This page provides new park owner/operators of rent-stabilized mobilehome park space lots with an overview of the City of San José's Mobilehome Rent Ordinance and its accompanying regulations, along with useful information and resources.

About the Rent Stabilization Program

Recognizing the need for affordable housing, the City adopted a rent control ordinance for mobilehomes and apartments, and created the Rental Dispute Program in July 1979. The program was recently renamed the Rent Stabilization Program (RSP). The program provides information and resources about the Mobilehome Rent Ordinance and Regulations. Program staff are available to assist in navigating and understanding the ordinance and its accompanying regulations, as well as to answer questions and/or provide informational resources such as the Mobilehome Resource Guide.

There are approximately 58 mobilehome parks and over 10,500 rent stabilized space lots located throughout San José. Rent-stabilized mobilehomes are those space lots where plumbing, electrical, and sewer permits were issued before September 7, 1979. The ordinance permits space lots to be temporarily exempt if they meet one of the below requirements:

• Park owner-occupied space;
• Units owned or operated by a government entity or subsidized by the Housing Assistance Payment Program; or
• If the homeowner has voluntarily signed a rental agreement after January 1, 1986 that exceeds a twelve-month duration, and if the first paragraph of the rental agreement notifies the homeowner that by signing, he/she exempts him/herself from the ordinance for the duration of the long-term lease.

Mobilehome space lots that are permanently exempt include those built and permitted after September 7, 1979.

Rent Stabilization Program: Mobilehome Services

The RSP provides services to park owners, park managers, and residents, including:

• Responding to general inquiries and scheduling site visits with park owners/managers and residents to discuss issues, provide answers, and offer solutions to problems;
• Developing and implementing policies related to the mobilehome community;
• Managing park owner/landlord petitions for capital improvements and fair returns, and scheduling administrative hearings, and;
• Engaging through education with the mobilehome communities, including landlord/resident organizations via mailings, presentations, site visits, fact sheets and brochures, website updates, social media, and multilingual workshops.

Allowable Annual Rent Increase

The Mobilehome Rent Ordinance (MRO) sets a limit on annual rent increases based on a maximum percentage increase formula of the Consumer Price Index. The MRO allows one rent increase, between a minimum of 3% to a maximum of 7%, once every 12 months. Notices with the allowable maximum rent increase are published by the Housing Department in June. Notices must be posted in a common area for residents at each mobilehome park.

The allowable rent increase for the 12 months beginning October 1, 2024, is 3%.

Annual Fees

The Housing Department collects an annual fee in December to administer the program and cover staff costs. The annual fee is determined by program costs and projections, which are reviewed by the Housing and Community Development Commission. Park owners may collect from their tenants up to one-half of the fee. Exemption requests are permitted upon submission of documentation and approval. Allowable exemptions include: where a space lot is occupied by a park owner; the space lot was permitted after September 7, 1979; or when a homeowner voluntarily enters into a long-term (13 months or longer) rental agreement.

Resources and Forms

Mobilehome resources and information are available on our website, where you will find:

• Mobilehome Rent Ordinance, Regulations, and Fact Sheet; and
• Mobilehome Conversion Ordinance
• Regulations
• Fee Exemption Form
• Landlord Petition
• Annual Rent Increase Notice

Stay In Touch!

We encourage you to stay connected with us. Multilingual program staff are available from 8:00am to 5:00pm at (408) 975-4480 or via email at RSP@sanjoseca.gov. For the latest Housing Department updates, please sign up for our e-mail distribution lists.

Key Program Contacts

New Park Owner/Park Manager Starter Kit

Below is additional information to help you navigate the program as a new park owner and/or park manager.

Required Postings

• Annual Rent Increase Notice - In June, provide a copy to residents or post in a common area for all residents to view. This notice states the annual rent increase amount set from October 1st to September 30th.
• Summary of Ordinance to Prospective Homebuyers - In December, provide a copy to residents or post in a common area for all residents to view. This notice explains the responsibility to inform prospective buyers of rent control provisions.

Forms for Park Owners and/or Park Managers

• Landlord Petition - Request a rent increase for 1) Capital Improvement to the mobilehome park, or 2) Fair Rate of Return based on maintenance and net operating income.
• Fee Exemption Form - Request a fee exemption for owner-occupied as defined by the MRO. Every October, program staff sends via email and/or U.S. postal mail a Fee Exemption Form which is due in November.
• Landlord Registration Form - Each mobilehome park owner is required to register with the program.

Sale or Purchase of a Mobilehome Park

Upon the sale or transfer of a mobilehome park, the seller or transferor must notify the Rent Stabilization Program of the date of the sale or transfer, and the name and address of the buyer or transferee. Within 10 days of the sale or transfer of a mobilehome park, the buyer or transferee must register with the Rent Stabilization Program.

RSP Annual Reports

To learn more about our program, please review our annual reports from prior years.

• 2019 - 2020 Rent Stabilization Program Annual Report
• 2020 - 2021 Rent Stabilization Program Annual Report