799.20. TITLE OF CHAPTER This chapter shall be known
and may be cited as the "Recreational Vehicle Park Occupancy Law." (Enacted
by Ch. 1185 (1979), eff. 1/1/80)
799.21. APPLICATION OF DEFINITIONS Unless the provisions
or context otherwise require, the following definitions shall govern the
construction of this chapter. (Enacted by Ch. 1185 (1979), eff. 1/1/80)
799.22. DEFINITION OF DEFAULTING OCCUPANT "Defaulting
occupant" means an occupant who fails to pay for his or her occupancy in
a park or who fails to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations
of the park given to the occupant upon registration. (Amended by AB3074,
Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.23. DEFINITION OF DEFAULTING RESIDENT "Defaulting
resident" means a resident who fails to pay for his or her occupancy in
a park, fails to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of
the park given to the resident upon registration or during the term of
his or her occupancy in the park, or who violates any of the provisions
contained in Article 5 (commencing with Section 799.70). (Amended by AB3074,
Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.24. DEFINITION OF DEFAULTING TENANT "Defaulting
tenant" means a tenant who fails to pay for his or her occupancy in a park
or fails to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of the
park given to the person upon registration or during the term of his or
her occupancy in the park. (Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.25. DEFINITION OF GUEST "Guest" means a person
who is lawfully occupying a recreational vehicle located in a park but
who is not an occupant, tenant, or resident. An occupant, tenant, or resident
shall be responsible for the actions of his or her guests. (Amended by
AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.26. DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT "Management" means
the owner of a recreational vehicle park or an agent or representative
authorized to act on his or her behalf in connection with matters relating
to the park. (Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.27. DEFINITION OF OCCUPANCY "Occupancy" and
"occupy' refer to the use of a recreational vehicle park lot by an occupant,
tenant, or resident. (Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)In
the event that the interest in the mobilehome park is transferred to any
other party or entity, the successor in interest shall have the same obligations
of management contained in this section with respect to the security deposit.
799.28. DEFINITION OF OCCUPANT "Occupant" means
the owner or operator of a recreational vehicle who has occupied a lot
in a park for thirty (30) days or less. (Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992,
eff. 1/1/93)
799.29. DEFINITION OF RV "Recreational vehicle"
has the same meaning as defined in Section 18010 of the Health and Safety
Code. (Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.30. DEFINITION OF RV PARK "Recreational vehicle
park" or "park" has the same meaning as defined in Section 18215 of the
Health and Safety Code. (Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.31. DEFINITION OF RESIDENT "Resident" means
a tenant who has occupied a lot in a park for nine (9) months or more.
(Amended by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.32. DEFINITION OF TENANT "Tenant" means the
owner or operator of a recreational vehicle who has occupied a lot in a
park for more than thirty (30) consecutive days. (Added by AB3074, Ch.
310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.40. CUMULATIVE RIGHTS The rights created by this
chapter shall be cumulative and in addition to any other legal rights the
management of a park may have against a defaulting occupant, tenant, or
resident, or that an occupant, tenant, or resident may have against the
management of a park. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.41. NOT APPLICABLE TO MOBILEHOMES Nothing in
this chapter shall apply to a mobilehome as defined in Section 18008 of
the Health and Safety Code or to a manufactured home as defined in Section
18007 of the Health and Safety Code. (Added of AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff.
1/1/93)
799.42. NO WAIVER OF RIGHTS No occupant registration
agreement or tenant rental agreement shall contain a provision by which
the occupant or tenant waives his or her rights under the provisions of
this chapter, and any waiver of these rights shall be deemed contrary to
public policy and void. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.43. REGISTRATION AGREEMENT The registration
agreement between a park and an occupant thereof shall be in writing and
shall contain, in addition to the provisions otherwise required by law
to be included, the term of the occupancy and the rent therefor, the fees,
if any, to be charged for services which will be provided by the park,
and a statement of the grounds for which a defaulting occupant's recreational
vehicle may be removed as specified in Section 799.22 without a judicial
hearing after the service of a 72hour notice pursuant to this chapter and
the telephone number of the local traffic law enforcement agency. (Added
by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.44. RULES AND REGULATIONS At the time of registration,
an occupant shall be given a copy of the rules and regulations of the park.
