The Auburn City Council passed, on first reading, a proposed mobile home lot rent stabilization ordinance Monday night after voting earlier this year to prohibit mobile home lot rent increases citywide.

It brings to an end months of workshopping language to protect residents of trailer parks in the city after some came forward at the beginning of the year asking the city to control steep rent increases.

According to Eric Cousens, executive director of public services for the city, there are three mobile home parks in Auburn: Ja-Lynne Mobile Home Park at 1350 Turner St., 51 lots/homes; Stevens Mill Mobile Home Park at 244 Stevens Mill Road, 33 lots/homes; and Washington Street Mobile Home Park at 764 Washington St., 35 lots/homes.

Some lots, he said, “may be vacant at any given time and some lots contain homes owned by the park owner that are rented as homes, rather than just lots.”

The ordinance caps mobile home lot rent increases at 5% or the annual consumer price index, whichever is lower, and limits increases to once a year, requiring a 90-day notice.

The cap does not apply to lots that become lawfully vacant, an aspect debated by some councilors in previous meetings.

Many other towns have implemented mobile home lot rent moratoriums and rent stabilization ordinances as private equity firms and out-of-state corporations continue to buy up trailer parks and then raise rents.

Two people spoke in favor of the ordinance Monday night during the public hearing. The council then approved it 6-1, with Ward 5 Councilor Leroy Walker Sr. voting against.

At a future meeting, the council will take a second and final vote on the ordinance.