The Sausalito Floating Homes Association (FHA) Legislative Action Committee (LAC) has issued a report summarizing results from the recent survey to gauge community opinion on potential changes to provisions governing berth rents proposed for the California Floating Homes Residency Law (FHRL).
The report is being sent to dock reps for distribution to their neighbors, to marina operators and to legislators, who will determine whether to introduce the proposed amendments to the state legislature.
These proposed changes were the outcome of over 18 months of negotiations between the FHA/LAC and the owners of the four marinas in the Sausalito floating homes community. The opinion survey results showed strong community support.
Background
Assembly Bill 252 (A.B. 252), effective January 1, 2023, amended the FHRL to provide controls on increases to annual berth rents. The impetus for A.B. 252 began in Alameda where a marina owner unexpectedly increased houseboat monthly berth rents by almost a third. As enacted, A.B. 252 established for the first time a state berth rent control law that affected floating home marinas in the counties of Alameda, Marin and Contra Costa. A.B. 252 is set to expire at the end of 2029 if not renewed by the California Legislature.
Sausalito marina owners objected that A.B. 252 legislation had been passed without their input and were particularly incensed by the new prohibition on increasing berth rent when a houseboat sells (aka “vacancy control”). Previously, there had been no such limits. Initially, state and local lawmakers sided with the marina owners, but resistance from houseboat residents compelled lawmakers to reconsider and launch negotiations between the houseboat community and the marina owners to broker more equitable legislation.
In November 2023, the FHA formed the LAC. Over the next year and a half, the LAC worked in concert with the marina owners and the County of Marin to negotiate legislative changes and arrive at a mutually beneficial compromise. Assemblymember Damon Connolly had made it clear that his willingness to introduce legislation to amend the FHRL concerning floating home rent control within Marin County hinged upon there being demonstrated community support for the proposed legislative changes. In response, the LAC embarked on a community outreach campaign in March and April 2025, which included distribution of online and print informational materials, in-person and virtual information meetings, and the release of a survey to gauge community opinion.
Community Outreach Process
Informational Materials. The LAC created a 12-page informational document that was distributed to floating home owners and residents via email and as hard copies at the in-person dock meetings. An online summary of the 12-page document was created and posted on the FHA website with a link to download a full PDF version.
In-Person Dock Meetings. In March 2025, the LAC conducted in-person resident meetings on the individual docks in the Sausalito floating homes community. One virtual meeting was conducted over Zoom for residents who were unable to attend their dock’s in-person meeting. The dock meetings, led by key LAC negotiators Anna Shimko and Sasha Cole, provided details of the negotiation process, outlined the proposed legislative changes, and afforded residents the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. The in-person dock meetings were well attended and generated constructive questions and comments. In fact, certain comments led to further negotiated refinements to the draft rent control proposal.
Community Opinion Survey. On April 7, 2025, the LAC released a one-page online opinion survey (see Appendix 3 of the package) to over 600 community members via email using the MailChimp marketing platform. The survey’s distribution list was compiled from the current lists of floating home community residents, which is maintained by the FHA Dock Rep for each dock. The survey was distributed to floating homeowners (resident and non-resident), renters, spouses, roommates, and adult-aged children. FHA Dock Representatives provided paper copies of the survey to those who preferred not to respond online. Reminder emails encouraging survey recipients to respond were sent on April 9, 13, 15, and 16. The survey closed on April 16 at 11:59 pm. The survey format allowed respondents to write comments. The substantive comments are provided in Appendix 4 of the package being distributed by dock reps.
Community Outreach Survey Results
- 614 members of the floating home community received a survey.
- 67% responded with a completed survey.
- 90% of respondents own floating homes, 10% rent floating homes.
- 97% of respondents read the available informational materials.
- 93% supported the proposed changes to the negotiated berth rent control legislation.
Recognition
The FHA/LAC would like to thank the residents of the Sausalito floating homes community; the owners/representatives of Commodore Marina, Kappas Marina, Yellow Ferry Harbor, and Waldo Point Harbor; the County of Marin, in particular Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters, Talia Smith and Doreen Gounard; and Assemblymember Damon Connolly and his staff for their support during this effort. The Marin County Board of Supervisors President, Mary Sackett, aptly wrote, “The final proposal is a testament to what can be achieved when a grassroots, community-based approach meaningfully engages all affected stakeholders.”