(Added of AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.45. RENTAL AGREEMENT OPTIONAL The management
may offer a rental agreement to an occupant of the park who intends to
remain in the park for a period in excess of 30 consecutive days. (Amended
by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.46. SIGN REQUIREMENT/REASONS FOR RV REMOVAL
At the entry to a recreational vehicle park, or within the separate designated
section for recreational vehicles within a mobilehome park, there shall
be displayed in plain view on the property a sign indicating that the recreational
vehicle may be removed from the premises for the reasons specified in Section
799.22 and containing the telephone number of the local traffic law enforcement
agency. Nothing in this section shall prevent management from additionally
displaying the sign in other locations within the park. (Amended by AB3074,
Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.55. 72-HOUR NOTICE As a prerequisite to the right
of management to have a defaulting occupant's recreational vehicle removed
from the lot which is the subject of the registration agreement between
the park and the occupant pursuant to Section 799.57, the management shall
serve a 72hour written notice as prescribed in Section 799.56. A defaulting
occupant may correct his or her payment deficiency within the 72hour period
during normal business hours. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.56. 72-HOUR NOTICE TO DEFAULTING OCCUPANT (a)
The 72hour written notice shall be served by delivering a copy to the defaulting
occupant personally or to a person of suitable age and discretion who is
occupying the recreational vehicle located on the lot. In the latter event,
a copy of the notice shall also be affixed in a conspicuous place on the
recreational vehicle and shall be sent through the mail addressed to the
occupant at the place where the property is located and, if available,
any other address which the occupant has provided to management in the
registration agreement. Delivery of the 72hour notice to a defaulting occupant
who is incapable of removing the occupant's recreational vehicle from the
park because of a physical incapacity shall not be sufficient to satisfy
the requirements of this section.(b) In the event that the defaulting occupant
is incapable of removing the occupant's recreational vehicle from the park
because of a physical incapacity or because the recreational vehicle is
not motorized and cannot be moved by the occupant's vehicle, the default
shall be cured within 72 hours, but the date to quit shall be no less than
seven days after service of the notice.(c) The management shall also serve
a copy of the notice to the city police if the park is located in a city,
or, if the park is located in an unincorporated area, to the county sheriff.
(Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.57. NOTICE OF RV REMOVAL The written 72hour
notice shall state that if the defaulting occupant does not remove the
recreational vehicle from the premises of the park within 72 hours after
receipt of the notice, the management has authority pursuant to Section
799.58 to have the recreational vehicle removed from the lot to the nearest
secured storage facility. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.58. RV REMOVAL/NOTICE TO SHERIFF Subsequent
to serving a copy of the notice specified in this article to the city police
or county sheriff, whichever is appropriate, and after the expiration of
72 hours following service of the notice on the defaulting occupant, the
police or sheriff, shall remove or cause to be removed any person in the
recreational vehicle. The management may then remove or cause the removal
of a defaulting occupant's recreational vehicle parked on the premises
of the park to the nearest secured storage facility. The notice shall be
void seven days after the date of service of the notice. (Added by Ch.
310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.59. REASONABLE CARE IN RV REMOVAL When the management
removes or causes the removal of a defaulting occupant's recreational vehicle,
the management and the individual or entity that removes the recreational
vehicle shall exercise reasonable and ordinary care in removing the recreational
vehicle to the storage area. (Added, AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.65. FIVE DAYS TO PAY DUE RENT/THREE-DAY NOTICE TO VACATE
The management may terminate the tenancy of a defaulting tenant for nonpayment
of rent, utilities, or reasonable incidental service charges, provided
the amount due shall have been unpaid for a period of five days from its
due date, and provided the tenant has been given a threeday written notice
subsequent to that fiveday period to pay the total amount due or to vacate
the park. For purposes of this section, the fiveday period does not include
the date the payment is due. The threeday notice shall be given to the
tenant in the manner prescribed by Section 1162 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
Any payment of the total charges due, prior to the expiration of the threeday
period, shall cure any default of the tenant. In the event the tenant does
not pay prior to the expiration of the threeday notice period, the tenant
shall remain liable for all payments due up until the time the tenancy
is vacated. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.66. THIRTY DAYS' NOTICE OF TERMINATION The management
may terminate or refuse to renew the right of occupancy of a tenant for
other than nonpayment of rent or other charges upon the giving of a written
notice to the tenant in the manner prescribed by Section 1162 of the Code
of Civil Procedure to remove the recreational vehicle from the park. The
