Relocation payments in Sonoma County: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Sonoma County Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Sonoma County's code says

Sonoma County code What Sonoma County's code adds
Amount	the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; fair market rent is HUD Santa Rosa Metro FMR for equivalent unit size in the applicable fiscal year § 4-257 · code text the amount of the relocation payment shall be equal to the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more. the difference between actual rent and fair market rent Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; Fair market rent is greater than actual monthly rent and the landlord waives last month's rent in lieu of payment to the tenant; fair market rent is HUD Santa Rosa Metro FMR for equivalent unit size in the applicable fiscal year § 4-257 · code text landlord shall pay the difference between actual rent and fair market rent to tenant no later than the date upon which tenant's last month rent would have been due but for the waiver.
When it is paid	no later than the date upon which tenant's last month rent would have been due but for the waiver Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing; Landlord elects to waive last month's rent pursuant to Civil Code Section 1946.2(d)(2) in lieu of payment to tenant, and fair market rent exceeds actual monthly rent § 4-257 · code text landlord shall pay the difference between actual rent and fair market rent to tenant no later than the date upon which tenant's last month rent would have been due but for the waiver.
When relocation is owed	Landlord seeks to recover possession of a rental unit based on a no-fault just cause as defined in the Act Applies: Covered no-fault termination in unincorporated Sonoma County under section 4-254, including qualifying affordable housing § 4-257 · code text If a landlord seeks to recover possession of a rental unit within the terms of Section 4-254(a) where such recovery of possession is based on a no-fault just cause as defined in the Act, the amount of the relocation payment shall be equal to the monthly fair market rent for the rental unit being vacated, or the actual monthly rental rate for the rental unit, whichever is more.

The California rule underneath

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. No-fault eviction relocation assistance: One month's rent (as relocation payment or rent waiver), paid within 15 calendar days of the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(d)(3)(A)). Relocation under California's just-cause law — the full state rule →

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a Sonoma County landlord have to pay relocation?

County rule: a covered no-fault termination pays the monthly fair market rent or the actual monthly rent, whichever is more.

Relocation payments in Sonoma County

Key points

What Sonoma County's code says

The California rule underneath

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Sonoma County property

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