To: The Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County
Department or Agency Name(s): County Counsel
Staff Name and Phone Number: Elizabeth Coleman, Deputy County Counsel, 707-565-2421
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Ordinance to Amend Sonoma County Code Chapter 4, Article IX (Second Reading)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt an Ordinance to amend Sonoma County Code Chapter 4, Article IX, (Second Reading)
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Code Chapter 4, Article IX, the Sonoma County Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance (Ord. No. 6496) (“the Ordinance”), adopted September 17, 2024, establishes tenant protections for the residents of the County of Sonoma, at an augmented level of protection beyond those created by the state’s California Tenant Protection Act. Currently, the Ordinance includes language allowing the Board of Supervisors to invoke certain tenant protections County-wide on an emergency basis, concurrent with the Board’s adoption or ratification of a declaration of local emergency, where the Board determines such protections are warranted. This item would adopt an ordinance introduced on July 8, 2025, to amend the Ordinance to allow the Board to invoke such emergency protections for more limited geographic areas in the case of more localized emergencies that may disrupt rental housing in more localized ways.
Discussion:
The Ordinance establishes tenant protections for the residents of the County of Sonoma, at an augmented level of protection beyond those created by the California Tenant Protection Act ("Act"), codified in California Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12 et seq. The Ordinance currently includes language allowing the Board of Supervisors to invoke certain tenant protections County-wide on an emergency basis, concurrent with the Board’s adoption or ratification of a declaration of local emergency, where the Board determines such protections are warranted.
On February 25, 2025, the Board of Supervisors directed County Counsel to return to the Board with a proposed revision to the Ordinance to allow the Board to invoke such emergency protections for more limited geographic areas in the case of more localized emergencies that may disrupt rental housing in more localized ways.
On July 8, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution introducing, reading the title, and waiving further reading of an ordinance to amend Sonoma County Code Chapter 4, Article IX to state that upon the declaration or ratification of the declaration of a local state of emergency by resolution of the Board of Supervisors, in which resolution the Board of Supervisors expressly invokes the emergency protections, the protections shall take effect in all areas of the County designated by the Board of Supervisors for such protections. The introduced ordinance would further amend existing language to state that for Rental Units located within the unincorporated areas of the County that are subject to emergency protections, all applicable requirements of the ordinance shall continue to apply to a Landlord in such areas. Finally, the introduced ordinance would add a definition for “The Act,” referencing the California Tenant Protection Act, which is referenced in the ordinance but not currently a defined term, as the original reference to The Act was only in the recitals of the ordinance, which are not viewable in the codified version.
If the Board adopts the proposed ordinance, the Clerk will cause the proposed ordinance to be published within fifteen days after adoption, and its changes to the County’s existing tenant protections ordinance would become effective thirty days after the date of this item.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
• 07/08/25: Board adopted resolution introducing, readings title of, and waiving further reading of the proposed ordinance amending existing tenant protection ordinance.
• 02/25/25: Board adopted Urgency Ordinance re Lower Russian River Tenant Protections, and directed County Counsel to return with proposed amendment to Sonoma County Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance
• 09/17/24: Board adopted Sonoma County Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance
• 08/20/24: Board adopted resolution introducing, reading title of, and waiving further reading of Sonoma County Residential Tenancy Protections Ordinance
• Amending Sonoma County Code to Add Section 4 Article IX Establishing Residential Tenancy Protections
• 05/21/24: Board directed staff to prepare Just Cause ordinance comprised of selected options and formulate communication/community outreach plan.
• 12/05/23: Board reviewed Options to Augment Protections for Unincorporated Residential Tenants and directed staff to conduct community engagement.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this item.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
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Attachments:
Draft Ordinance to Amend Sonoma County Code Chapter 4, Article IX
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A