Rent Stabilization Newsletter – October 2025

News and Updates

Sign up to receive important updates on the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance by clicking the link below.

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Rent Stabilization Program Updates

Next Tier of Late Fees in Effect for Rental Registration

As of November 1, 2025, the next tier of late fees goes into effect for all unpaid registration fees for the current program year. Late fees cannot be waived.

Late Fee Schedule (Per Rental Unit)

• October 1 - October 31, 2025: 8.2%

• November 1 - November 30, 2025: 18.2%

• December 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026: 28.2%

Late fee rates are updated each program year.

For detailed information about rental unit registration, please visit our FAQs

Rental Registry Maintenance in December Please note that the City's Rental Registry system will undergo maintenance throughout the month of December 2025. During this time, users may experience brief interruptions when accessing or submitting information. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve system performance and reliability.

If you need help completing your property registration, you can contact us at (714) 667-2209 or via email at [email protected]. Live assistance is also available in our office by walk-in or appointment at: 801 W. Civic Center Dr., Suite 200, Santa Ana, CA 92701

You can also access the Rental Registry directly to get started.

Rental Registry (RR)

Contact Us

RR User Guide

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Update: Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program Receives $100,000 in Additional Funding

The Santa Ana City Council has approved an additional $100,000 in funding to continue the Ayuda Sin Fronteras ("Help Without Borders") Program, which provides emergency financial assistance to households impacted by recent immigration enforcement operations.

Established in July 2025, the Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program offers up to one month of housing assistance to cover past-due rent, utilities, or both for residents who have been financially affected by detention, deportation, or other immigration-related disruptions.

Who Qualifies?

• Renters living in Santa Ana
• Households with past due rental and/or utility arrears.
• Households impacted by immigration enforcement actions (e.g., detention or deportation of a household member)
• Household income at or below Moderate-Income limits (see table below)

Moderate-Income Limits:

Family Size	Maximum Income	Family Size	Maximum Income
1	$114,750	5	$177,000
2	$131,000	6	$190,100
3	$147,500	7	$203,250
4	$163,900	8	$216,350

How to Apply:

The program is referral-based only.

1. Referral - A partner community organization refers your household and co-signs your application.
2. City Contact - Staff will reach out by phone/email with the application link or to set up an appointment.
3. Complete Application - Choose one option: Online: Apply through the Neighborly portal (requires email and internet access). In-Person Help: Call (714) 565-2655 or email [email protected] for an appointment.
4. Status Updates - You'll be notified if more documents are needed and when your application is approved.

Ayuda Sin Fronteras Webpage

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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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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.

Tenant's Rights Community Workshops - Virtual Webinars

The City of Santa Ana Rent Stabilization Division, in collaboration with the Santa Ana Unified School District, invites tenants to join our Tenant Rights Community Workshops.

Learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. These workshops are designed to help tenants understand how the ordinance affects them and how to ensure their housing stability.

Virtual Webinars - No Pre-Registration Required

Attend from the comfort of your home-simply visit the Community Workshops Webpage on the scheduled date to join the session.

Monday, November 17, 2025 | ⏰ Time: 9:00AM (Spanish) / 5:00PM (English)

For the most up-to-date information, visit our Community Workshops Webpage.

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
September 2024 to September 2025

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Community Outreach

Trunk or Treat Event - Rent Stabilization Division Participation: The Rent Stabilization Division joined the Santa Ana Police Department's Annual Trunk or Treat on October 16th, bringing a mix of fun and education to the community! Our team handed out flyers on the City's Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, along with candy for attendees. Families enjoyed a safe, festive evening with vehicle displays, treats, and Halloween fun while learning about their housing rights and available resources. It was a great opportunity to engage with the community in a lighthearted, informative way!

Tenant's Rights Community Workshop - Virtual Webinars: The Rent Stabilization Division, in collaboration with the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD), hosted two Tenant's Rights Community Workshops on October 20th to help residents better understand their housing rights and protections. These virtual sessions provided valuable information on rent stabilization, just cause eviction requirements, and available City and community resources to support housing stability. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and learn how the City can assist in maintaining secure and stable housing. The workshops fostered meaningful dialogue and empowered community members with the tools and knowledge to safeguard their homes.

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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 three (3) 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:

Fair Housing Council of Orange County https://www.fairhousingoc.org [email protected] 2021 E. 4th Street, Suite 122 Santa Ana, CA 92705 Phone: 714-569-0823 Option 4	Community Legal Aid SoCal https://www.communitylegalsocal.org 2101 North Tustin Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92705 Phone: 714-571-5200
Public Law Center https://www.publiclawcenter.org [email protected] 601 Civic Center Drive West Santa Ana, CA 92701 Phone: 714-541-1010 x 303	Latino Health Access https://www.latinohealthaccess.org 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: [email protected] Tel: (714) 667-2209 Fax: (714) 547-5411

Quick Links: Our Website Read the Ordinance Frequently Asked Questions

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 - https://www.santa-ana.org/renter-protections