Programs to preserve housing

The Housing Element identifies 6 programs to support the preservation of housing.

These programs are listed below to include an overview of its objective(s), schedule and status.

Program 18: Short-Term Rentals

• Objective: Evaluate and adopt strategies for regulating short-term rentals.
• Due Date: December 2024 
• Status: (Complete) The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved updated Short Term Rental (STR) regulations at their meeting on Thursday, January 11, 2024 for residential properties rented for 30 days or less. the California Coastal Commission must certify the proposed STR regulations. Once regulations are certified staff will need to bring the STR Ordinance back to the Board for adoption.

Program 19: Vacant Home Tax

Program 19a: Feasibility Study 

• Objective: Study the feasibility of a vacant home tax as a strategy to discourage unoccupied units and increase revenue for affordable housing.
• Due Date: December 2024 
• Status: (Complete) Staff have studied the feasibility of a vacant home tax using case studies from similar jurisdictions. This work will be used to inform Program 19b.

Program 19b: Ballot Measure 

• Objective: If appropriate, pursue ballot measure to establish tax.
• Due Date: November 2025 
• Status: (Not Started)

Program 20: Monitoring of Rental Housing

Program 20a: Landlord Registry 

• Objective: Continue to implement the Landlord Registry and Condominium Conversion ordinance.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Starting in 2019, landlords must report rents and general occupancy information for all rental properties subject to the Just Cause for Eviction ordinance. The County has begun to analyze this information for use in future work. Staff continue to implement the Condominium Conversion ordinance. 

Program 20b: Expand Landlord Registry 

• Objective: Expand Landlord Registry requirements to cover all rental units in the unincorporated County.
• Due Date: December 2024 
• Status: (In Progress) Staff are exploring the feasibility of this program as part of the Rooted in Marin effort (see program 31b). 

Program 21: Rehabilitation Assistance

Program 21a: Loans 

• Objective: Provide rehabilitation loans to 10 households annually (80 households over 8 years).
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco administers the rehabilitation loan program and they are on track to complete 20 homes annually.

Program 21b: Accessibility Improvements 

• Objective: Provide support for 6 households to make accessibility improvements (48 households over 8 years).
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Marin Center for Independent Living receives CDBG funds for accessibility improvements and received funds for up to 6 accessibility improvements in 2024 and all of the projects are in progress.

Program 21c: Support Low Income Renters and Homeowners 

• Objective: Continue to support nonprofit organizations in providing rehabilitation assistance to lower income renters and homeowners.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) In 2023, the County of Marin approved $483,476 in annual entitlement funding received through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program and $710,000 in one time funding received through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s special allocation of HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act.  These funds are specifically to support rehabilitation of four affordable housing developments with 67 units deed restricted for low and very-low-income residents.

Program 22: Habitability

• Objective: Expand the inspection services to cover the entire housing stock.
• Due Date: December 2025 
• Status: (Not Started)

Program 23: Preservation of At-Risk Housing

Program 23a: Monitor 

• Objective: Annually monitor the status of at-risk rental housing projects with the goal of preserving 100 percent of at-risk units.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Housing and Federal Grants Division staff actively work to identify and evaluate opportunities for acquisition and preservation of naturally-occurring, affordable units. The County Development Code prohibits conversion of multi-family rental units into condominium conversion unless the vacancy rate exceeds 5% and the change does not reduce the ratio of multi-family rental units to less than 25% of the total number of dwelling units in the County.

Program 23b: Notification 

• Objective: Ensure tenants are properly notified by the property owners should a Notice of Intent to opt out of low income use is filed. Notices must be filed three years, one year, and six months in advance of conversion.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Staff track all low income housing projects and when at risk, will track notifications sent and advise property owners and operators when needed.

Program 23c: Outreach 

• Objective: In the event of a potential conversion, conduct outreach to other nonprofit housing providers to acquire projects opting out of low income use. As funding permits, assist in funding the acquisition or support funding applications by nonprofit providers.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Staff were unaware of any potential conversions in 2024.

Program 23d: Monitor 

• Objective: Annually monitor the status of the mobile home parks. In the event of a potential conversion, ensure the owners adhere to relocation requirements mandated by State law.
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) Housing and Federal Grants Division staff actively work to monitor mobile home parks.

Program 23e: Purchase Options 

• Objective: Consider a Community Opportunity to Purchase Act/Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA/TOPA) program (see Program 30).
• Due Date: Ongoing 
• Status: (Ongoing) See Program 31b.