Please note the time change of San Rafael Regular City Council Meetings to commence at 6:00 p.m. 

Tenant Relocation Assistance

The City of San Rafael requires owners of residential properties to provide certain assistance to low-income tenants who are displaced from their residences due to a development project or property improvement. 

Additionally, the City of San Rafael requires owners of residential properties in Census Tract 1122.01, shown in the map below, to provide certain assistance to tenants who are displaced from their residences due to “no fault” terminations of their tenancies. 

Summary points and links to additional information on the two policies are provided below. 

For more information:

San Rafael Municipal Code Chapter 10.111 

Resolution No. 14895 (Opportunity Zone Renter Relocation Payment Amounts) 

San Rafael Municipal Code Section 14.16.279 

*As defined by the most current Marin County median family income schedule published by the Marin County Housing Authority, specifying the range of household size and the maximum, annual household income for each household size to qualify as low-income. See the Marin County HUD Median Family Income Schedule for FY 2023. 

U.S. CENSUS TRACT 1122.01 

Tenant households occupying a dwelling unit located within U.S. Census Tract 1122.01, shown in the shaded areas of the map below, may be eligible for relocation assistance if they have continually occupied a dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or more. 

Building permit applications for residential properties in Census Tract 1122.01 are required to include a signed Declaration Form.

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES 

In cases of Substantial Rehabilitation for Health and Safety in the Canal Opportunity Zone (see above map), property owners are required to offer tenants the right to return to their unit after rehabilitation is completed. If the tenant wants to return to the unit after rehabilitation is completed, the tenant must continue to pay rent while the unit is being repaired to maintain the existing lease.

While the unit is being rehabilitated, the property owner must either:

a) Pay the tenant a daily amount to cover the cost of temporary lodging; OR

b) Provide a comparable unit on the property or another property in San Rafael.

If a tenant does not want to be temporarily relocated and return to the unit following repairs, they could choose to move out permanently. They would be eligible for a relocation assistance payment as described below.

If a tenant is evicted because the owner is removing the unit from the rental market or moving into the unit, the relocation assistance payment amount the property owner is legally required to pay the tenant includes:  

  1. First and Last Month’s Rent. This is based on federal calculation of “fair market rent” or if your rent is higher, it is based on your actual rent amount.  
  2. Security Deposit. Payment is one month of your monthly rent.  
  3. Moving Expenses. Payment is based on number of bedrooms.  
  4. Daily Stipend. A daily stipend for each day to pay for meals, hotels, etc. = $150 per day  
  5. Extra Payments. Extra payment equal to 1-month fair market rent, if any of the following apply:  
    • Households with at least one minor child(ren)
    • Households with at least one elderly individual 62 or older 
    • Households with at least one disabled individual 

 

For additional details on the requirements pertaining to these policies, please refer to the San Rafael Municipal Code. For questions, contact housing@cityofsanrafael.org. 

 

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