Rent Stabilization Division FAQs

When is the deadline for a Landlord to complete Rental Unit registration for the July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 program year which includes submitting the Rental Unit Registration Form and paying the Rental Registry Fee?

July 1, 2025.

Rental Unit registration completed on July 2, 2025 or later will be considered a late registration.

What happens if a Landlord doesn’t complete Rental Unit registration by July 1, 2025?

The City may commence enforcement against any Landlord who fails to register a Rental Unit, or provide current and accurate data regarding a Rental Unit.

No Landlord shall advertise for rent, demand or accept Rent for a Rental Unit, or evict any Tenant from a Rental Unit, if the Rental Unit Registration is not complete and accurate. No Rent increases shall take effect for any Rental Unit unless the Landlord has accurately completed the Rental Unit Registration. See SAMC § 8-3160 (k).

Is there a monetary penalty for failure to complete Rental Unit registration by July 1, 2025?

Yes. The City may assess additional late charges. See SAMC § 8-3161 (c).

If a Landlord submitted a Registration Form on the Rental Registry a few years ago, why is the Landlord receiving another notice?

Rental Unit registration is an annual requirement. The Rent Stabilization Division will send a notice about annual registration every year. See SAMC § 803160 (f).

If a Landlord recently completed a Registration Form on the Rental Registry and paid the Rental Registry Fee, why is the Landlord receiving another notice in 2025?

The previous program year’s registration period ended on January 31, 2025. If a Landlord recently completed a Registration Form and paid the Rental Registry Fee, after January 31, 2025, the Registration was late.

The current program year is July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, so Landlords are receiving a notice to comply with the current program year.

How much can a Landlord increase a Tenant’s Rent?

The Rent Stabilization Division will determine the maximum allowable Rent Increase on the lesser number of 3% or 80% of the percent change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

When is the annual maximum allowable Rent Increase percentage published?

The Rent Stabilization Division will announce the annual maximum allowable Rent increase percentage by June 30^th of each year, and it shall be effective on September 1^st of each year.

How often can a Landlord increase a Tenant’s Rent?

Landlords may raise a Tenant’s Rent once every 12 months, and the Rent Increase cannot be more than the City’s maximum allowable Rent increase percentage.

If a Landlord submitted and received approval for a claim of exemption for a Rental Unit, is the claim of exemption permanent?

No. The annual process of Rental Unit registration includes filing an annual claim of exemption. If the claim of exemption and requisite supporting documents are not submitted by July 1 of each year for any Rental Unit, the Rental Unit shall be deemed to be subject to the provisions of the Ordinance. See SAMC § 8-3160(d).

What is the Rental Registry Fee?

The Rental Registry Fee is a fee adopted per City Council to support the cost to implement, administer, monitor, support, and enforce the provision of the Ordinance. See SAMC § 8-3161.

Who is required to pay the Rental Registry Fee?

Landlords are required to pay the City a Rental Registry Fee for each Rental Unit owned in the City that is subject to the Ordinance.

How much is the Rental Registry Fee?

The Rental Registry Fee for each Rental Unit for the program year July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 is $100.

The amount of the Fee is determined by resolution of the City Council adopted from time to time and set forth in the City’s Miscellaneous Fee Schedule. See SAMC § 8-3161 (a).

What is the Rental Registry pass-through fee?

After timely payment of the Rental Registry Fee, a Landlord may pass through up to fifty percent (50%) of the Fee to Tenant(s) of the applicable Rental Unit, to be paid by the Tenant in twelve (12) equal monthly installments.

For the upcoming billing period of July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, a Landlord can pass-through 50% of $100 which is $50. The Landlord may split the $50 pass-through fee in twelve (12) equal monthly installments.

Can a Landlord include the Rental Registry pass-through fee in the Rent amount when calculating a Rent Increase?

No. The Fee pass-through is not considered part of the Rent in calculating any Rent Increase.

Can a Landlord include the Rental Registry pass-through fee in the Rent amount on a monthly Rent statement or invoice?

No. The Fee pass-through is not considered part of the Rent. The Fee can be noted as a payable fee separate from Rent.

If a Landlord previously received a mailed invoice to pay the Rental Registry Fee, will the Landlord receive another mailed invoice?

No. Invoices are generated electronically in the Rental Registry after the Registration Form is submitted.

The Division mass mailed invoices during the first program year to facilitate Initial Registration for Rental Units in the Rental Registry, and the Division will no longer continue the practice. Invoices will only be generated electronically within the Rental Registry.

Does a Landlord have to submit a completed Registration Form for a Rental Unit if the terms of Tenancy, including Rent, have remained the same since the submission of the previous Registration Form?

