Rent Stabilization Newsletter: September 2026

Rent Stabilization Program Updates

Rental Registry Late Penalties Begin October 1st

The Rent Stabilization Division reminds property owners and property managers that official reminders to complete registration were sent out during September 2026 to owners of rental units that remain unregistered for the 2026-2027 program year.

If you received a notice, your unit(s) must be registered or claimed exempt immediately to avoid accruing financial penalties. Under the Rent Stabilization Ordinance, annual registration is required to maintain compliance.

Rental Registry Late Fee Schedule Per Rental Unit

How to Complete Your Registration

To secure compliance, log in to the Rental Registry portal, review your unit information, complete any pending tasks, and pay all applicable fees. Owners claiming an exemption must also ensure their formal exemption requests have been submitted and approved.

Need Assistance?

To assist users with navigating the updated system, the Division has published a Rental Registration User Guide. For additional information or assistance, you can contact the Rent Stabilization Division using the Contact Us button.

User Guide Rental Registry Contact Us

Maximum Allowable Rent Increase Percent - Effective September 1, 2026

Effective September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, the maximum allowable rent increase for covered rental units and mobilehome spaces in Santa Ana is 2.87%.

This limit is determined by the annual adjustment formula within the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance. Under the Ordinance, annual rent increases are capped at the lesser of 3% or 80% of the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Table 1: Allowable Rent Increase Calculation

Property owners subject to the Ordinance may only implement one rent increase within a 12-month period and must comply with all applicable Ordinance requirements, including Rental Registry registration and notice requirements, before a rent increase may take effect. Residents and property owners are encouraged to visit the Rent Stabilization Division website for additional information regarding rent increase requirements and tenant protections.

Notice of Allowable Rent Increase - English Notice of Allowable Rent Increase - Spanish Notice of Allowable Rent Increase - Vietnamese

Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program - Funds Still Available

The Santa Ana City Council has approved additional funding to continue the Ayuda Sin Fronteras ("Help Without Borders") Program, ensuring ongoing emergency financial assistance to households impacted by recent immigration enforcement operations.

Established in July 2025, the Ayuda Sin Fronteras Program offers a one-time payment of 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.

How to Apply:

Residents must be referred through a trusted community partner. Identification is required for all household members, but citizenship status will not be asked.

For more information, to check eligibility, or to start the referral process, visit the Ayuda Sin Fronteras website or call the helpline at (714) 565-2655.

Ayuda Sin Fronteras Webpage

Rental Housing Board - Two (2) Vacancies

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, to be approved by the City Council.

Currently, there are two (2) vacancies on the Board. If you or someone you know is interested in serving your community by contributing to the oversight of renter protections, 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!

City Clerk's Office Webpage

Upcoming Community Events

Join us to learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (RSJCEO). Division staff regularly attend local and virtual events to assist tenants and landlords in understanding how the Ordinance supports housing stability throughout Santa Ana.

October Tenant's Rights Workshops

Are you facing housing challenges or interested in better understanding your rights? We have scheduled two upcoming Tenant's Rights Workshops for October 27, 2026:

• 8:30 AM (Spanish) - In-person at Circulos High School
• 5:00 PM (English) - Virtual via Zoom

ℹ️Please note that dedicated Property Owner/Property Manager Workshops are currently in development and will be announced in the near future.

Please visit the Community Workshops webpage regularly for the latest schedule, Zoom access links, and event updates. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact the Rent Stabilization Division for assistance.

Go to Community Workshops Page

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
August 2025 to August 2026

Community Outreach

Pictured: Rent Stabilization Division staff at Fiestas Patrias Festival & Parade.

Fiestas Patrias Festival & Parade:

On Saturday, September 12, and Sunday, September 13, 2026, the Rent Stabilization Division joined thousands of local families in Downtown Santa Ana for the City's annual Fiestas Patrias festival and parade. Celebrating Hispanic and Latino heritage and Mexican Independence Day, Division staff hosted a community resource table throughout the weekend. Staff distributed multilingual guides and connected directly with residents and property owners to answer questions about tenant protections, landlord obligations, and local housing resources.

Virtual Tenant's Rights Workshop:

On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the Division hosted its monthly virtual Tenant's Rights Community Workshops via Zoom, offering accessible housing education directly to residents at home. To accommodate local families, two live sessions were provided, a morning session in English (9:00 AM) and an evening session in Spanish (5:00 PM). City staff presented an overview of the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, detailed allowable rent cap limits, explained eviction protections, and hosted a live Q&A session to help participants navigate their specific housing questions.

Know Your Rights

If you believe the owner or property manager of your rental unit or mobilehome 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:

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.