Article 3.5Fees and Charges 798.30-798.39.5
Section § 798.30
If you're renting a mobile home in California, the management must inform you of any rent increase at least 90 days in advance with a written notice.
Section § 798.31
This law says that mobile home owners should only be charged fees for rent, utilities, or services that are actually provided. They can't be billed extra for getting a lease on their mobile home lot unless it's for more than a year, and only if they and the management both agree on the charge for longer leases.
Section § 798.32
If you're a homeowner, your landlord can't charge you extra fees for services not included in your lease unless they give you a written notice at least 60 days before charging you. These fees should be clearly listed on your bills, and if the fee is only temporary, the end date of the charge should be mentioned in both the initial notice and any future bills.
Section § 798.33
If you're a homeowner living in a mobile home park in California, and your lease was made or changed on or after January 1, 2001, you have the right to keep at least one pet. The park can have reasonable rules about pets, but they can't flat-out ban them. You won't have to pay a fee to keep your pet unless the park provides special pet services or facilities. If they do charge a fee, it should only cover the actual costs of those services, and the fee can depend on how many pets you have. For this rule, a pet can be a bird, cat, dog, fish in an aquarium, or any other animal you agree on with the park manager.
Section § 798.34
This law outlines when mobile home park management can and cannot charge homeowners fees for guests and companions. Guests staying less than 20 consecutive days or 30 days in a year can't be charged fees, nor do they need to register. Homeowners can have one companion live with them without a fee, as long as they only have one at a time and no more than three in a year, unless management allows more. Companions must meet age restrictions if applicable. Live-in caregivers can also stay fee-free if they provide necessary care, confirmed by a healthcare professional if needed. Senior homeowners in age-restricted parks can live with certain family members needing care without extra fees. However, none of these guests acquire tenancy rights, and homeowners are responsible for their guests' conduct. Management isn't responsible for managing or supervising guests or caregivers.
Section § 798.35
This law states that homeowners cannot be charged extra fees based on how many people are in their immediate family. The immediate family includes the homeowner, their spouse, parents, children, and grandchildren under 18.
Section § 798.36
This law says that mobile home park owners can't charge residents for enforcing park rules. However, if a resident doesn't maintain or clean their space after being given written notice, management can do it and charge a reasonable fee. Management can also remove a resident's personal items if they don't follow park or safety rules, with 14 days' written notice before removal. Residents must pay for these removal and storage costs, but if they don't claim their items in 60 days, the items can be considered abandoned. If items are sold, residents should get any extra money after costs. The park must handle enforcement fairly and can't end someone's lease due to the same rule violation they're trying to fix.
Section § 798.37
If you own a mobile home, you can't be charged extra fees for entering, setting up, or landscaping, unless there's a specific local government rule about it. Any costs must be directly related to your specific lot, not the whole park. While park rules can require reasonable maintenance or landscaping, they can't make you buy or rent goods or services from specific businesses for this purpose.
Section § 798.38
This law states that park management can't claim a legal interest in a mobile home, like a lien or security interest, unless both the homeowner and management agree to it. If such an agreement happens, charges and payments related must be handled separately from the regular rent.
Section § 798.39
This law section deals with the rules around security deposits for mobile home parks. A security deposit can only be demanded before a resident moves in, and it can't be more than two months' rent. After the first year of on-time payments, residents can request their deposit back, which management must return within 30 days if collected after 1989, or 60 days if collected before then. If the park is sold, the seller must ensure deposits are properly handled. Security deposits don't need to earn interest, and violating these rules does not impact property ownership.
Section § 798.30.5
This section of the law limits how much rent can increase for mobile home park tenants. Management or landlords can't raise rent more than 3% plus inflation or 5%, whichever is lower, in a year. Rent can only go up twice a year for the same tenant. New tenants may have a different starting rent unless local rules limit it. Tenants can't sublet for more than what's legally allowed. Some mobile home spaces, like those for students or affordable housing, are exceptions to these rules. Terms like Consumer Price Index determine cost of living changes. Local laws can still set stricter limits, and this law is in effect until 2030.
Section § 798.37.5
Section § 798.39.5
This law makes it clear that mobile home park managers cannot make homeowners pay for fees or rent increases that are meant to cover the costs of fines, penalties, or damages that the management incurs for breaking certain laws. This includes costs like attorney fees. If a management company is fined in the past, a court will look at how long ago it happened when deciding if a rent increase is unfair. Plus, any rental agreement after January 1, 1995, that tries to pass these costs onto homeowners is automatically invalid. However, if a mobile home owner's actions led to the violation, this rule might not apply.