Activists seek signatures for Anaheim rent control ballot initiative

Tenant activists have recently filed a notice of intent with the City of Anaheim for a November 2026 ballot initiative to impose strict rent control in Orange County's most populous city.

The proposal could appear on the Nov. 2026 ballot if activists collect about 18,000 valid signatures from Anaheim registered voters. If adopted by the voters the measure would significantly affect rental housing in a community of more than 356,000 residents, increasing regulatory costs and operational burdens for rental property owners and managers of nearly 60,000 rental households.

The proposal would impose new rent limits and operational requirements on rental housing in Anaheim, including provisions that would apply beyond the existing statewide rent cap law.

Under the proposal, the most significant provisions would apply the following to affected housing:

• Limit annual rent increases to 80% of the Consumer Price Index, with a cap of 3%;
• Roll back rents to Jan. 1, 2026;
• Expand restrictions on just-cause evictions;
• Increase relocation assistance to as much as four months of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development fair market rent; and
• Create a rent board and rent registry, along with associated fees that have not yet been determined.

Tenant activists remain in the early stages of the ballot initiative process, including signature gathering.

Under current state law, local rent control generally may apply only to multifamily rental housing built before Feb. 1, 1995, under the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Single-family homes, condominiums and other separately alienable units are exempt, as are multifamily properties constructed after that date. Costa-Hawkins also provides for vacancy decontrol, allowing rents to reset to market rate when a unit is voluntarily vacated.

The proposed measure also directs the city to expand rent control and related requirements if state law changes. Efforts to repeal Costa-Hawkins have previously been pursued both at the ballot box and in the Legislature and CAA has successfully defeated those attempts to enact stricter rent control across the state.

The backers of the measure have approximately 180 days to collect the needed signatures. The California Apartment Association is monitoring the effort and will provide additional updates to affected members as developments occur.