Yes. Landlords are required to submit accurate and complete Registration Forms on an annual basis. See SAMC § 8-3160.

If a Landlord who registered their Rental Unit last year subsequently sold or transferred the Rental Unit, can the Division remove the Landlord from the Rental Registry?

No. Landlords are required to provide written notice of a change of ownership through the Rental Registry within thirty (30) days of the close of escrow. See SAMC § 8-3160.

Written notices submitted by mail to the Division will not be processed.

If a Landlord recently paid the City of Santa Ana for various other fees, is the Rental Registry Fee included in those other fees?

No. Landlords in the City may pay several different fees to the City including, but not limited to, the Rental Registry Fee, Business License Tax, and Proactive Rental Enforcement Program (PREP) fees.

Landlord can verify their Rental Registry Fee payment status and amount due/paid via the Rental Registry, or Landlords may contact the Division to confirm payment information.

The contact information for various other programs is below and not a comprehensive list of contact information.

Business License Tax	(714) 647-5447	BusinessTax@santa-ana.org
PREP	(714) 647-5335	PREPbill@santa-ana.org

How can a property manager for a Landlord obtain access to the Rental Registry?

Creation of a Rental Registry account is available to each Landlord/Owner or their representative of a Rental Unit/Residential Real Property within in the City. A numeric PIN (Personal Identification Number) generated by the City is required to access a specific Rental Unit. A property manager for a Rental Unit/Residential Real Property may provide the Division with the operative property management agreement (and possibly other documents) in order to again access to the PIN. A Landlord/Owner, in the alternative, may provide the PIN to their property manager.

How can a Tenant confirm payment of the Rental Registry Fee by a Landlord?

The Rental Registry generates an automatic payment receipt for the payment of the Rental Registry Fee, and Landlords may provide a copy of the payment receipt to their Tenants.

If a Landlord refuses to provide a copy of the payment receipt to a Tenant, the Tenant can contact the Division to receive a confirmation for the payment of the Rental Registry Fee.

If a Landlord recently spent money to improve the conditions a Rental Unit, and the Landlord believes the maximum allowable Rent Increase is not enough to recover the expense, are there any options under the Ordinance for the Landlord?

A Landlord may submit a Capital Improvement Petition to the City to request a separate pass-through cost that may be charged to Tenant(s) in addition to the Rent for a Rental Unit. Detailed documentation of expense and adherence to specific provisions of the Ordinance. See SAMC § 8-3143 and the Ordinance Regulations, Policies and Procedures for all necessary requirement and procedures.

What amount of a pass-through cost can a Landlord expect if a Landlord submit a Capital Improvement Petition?

Neither the Division nor the Rental Housing Board establish any type of standard pass-through costs. Any pass-through cost allowable is determined either by a Hearing Office or the Rental Housing Board. See SAMC § 8-3145 and the Ordinance Regulations, Policies and Procedures for all necessary requirement and procedures.

If a Landlord believes they are not receiving fair return on their Rental Unit(s) and would like to seek an increase in Rents above the maximum allowable Rent Increase, are there any options under the Ordinance for the Landlord?

A Landlord may submit a Fair Return Petition to the City to request a Rent Increase in excess of the maximum allowable Rent Increase in order for the Landlord to receive a “fair and reasonable return” on a Rental Unit. See SAMC § 8-3142 and the Ordinance Regulations, Policies and Procedures for all necessary requirement and procedures.

What amount of an allowable Rent Increase can a Landlord expect if a Landlord submit a Fair Return Petition?

Neither the Division nor the Rental Housing Board establish any type of standard fair return rent increase. Any Rent Increase in excess of the maximum allowable Rent Increase is determined either by a Hearing Office or the Rental Housing Board. See SAMC § 8-3145 and the Ordinance Regulations, Policies and Procedures for all necessary requirement and procedures.

If a Landlord is violating the Ordinance, are there any options available to a Tenant under the Ordinance?

A Tenant may submit a Tenant Petition to request review of any violation by a Landlord under the Ordinance. See SAMC § 8-3145 and the Ordinance Regulations, Policies and Procedures for all necessary requirement and procedures. A Landlord and Tenant may also agree to submit their dispute to voluntary mediation with a neutral third party. See SAMC § 8-3146.

Does the type of Rental Agreement, written or oral, change the protections for Tenants under the Ordinance?

No. A “Rental Agreement,” as defined under the Ordinance, may be written or oral.

Does the duration of a Tenancy change the protections for Tenant under the Ordinance?

The Division 2- Just Cause Evictions provisions apply after a Tenant has continuously and lawfully occupied a Residential Real Property for thirty (30) days. See SAMC § 8-3120 (a).

Rent Stabilization Division FAQs

Abbreviations used in the FAQs