notice need not state the cause for termination but shall provide not less
than 30 days' notice of termination of tenancy. (Added by SB1349, Ch. 167
(1994), eff. 1/1/95)
799.67. EVICTION PROCEDURES Evictions pursuant to
this article shall be subject to the requirements set forth in Chapter
4 (commencing with Section 1159) of Title 3 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, except as otherwise provided in this article. (Added by AB3074,
Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.70. TERMINATION OF TENANCY/NOTICE The management
may terminate or refuse to renew the right of occupancy of a defaulting
resident upon the giving of a written notice to the defaulting resident
in the manner prescribed by Section 1162 of the Code of Civil Procedure
to remove the recreational vehicle from the park. This notice shall provide
not less than 60 days' notice of termination of the right of occupancy
and shall specify one of the following reasons for the termination of the
right of occupancy:(a) Nonpayment of rent, utilities, or reasonable incidental
service charges; provided, that the amount due has been unpaid for a period
of five days from its due date, and provided that the resident shall be
given a threeday written notice subsequent to that fiveday period to pay
the total amount due or to vacate the park. For purposes of this subdivision,
the fiveday period does not include the date the payment is due. The threeday
notice shall be given to the resident in the manner prescribed by Section
1162 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The threeday notice may be given at
the same time as the 60day notice required for termination of the right
of occupancy; provided, however, that any payment of the total charges
due, prior to the expiration of the threeday period, shall cure any default
of the resident. In the event the resident does not pay prior to the expiration
of the threeday notice period, the resident shall remain liable for all
payments due up until the time the tenancy is vacated.(b) Failure of the
resident to comply with a local ordinance or state law or regulation relating
to the recreational vehicle park or recreational vehicles within a reasonable
time after the resident or the management receives a notice of noncompliance
from the appropriate governmental agency and the resident has been provide
with a copy of that notice.(c) Conduct by the resident or guest, upon the
park premises, which constitutes a substantial annoyance to other occupants,
tenants, or residents.(d) Conviction of the resident of prostitution, or
a felony controlled substance offense, if the act resulting in the conviction
was committed anywhere on the premises of the park, including, but not
limited to, within the resident's recreational vehicle. However, the right
of occupancy may not be terminated for the reason specified in this subdivision
if the person convicted of the offense has permanently vacated, and does
not subsequently reoccupy, the recreational vehicle.(e) Failure of the
resident or a guest to comply with a rule or regulation of the park which
is part of the rental agreement or any amendment thereto. No act or omission
of the resident or guest shall constitute a failure to comply with a rule
or regulation unless the resident has been notified in writing of the violation
& has failed to correct the violation within seven days of the issuance
of the written notification.(f) Condemnation of the park.(g) Change of
use of the park or any portion thereof. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310 (1992),
eff. 1/1/93)
799.71. EVICTION PROCEDURES Evictions pursuant to
this article shall be subject to the require ments set forth in Chapter
4 (commencing with Section 1159) of Title 3 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, except as otherwise provided in this article. (Added by AB3074,
Ch. 310 (1992), eff. 1/1/93)
799.75. UPON DEFAULT/CIVIL CODE PROCEDURE The management shall have a lien upon the recreational vehicle and the contents therein for the proper charges due from a defaulting occu pant, tenant, or resident. Such a lien shall be identical to that authorized by Section 1861, and shall be enforced as provided by Sections 1861 to 1861.28, inclusive. Disposition of any possessions abandoned by an occupant, tenant, or resident at a park shall be per formed pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1980) of Title 5 of Part 4 of Division 3. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.78. ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS In any action arising
out of the provisions of this chapter, the prevailing party shall be entitled
to reasonable attorney's fees and costs. A party shall be deemed a prevailing
party for the purposes of this section if the judgment is rendered in his
or her favor or where the litigation is dismissed in his or her favor prior
to or during the trial, unless the parties otherwise agree in the settlement
or compromise. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93)
799.79. $500 DAMAGES/WILLFUL VIOLATIONS BY MANAGEMENT
In the event that an occupant, tenant, or resident or a former occupant,
tenant, or resident is the prevailing party in a civil action against the
management to enforce his or her rights under this chapter, the occupant,
tenant, or resident, in addition to damages afforded by law, may, in the
discretion of the court, be awarded an amount not to exceed five hundred
dollars ($500) for each willful violation of any provision of this chapter
by the management. (Added by AB3074, Ch. 310, 1992, eff. 1/1/93) _______________
* Identifies sections that have been added, amended or repealed by '97 legislation.