Do residents have any rights to compensation for being dislocated when the park closes down?

Mobilehome park residents’ associations have rights under the notice requirements in the MRL (Civil Code §798.80), and potential relocation assistance under the state Government Code. Where no city permits are
required to close or convert the park to another use, the park must give residents at least a one-year written notice of termination of tenancy. (Civil Code §798.56(g)) Where local permits are required, which is usually the case, the park must give residents a 15-day written notice that park management will appear before a local board or planning commission to request permits for a change of use. At the same time, the park must make public the impact report requirements (Civil Code §798.56(h)), and only after approval of all permits by the city can the park then give the residents a 6-month notice of termination. (Govt. §65863.7) Upon approval of the closure or conversion of a mobilehome park to another use, the park must render an impact report to the city on the effect the conversion will have on the residents’ dislocation and their ability to find alternative housing. (Govt. §65863.7) The city must then hold a hearing on the impact report and may require the park to pay the reasonable costs of relocation to displaced residents as a condition for obtaining various permits to convert the park and develop the land for another use. Usually this takes several hearings and a number of months. Actual relocation assistance afforded to residents is determined by the city, usually the planning commission or a delegated committee or agency of the commission. Often local governments will have a mobilehome park conversion ordinance which parallels the requirements of state law and fills in the details of the relocation assistance that may be required by the city, whether it is actual relocation of the mobilehome or a buy-out of the home, and how the mobilehome is to be valued for these purposes. If the park is to be subdivided into individual parcels (where a conventional subdivision will replace the park) and where a tentative or final map is required, the city may impose even more stringent relocation requirements. (Govt. Code §66427.4.) Local officials are the final arbiters of any relocation assistance to which displaced mobilehome owners may be entitled.

Recap:
● If no local permits are required for park closure or conversion, then the park must give residents at least one year advance written notice.
● If local permits are required for park closure or conversion, then the park must proceed with relocation guidelines established by state and local law.
● Local officials are the final arbiters of any relocation assistance.