The Brunswick Town Council will consider a moratorium on mobile home lot rent increases at its next meeting in response to what some say are unsustainable costs of living for residents of the town’s seven mobile home parks.

If adopted, the emergency moratorium would prevent landlords from increasing lot rents for 180 days, regardless of whether the landlord informed tenants of the increase. If park owners violate the moratorium, they face a $200 fine for each lot.

The council voted unanimously Monday to send the measure to a public hearing, which will take place on Nov. 17.

In September, the council appropriated $32,000 to fund a study on potential rent stabilization policies for mobile home parks. The town sent out 1,200 notices to park residents in October, informing them of a survey available online and in person at the town clerk’s office, Town Manager Julia Henze said Monday night. As part of the study, landlords will also be interviewed.

The study followed a June workshop where councilors heard from park residents and discussed a possible rent stabilization ordinance, which could curb park owners’ abilities to raise rents at will.

Residents from Bay Bridge Estates — one of Brunswick’s seven mobile home parks and the largest park in the state — have spearheaded the effort along with District 1 Councilor David Watson.

Many mobile home owners pay their lot rent in addition to their mortgage, utilities and upkeep. Moving a mobile home can cost thousands, leaving residents stuck if a landlord decides to raise the lot rent.

“It’s really an urgent policy decision that we’re facing,” Sally Costello, Brunswick’s economic and community development director, told the council Monday night. “There are more than 1,200 mobile home lots which provide much-needed housing for thousands of Brunswick residents at or below median income level, and in response to continuing complaints about rapid lot increases and escalating fees from the residents of our mobile home parks, we’re asking for this emergency action.”

If adopted, the pause in rent increases will give the town time to complete the mobile home rent study, consider next steps and potentially draft a rent stabilization ordinance, Costello said.

The moratorium will apply to mobile home parks where residents own their homes and rent their lots, but will not apply to two parks where residents rent their homes only.

Brunswick is one of many Maine towns currently considering some form of rent control to slow costs in mobile home parks.

Sanford and Waterville both enacted moratoriums on mobile home rent increases last month. In Old Orchard Beach, residents voted last year to approve a rent stabilization ordinance, capping annual rent increases at mobile home parks at 5%.

Residents at Linnhaven Mobile Home Center in Brunswick purchased their park in October 2024 to prevent the park from being sold to an out-of-state buyer, joining a growing number of resident-owned cooperative communities in Maine. Rent stabilization in Brunswick, if enacted, wouldn’t apply to resident-owned parks.

Also at the Nov. 17 council meeting, there will be a public hearing on a separate emergency measure to temporarily pause new housing developments outside of Brunswick’s designated growth zoning area to allow the town to evaluate its development policy.

If adopted, the council plans on taking the six-month moratorium period to consider a cap on new units in the town’s rural areas, where residents have expressed concerns about the rate of growth.