Sonoma State University

Petitioning to Break Student Housing License Agreement

Every resident, otherwise known as "the Licensee," accepts the terms of the Student Housing License Agreement prior to moving into the Residential Community. The Student Housing License Agreement is a binding legal contract for the academic year, meaning that once signed, residents are expected to live in on-campus housing from Move-in Day in August through 24 hours after their last final just before Commencement in May.

Please visit the Academic Year License Agreement to review the agreement you agreed to when accepting a housing assignment.   

If you choose to petition this agreement, please know the license agreement remains in effect while the petition is reviewed and you are obligated to make all payments according to the Rate & Installments Schedule. 

There is a $250 service fee for petitions turned in with less than a 30-day notice. Students petitioning in the Fall semester to not return for the Spring semester must turn in their petition prior to November 15 to not be charged this fee. 

NOTE: Submitting a Petition to Break the License Agreement does not imply approval. It is highly recommended students not sign a lease off-campus or make other rental commitments until the Petition has been approved. 

Categories for Consideration

If your situation has changed since you checked into your housing assignment this academic year and you are no longer able to live on campus due to one of the following reasons, you will need to submit a Petition to Break Your Housing License Agreement for:

Medical Reason(s) 

A medical situation has arisen since you moved in, or a medical condition has continued to develop where living on campus poses a danger to your health

Unexpected Financial Reason(s)

Your financial situation has changed since you moved in

Unexpected Hardship

An unforeseen family or personal reason has developed since you moved in

The Petition to Break the License Agreement for Extraordinary Reasons is reviewed by a committee. Follow-up discussions either in person, by email, via Zoom, or over the phone may take place for medical, financial, and personal reasons. It is the student's responsibility to submit evidence of their claim. If a student refuses to submit paperwork, then the Petition to Break the License Agreement will be denied. Generally, you will receive notification of the decision within seven to ten business days. 

If you are exploring withdrawing from Sonoma State for any of the following reasons, you will need to complete the "Withdrawal completely from Sonoma State University – for total term" form online:

  • Graduating
  • Military Service
  • Taking a Leave of Absence
  • Transferring to Another College or University
  • No Longer Attending Sonoma State

You must vacate your room within 72 hours of the date of submitting your withdrawal from the University, called the "Planned Move-out Date" on the form mentioned above. Residents who have petitioned to break their license agreement for the end of the Fall semester must vacate 24 hours after their last final. These residents should submit a Petition to Break License Agreement or the online withdrawal form no later than November 15th to avoid a fee for not providing 30 day notice. 

All personal belongings must be removed by the Planned Move-Out Date; otherwise you will continue to be billed. If you need to extend your move-out date slightly, please email us at housing@sonoma.edu with the new information. 

If you have met someone new since moving into on-campus housing and decided to get married, you are eligible to submit a Petition to Break Your Housing License Agreement. An official marriage or domestic partner certificate is required and needs to be provided for review. Please email housing@sonoma.edu for a Word document of the Petition to Break License Agreement if you do not have access to a printer.

If you are participating in National Student Exchange, International Student Exchange, or Study Abroad, you will need to complete the "Withdraw from SSU and Campus Housing" form online.

We apologize if this feels confusing as we know you are not withdrawing from SSU. The university is working to update this process and form.

If a medical situation has arisen for you since you moved in, or a medical condition has continued to develop where living on campus poses a danger to your health, you are eligible to submit a Petition to Break Your Housing License Agreement. Please email housing@sonoma.edu for a Word document of this form if you do not have access to a printer. When completing this form, please submit documentation from your physician stating why living off-campus will improve your health (or not continually negatively impact your health).

If your financial situation has changed since you moved in, you are eligible to submit a Petition to Break Your Housing License Agreement. Please email housing@sonoma.edu for a Word document of this form if you do not have access to a printer. When completing this form, please submit documentation demonstrating of what has changed and how it is/was unavoidable.

You must demonstrate how all resources have been exhausted to help resolve the situation and that breaking your housing license agreement is a last resort.  Some items to consider when submitting your petition:

  • What have you done to resolve your financial situation (additional financial aid, Parent Plus Loan, on or off-campus job, etc.)?
  • Have you changed your housing assignment to a less expensive accommodation?
  • Would you be moving back into a parent, family member, or guardian's home?
  • Would you be paying rent at the new location and if so, how much?  What about utilities?

If your personal situation has changed since you moved in and is not covered by the options above, you are eligible to submit a Petition to Break Your Housing License Agreement. Please email housing@sonoma.edu for a Word document of this form if you do not have access to a printer. When completing this form, please submit documentation demonstrating of what has changed and how it is/was unavoidable.

You must demonstrate how all resources have been exhausted to help resolve the situation and that breaking your housing license agreement is a last resort. If your reasons are due to non-University related events, you must provide verifiable documentation supporting your case. Some items to consider when submitting your petition:

  • What efforts have you exhausted to address and/or resolve this situation?
  • Have you changed your housing assignment to a different accommodation?
  • What university staff members (student or full-time) have you spoken with about your situation and what was the resolution?