The City of Petaluma is an entitlement jurisdiction under the Community Development Block Grant program providing funds for projects and programs serving low-income seniors, persons with a disability and households with housing needs. The Block Grant Application is available for download below.

CDBG Application (215 KB)

Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) (353 KB)

 

The City of Petaluma is located 40 miles north of San Francisco in southern Sonoma County. Bisected by the Petaluma River and under the beautiful backdrop of the Sonoma Mountains, the city remains a unique, geographically defined community with a distinctive character, derived from its geography and physical diversity. Petaluma has a history of maintaining a “small town” atmosphere, even as its population and economic base have become increasingly urban. A burgeoning telecommunications industry has evolved in the last decade, attracted to Petaluma’s abundant resources, business climate, and quality of life. This change in the economic culture of the City has had significant impacts, particularly in the choice, cost and availability of housing.

The City's 1999-2009 Housing Element is the foundation of our affordable housing production and program implementation.

Appendix A – Residential Sites Inventory

2009-2014 Housing Element – Adopted and Certified

Vacancy Survey

 

 

The City of Petaluma's affordable housing development and program administration is implemented by many excellent nonprofit agencies.

Nonprofit Agency	Executive Director	Phone
Boys & Girls Clubs	David Solo	707.769.5322 ext. 11
Buckelew Programs	Steve Ramsland	415.457.6964
Burbank Housing Development Corp.	John Lowry	707.526.1020
Committee on the Shelterless (COTS)	John Records www.cots-homeless.org	707.765.9066
Community Resources for Independence (CRI)	Adam Brown	707.528.2745
Ecumenical Association for Housing	Mary Murtagh	415.258.1800
Eden Housing, Inc.	Linda Mandolini www.edenhousing.org	510.582.1460
Northbay Rehabilitation Services, Inc.	c/o John Stewart Co. Marcia Brown	415.453.6810
PEP Housing	Mary Stompe	707.762.2336
Petaluma People Service Center (PPSC)	Ron Kirtley	707.765.8488
Rebuilding Together	Jane Hamilton	707.765.3944
Salvation Army	Barbara & Scott Schneider	707.769.0716
Vietnam Veterans of CA Inc.	Peter Cameron	707.578.8387
Housing Land Trust of Sonoma County	Dev Goetschius	707.766.8875

 

As a result of the City Council's policies and budget allocations, the City has provided more than 1500 units of housing addressing the entire spectrum of community needs.

Projects & Programs (1985-2006)

City Assisted Housing Information

 

The City of Petaluma contracts with the Petaluma People Services Center to provide investigation of housing discrimination complaints. Housing discrimination is the unfair treatment of people based on their race, color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical/mental disabilities, or familial status. If you or someone you know feels they have been treated unfairly in their search for housing, please contact the Petaluma People Services Center.

Petaluma People Services Center also provides tenant/landlord mediation, information and referral services including an annual fair housing training workshop. Tenants are encourage to contact PPSC with questions or concerns

For more information, please contact:

Don Cohn of Petaluma People Services Center
1500-A Petaluma Blvd., So.,
Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: 707.765.8488
Fax: 707.765.8482

 

The City of Petaluma has had a First Time Homebuyer Program since the mid-1980’s. Petaluma is committed to making the owning of a home an affordable, reachable reality for low to moderate income home buyers. The program was created to give low and moderate income families the opportunity to participate in the “American Dream” of home ownership. The program makes housing affordable to families that would otherwise not be able to afford to live in Petaluma.

Program Details

The First Time Homebuyers Program is available for low and moderate-income households. Low and moderate income is from 80% to 120% of the area’s median income. This is determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is updated each year.

The City of Petaluma has subsidized the home financing with “silent seconds”. Resale controls are in place on all of the residences. The silent second mortgages are funded by revenues from in-lieu fees or land donations made by residential real estate developers.

After obtaining the maximum first mortgage your income will support, the City will provide funding to help bridge the gap between the amount of your first loan and the purchase price of the home. The City loan is secured by a second Deed of Trust on the property.

Application Process

Contact the Housing Division (707.778.4555) to request a First Time Homebuyer Application or you may download (pdf) the application.

Complete and return the application to the Housing Division at 27 Howard Street, Petaluma, CA 94952.

Your name will be placed on our mailing list and you will be notified by mail when a home becomes available for purchase.

Eligibility Criteria

1. First Time Home Buyer: You cannot have owned a home as their prinicipal residence within three (3) years prior to applying for this program with certain exceptions.
2. Owner Occupied: The home must be your principal place of residence and cannot be leased or rented during the term of the City loan.
3. Families that live or work within the City Limits are given a preference to purchase these homes.
4. Maximum Income: The household maximum qualifying incomes are revised annually and are as follows:

Household Size	Annual Gross Income (100% of median income)
1	$65,400
2	$74,640
3	$84,000
4	$93,360
5	$100,800
6	$108,240

Communities in the Program

• Magnolia Hills – Established in 1988
• Madison Manor – Established in 1990
• Cherry Hills – Established in 1992
• Hillview Oaks – Established in 1992
• Corona Crescent – Established in 1994
• Wisteria Homes – Established in 1996
• Frates Square – Established in 2007

For More Information

To receive more information about the First Time Homebuyers Program contact:

Sue Castellucci, Housing Coordinator
City of Petaluma
27 Howard Street, Petaluma, CA
Phone: 707.778.4563
Fax: 707.778.4586
Email: scastellucci@ci.petaluma.ca.us

Or

Marilyn Dwyer
City of Petaluma
27 Howard Street, Petaluma, CA
Phone: 707.778.4563
Fax: 707.778.4586

 

Petaluma’s Housing Fund consists of three programs - the Housing In-Lieu Program, the Commercial Linkage Fee Program and the Redevelopment Low/Mod Housing Program.  In the administration of the Housing Program, the City has assisted in land acquisition, on-and off-site improvements, rehabilitation, development costs, and a variety of housing programs.  The judicious use of these funds, mostly in conjunction with nonprofit housing organizations, has contributed to Petaluma’s success in meeting the City Council’s goal of providing 15% of the housing stock for our very low, low and moderate income residents, as well as enabling the provision of vital support services.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) explains the parameters of the Program, including agency and project eligibility requirements, proposal submittal requirements and the timeline for funding decisions.  If you have any questions, please contact the Housing Division at (707) 778-4555.

Request for Proposals