Campus News
Notice of open comment: UC Policy on Relocation Assistance Act
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on proposed revisions to the Presidential Policy on Relocation Assistance Act Policy for Real Estate Acquisition and Leases.
The University of California Office of the President invites comments on proposed revisions to the Presidential Policy on Relocation Assistance Act Policy for Real Estate Acquisition and Leases. The clean and tracked changes versions are available for review on the UC Santa Cruz Policy Coordination website.
The University is required to comply with the California Relocation Assistance Law (California Government Code Section 7260 et seq.), which requires that all public entities adopt rules and regulations to administer relocation assistance and to implement the payments under this law. The University approved its Relocation Policy in 1974 and last updated it in 2013.
The Relocation Policy is required to conform to the Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Guidelines (“Guidelines”) adopted by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Where possible, the Policy addresses common University situations including the standard process for acquiring property and dealing with UC affiliated tenants in housing.
The policy is proposed to be revised and includes the following key issues:
The policy applies to situations where persons or businesses are required to vacate occupancy of property as a result of lease or acquisition or other displacing activity by The Regents, including, but not limited to, the acquisition, leasing, demolition, or rehabilitation of property by the University. Such persons are referred to as “Displaced Persons.” Subject to the conditions established herein, a Displaced Person does not include:
- Any person who has been determined to be in unlawful occupancy
- Any person who moved in after the Regents acquired or leased the property
- Any person who occupied the property for the purpose of obtaining relocation benefits and assistance
- Any University-affiliated resident and their family members, who is required to move pursuant to the terms of a lease or rental agreement that allows the University or landlord to move or transfer the University-affiliated resident to another replacement dwelling
- Any University-affiliated resident and their family members who is required to move because such resident’s affiliation with the University has terminated
- A University-affiliated resident and their family members occupying a University-owned residential property, or a dwelling that serves University-affiliated residents, provided that no displacement occurs during the term of the rental agreement
- A person who is not required to move permanently or temporarily as a result of the University acquisition or project
- An owner-occupant who moves as a result of offering the property for sale
The Policy outlines the University’s compliance requirements, including:
- Providing a comprehensive relocation assistance program;
- Ensuring Displaced Persons receive guidance, timely notice, and access to comparable replacement housing before displacement or assistance in finding alternative business property, along with support services to minimize hardship; and
- Financial compensation available to eligible Displaced Persons, including payments for moving expenses, property losses, business reestablishment, and housing cost differences, along with rules for eligibility, documentation, and claims.
The policy clarifies that the expiration or early termination of a long-term ground lease in which the land and any improvements revert back to the University is not a displacing activity.
Comments may be submitted to the Policy Coordination Office at PCO@ucsc.edu by December 10, 2026.