Encinitas imposes immediate rent caps on mobile home parks
City Council approved a temporary measure limiting annual land rental increases to 4% or the CPI, following resident protests over 17% hikes.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Encinitas City Council members voted unanimously on Wednesday to impose immediate rent controls on mobile home parks in the city.
The council approved a temporary urgency ordinance that limits annual land rental increases. The new rules cap increases at the lower of 4% or 75% of the area's annual Consumer Price Index figure. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the current annual CPI rate for the San Diego region is 4.7%. The measure goes into effect immediately.
The ordinance addresses a unique housing structure where residents own their mobile homes but lease the land from park operators. Residents stated that moving a structure to a different park is often impossible, leaving them with little choice but to accept rate hikes. The issue gained traction earlier this fall when new owners at Riviera Mobile Home Park on Vulcan Avenue notified residents of land rental increases of up to 17% starting in November.
Heidi Holzworth, a Riviera resident who organized the SOS Encinitas advocacy group, said she witnessed residents crying with joy upon learning the measure was on the agenda. Mayor Bruce Ehlers stated that the city should have addressed the housing gap long ago, noting that these parks provide essential low-income housing. Councilmember Jim O'Hara, who typically opposes rent control, supported this measure due to the specific ownership dynamics of mobile home parks.
Council members also provided initial approval for a second temporary ordinance intended to replace the urgency measure. This second measure requires a final council vote in November and a 30-day waiting period before taking effect. It is scheduled to expire on July 30, 2027. City officials aim to have a permanent ordinance enacted by that deadline. Both temporary measures allow park owners to petition the city for higher increases if they believe the current limits prevent a fair return on investment.
Councilmember Luke Shaffer described the move as a market correction while cautioning against excessive regulation that could create a whiplash effect. Councilmember Marco San Antonio, a business owner, said the city must balance the needs of residents and landowners. He noted that the city has much to learn before finalizing permanent rules.
Industry representatives expressed concern about the new regulations. Julie Pauli of the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association and Ken Johnston, owner of Green Valley Mobile Estates, said they would closely monitor the city's next steps. Johnston stated that the ordinances add an unnecessary regulatory burden and that the complexity of parks containing varying structures and age ranges makes a rushed approach problematic.
