause from start of tenancy	Just cause protections begin at the start of a covered tenancy (not after 12 months as under state law) and extend to income-restricted properties. Source: Sonoma County Code Ch. 4, Art. IX, Sec. 4-254, 4-255 (Ord. 6496, adopted Sept. 17, 2024)
Nonpayment evictions	Allowed only when past-due rent exceeds thirty days' rent, and no more than twice per calendar year. Source: Sonoma County Code Ch. 4, Art. IX, Sec. 4-256 (Ord. 6496, adopted Sept. 17, 2024)
Relocation assistance	Where state law requires relocation payments, landlord pays the greater of actual rent or Fair Market Rent. Source: Sonoma County Code Ch. 4, Art. IX, Sec. 4-257 (Ord. 6496, adopted Sept. 17, 2024)
Notices and reporting	Landlords must give tenants required information and a County-approved notice form, and report all terminations in unincorporated Sonoma County. Source: Sonoma County Code Ch. 4, Art. IX, Sec. 4-259 (Ord. 6496, adopted Sept. 17, 2024)
Emergency protections	Board may invoke countywide emergency eviction protections after a declared state of emergency. Source: Sonoma County Code Ch. 4, Art. IX, Sec. 4-258 (Ord. 6496, adopted Sept. 17, 2024)

County contact (707) 565-2431. Ord. 6496 adds a new Article IX ('Establishing Residential Tenancy Protections') to the Sonoma County Code; introduced Aug. 20, 2024, adopted Sept. 17, 2024 (3-1, one absent). Sec. 12: in full force and effect 30 days after passage (i.e., on or about Oct. 17, 2024) and remains in effect until the state Tenant Protection Act (Civ. Code 1946.2) expires or the ordinance is repealed. Source: ordinance text, https://sonomacounty.gov/Main%20County%20Site/Administrative%20Support%20%26%20Fiscal%20Services/CAO/Documents/Tenant%20Protections/Resident-Tenanct-Protect-ORD-6496-09172024.pdf. Codified as Sonoma County Code Chapter 4 (Amusements and Business Regulations), Article IX, Secs. 4-251 to 4-260: https://library.municode.com/ca/sonoma_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH4AMBURE_ARTIXESRETEPR

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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.