News and Updates
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Rent Stabilization Program Updates
Attorney General Issues Alert: Housing Discrimination Against Immigrant Communities is Illegal
In order to assist our community during recent increased immigration enforcement, the City of Santa Ana is sharing the following announcement from California Attorney General Rob Bonta regarding landlords and immigration authorities:
If immigration authorities like ICE demand tenant information from a landlord, such as a tenant’s rental application or other documents, the landlord may ask to see a warrant or other authority. Landlords should immediately seek legal advice to determine whether they must comply and to ensure that they do not violate California’s anti-discrimination and privacy laws.
There are different types of documents that ICE may present:
- An ICE administrative warrant or a notice to appear for an immigration hearing does not give ICE special powers to search a landlord’s records. Landlords should seek legal advice about how to respond.
- If ICE presents a warrant issued by a federal court or other court order signed by a judge, landlords should comply promptly and, where feasible, seek legal advice before responding.
- Landlords presented with a subpoena for documents or evidence should seek legal advice on how to respond.
- Landlords should not physically interfere with ICE officers in the performance of their duties.
For more information, please read the full statement from the Attorney General here.
For Spanish, read the full statement from the Attorney General here.
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2025-26 Maximum Allowable Rent Increase Announcement
The maximum allowable rent increase for the period September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, is:
2.42%
According to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reports changes to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the CPI increased by 3.02% from May 2024 through May 2025 (as shown in Table 1). The Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance requires the maximum allowable rent increase to be the lesser percent of either 3% or 80% of the CPI change. Since 80% of the change in CPI through May 2025 is less than 3%, the allowable rent increase for the period effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026, will be 2.42%.
Please use the links below for further information on the calculation of the maximum allowable increase, as well as further instructions on how property owners may apply the increase depending on when their last increase was applied.
| Notice of Allowable Rent Increase – English | Notice of Allowable Rent Increase – Spanish | Notice of Allowable Rent Increase – Vietnamese |
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Reminder: Rental Registry Registration Still Incomplete? Check Your Inbox or Mailbox
The City of Santa Ana’s Rent Stabilization Division has begun notifying rental property owners and managers who attempted—but did not complete—Rental Registry registration for the current program year.
If your user account has an email address on file, be on the lookout for an email reminder. If not, you’ll receive a mailed notice in the near future. These reminders explain that your registration is still incomplete due to unpaid fees.
To complete registration and stay in compliance with the City’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, payment of the Rental Registry fee is required. Late payments may incur penalties, and non-compliant landlords may face restrictions in managing their rental units.
Need help completing your registration? Please utilize the links below to access the Rental Registry portal, review the User Guide, or contact our team for assistance.
| Rental Registry (RR) | Contact Us | RR User Guide |
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Upcoming Community Events
Join us to learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (RSJCEO). Our staff will be attending local events to assist tenants and landlords in understanding the ordinance and how it impacts housing stability.
More Workshops Coming Soon:
We’re also developing more workshops and events to address the topics that matter most to you. If there’s a subject you’d like us to cover or revisit, we’d love to hear your suggestions! Stay tuned to future newsletters for updates on upcoming opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with us. Together, we can build a more informed and empowered community.
| Community Workshops Webpage |
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Serving our Residents
City staff serves the public on a daily basis by responding to telephone and email inquiries about the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance and general landlord/tenant issues. Persons contacting the City include landlords, tenants, real estate brokers, prospective tenants and prospective property owners. The most common topics of concern are evictions, allowable rent increases, and the City’s Rental Registry.
Public Inquiries & Interactions
May 2024 to May 2025
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Community Outreach
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Kona Kai Mobilehome – Tenant Workshop:
On Thursday, July 11, 2025, the Rent Stabilization Division hosted a Know Your Rights Tenant Workshop in direct response to requests from local residents. Held in a neighborhood setting, the workshop provided tenants with essential information about the City of Santa Ana’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. Topics included rent increase limits, lawful reasons for eviction, and how to file a petition or complaint with the City. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and connect with staff one-on-one about their housing concerns. By hosting this workshop, the Division reaffirmed its commitment to delivering tenant education and support that is both responsive and community-centered. |
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Rental Housing Board – Now Accepting Applications
The Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (“Ordinance”) establishes a Rental Housing Board to administer and enforce renter protections for Santa Ana tenants.
Under Section 8-3180 of the Ordinance, the Rental Housing Board (“Board”) is comprised of seven (7) members appointed by the City Council, with each Councilmember selecting one (1) member through an equitable random lottery process. The Board includes:
- Three (3) Tenants, including at least one (1) Mobilehome Tenant;
- Two (2) Landlords with rental property experience; and
- Two (2) At-Large Members with no financial interest in or ownership of income-generating rental housing (e.g., an owner-occupant of a single-family home).
Currently, there are four (4) vacancies on the Board. If you or someone you know is interested in serving your community by contributing to the oversight of renter protections and housing policies, we encourage you to apply.
Applications are available on the City Clerk’s Office website. Join us in supporting fair and equitable housing practices in Santa Ana—apply today!
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Know Your Rights
If you believe the owner or property manager of your rental unit or mobile home may not be in compliance with the Ordinance, or if you need assistance interpreting the Ordinance, please reach out to one of the City’s community partners:
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Fair Housing Council of Orange County 2021 E. 4th Street, Suite 122 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Phone: 714-569-0823 Option 4 |
Community Legal Aid SoCal 2101 North Tustin Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92705 Phone: 714-571-5200 |
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Public Law Center 601 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701 Phone: 714-541-1010 x 303 |
Latino Health Access 450 W 4th Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 Phone: 714-542-7792 |
Seek Mediation Services
Mediation is a voluntary collaborative process wherein the landlord and tenant(s) who have a disagreement can develop options, consider alternatives, and develop a consensual agreement. The role of the Mediator is to facilitate open communication to resolve a dispute in a non-adversarial and confidential manner.
Contact us to access mediation services in collaboration with our community partner Groundswell.
The California Courts Self-Help Guide assists landlords and tenants by offering the following resources:
- Landlords: Starting an eviction case (an unlawful detainer court case)
- Tenants: Understanding your options if you get a Notice to Quit or Summons and Complaint
Click here for more eviction and housing self-help resources.
Please be advised, the City does not recommend or endorse any particular law firm or agency, but leaves it up to tenants to determine their best course of action and chosen representation, if necessary.
Contact Us:801 W. Civic Center Drive Suite 200 Santa Ana, CA 92701 Email: rso@santa-ana.org Tel: (714) 667-2209 Fax: (714) 547-5411 |
Quick Links: |
If you have any difficulty connecting with the links in this Newsletter, enter the following website address into an internet browser to explore the City’s website – www.santa-ana.org/renter-protections