Sonora, Cal., Code of Ordinances § 16.06 § 16.06.050
Minimum Requirements
Operative Text
In addition to the other provisions of this title, each project approved for conversion shall comply with the following minimum requirements: A. Prohibition of Discrimination Against Prospective Buyers with Children. Under no circumstances shall a project approved for conversion limit sales to families or individuals without children, unless it is demonstrated that the project as designed and built is not suitable for accommodation of children. B. Tenant Protection. 1. The developer shall provide to each existing tenant an irrevocable, nontransferable, preemptive right to purchase the lot or unit presently occupied, or right of exclusive occupancy for same, at a price no greater than the price offered to the general public for such lot or unit. Such right shall be irrevocable, unless declined in writing, for a period of ninety days after the commencement of sales or issuance of the final public report by the real estate commissioner. 2. The developer shall offer an extension of tenancy of all existing lease or rental agreements to expire not less than ninety days subsequent to the time of commencement of sales or issuance of the final public report by the real estate commissioner. 3. The developer shall permit any tenant to terminate any lease or rental agreement without any penalty whatsoever after filing of an application to convert to community housing, provided such tenant notifies the developer in writing thirty days in advance of such termination. 4. Expenses for temporary relocation, including moving costs and/or costs of comparable replacement housing within the community, shall be assumed by the developer for any tenant required to vacate a unit to permit necessary repairs to a unit in connection with a conversion, and such assumption of costs shall continue until the said repairs have been completed. 5. An existing tenant's rent shall not be increased during the remaining period of residency from date of application for conversion, in excess of the housing segment of the annual cost of living increase published for the San Francisco Bay Area Consumer Price Index, for the preceding year. C. Buyer Protection. The developer shall furnish each prospective purchaser of a lot or unit a true copy of each of the following documents: 1. The planned development permit, as issued under the provisions of Chapter 17.31 ; 2. Property report; 3. Structural pest control report; 4. Building history report; 5. Soils report (where required); 6. Statement of compliance issued by the real estate department of the state, or its successor document relating to operating and maintenance funds during start-up. D. Standards of Construction and Site Improvement. The project shall conform to Chapter 16.05 , Condominiums, of this code prior to the commencement of sales of units. Where specific deviation from such standards is permitted by the planning commission or city council, it shall be indicated in the planned development permit of the project.
Sonora Code of Ordinances § 16.06.050 establishes a set of minimum requirements that any project approved for conversion to community housing must satisfy. These requirements cover four main areas: prohibiting discrimination against families with children in sales, protecting existing tenants during and after the conversion process, ensuring prospective buyers receive key disclosure documents, and requiring the project to meet established construction and site-improvement standards. The rule places affirmative obligations on the developer throughout the conversion timeline, from the application stage through the completion of sales.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Sonora Code of Ordinances § 16.06.050, developers and property managers overseeing a conversion project generally ensure that existing tenants receive a 90-day preemptive right to purchase their unit at the publicly offered price, that all existing leases are extended at least 90 days past the commencement of sales or issuance of the final public report, and that rent increases during the remaining residency period do not exceed the San Francisco Bay Area CPI housing segment for the preceding year. Compliant operators also cover temporary relocation and moving costs for any tenant displaced by conversion-related repairs, and they furnish each prospective buyer with the full set of disclosure documents enumerated in the provision. Projects must also conform to the construction and site-improvement standards set out in Chapter 16.05 before any unit sales begin.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Sonora Code of Ordinances § 16.06.050 gives existing tenants in a conversion project several important protections, including the right to be the first to purchase their occupied unit at the same price offered to the general public, with that right remaining open for at least 90 days. Tenants are also entitled to have their lease extended at least 90 days after sales commence, to terminate their lease penalty-free with 30 days' written notice after a conversion application is filed, and to have rent increases capped at the CPI housing index rate for the preceding year. Tenants who believe these protections are not being honored may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or seek guidance from a housing attorney familiar with Sonora's ordinances to understand the options available under § 16.06.050.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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