Sec. 4-253. - Definitions.

The following words or phrases as used in this article shall have the following meanings:

Fair Market Rent. As determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a unit of equivalent size in the Santa Rosa, CA HUD Metro FMR Area for the fiscal year in which the rent is demanded, as published on the Sonoma County Tenant Protections Portal.

Landlord. An owner, lessor, sublessor or any other person or entity entitled to receive rent for the use and occupancy of any rental unit, or an agent, representative or successor of any of the foregoing.

Rental Agreement. An agreement, oral, written or implied, between a landlord and tenant for use or occupancy of a rental unit.

Rental Unit. Any unit in any real property, rented or offered for rent for residential purposes, regardless of zoning or permitting status, together with all housing services connected with use or occupancy of the real property such as common areas and recreational facilities held out for use by a tenant. A room or rooms rented separately from other rooms at the same real property shall constitute a single rental unit, even if tenants share other common spaces or amenities.

Sonoma County Tenant Protections Portal. The location online at which information related to this article shall be maintained, including copies of any forms or information required to be submitted or collected pursuant to Section 4-259 hereof, and at which fair market rent calculations will be made available. The URL of the Sonoma County Tenant Protections portal is "https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/tenantprotections". The Sonoma County Tenant Protections Portal shall contain instructions and contact information for persons requiring special assistance in accessing any information contained therein, and information as to where to obtain paper copies of any information available on the portal.

Tenant. A tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee or any other person entitled under the terms of a rental agreement to use or occupy a rental unit.

The Act. The California Tenant Protection Act, codified in California Civil Code Sections 1946.2 and 1947.12-1497.13.

(Ord. No. 6527, § I, 8-26-2025; Ord. No. 6496, § 3, 9-17-2024)