News and Updates
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Rent Stabilization Program Update
Under the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (“Ordinance”), all landlords with rental units that are subject to the Ordinance must pay the Rental Registry Fee as established by the City Council. The Rental Registry Fee for billing period 2023-2024 is $100 per unit as set forth in the Santa Ana Miscellaneous Fee Schedule
Landlords with rental units that are subject to the Ordinance must pay the Rental Registry Fee no later than February 29, 2024. If you have not paid the rental registry fee on your rental units. We urge you to pay the required fee(s) associated with your rental unit(s) one of three ways:
1. Online Payment – Log in to the Rental Registry at www.santa-ana.org/rental-registry and click on the shopping cart in the upper right-hand corner. Ensure all rental units that are subject to the Ordinance are accounted for and click “proceed to checkout.” Credit card and ACH payments are accepted online through the Rental Registry.
Please be advised, if you pay by electronic check (ACH), delivery of funds may take several days to settle. While most ACH transactions post within 24 to 48 hours, your payment will not be considered complete until funds have been received.
2. In-Person Payment at City Hall – You may make a payment in person at the Santa Ana City Hall Cashier’s Office, 20 Civic Center Plaza (1st floor), Santa Ana, CA 92701. Credit card, check, and cash payments are accepted in-person at City Hall. Please note that you must bring the attached invoice to make an in-person payment.
3. Mail a Check – You may mail in a check with the attached invoice to complete your payment. Make your check, money order or cashier’s check payable to City of Santa Ana – Rent Stabilization Program. Please include the parcel number(s) of your property on the ‘Memo’ line. If you are making payments on various parcel(s) you will need to provide a check for each of the parcel(s). Checks can be mailed to the address below:
City of Santa Ana
Rent Stabilization Program
20 Civic Center Plaza (M-26)
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Please do not send cash through the mail. If you prefer to make a cash payment, please make your payment in person at City Hall.
Who can I contact for questions about the Rental Registry Fee?
If you have any questions about the Rental Registry Fee, a dedicated e-mail address and Rent Stabilization Helpline are available with staff standing by to assist you. Please e-mail us at rso@santa-ana.org or call (714) 667-2209 to speak with one of our representatives.
Rental Housing Board
The Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance (“Ordinance”) provides for the administration and enforcement of renter protections for Santa Ana renters by establishing a Rental Housing Board.
Under Section 8-3180 of the Ordinance, the Rental Housing Board (“Board”) shall consist of seven (7) Board Members. Each City Councilmember shall appoint one (1) Board Member, to be approved by the City Council, in an equitable order based upon a random lottery process. The Board shall be comprised of:
- Three (3) Tenants, including at least one (1) Mobilehome Tenant
- Two (2) Landlords; and
- Two (2) at-large Members with no financial interest in and no ownership of income-generating rental housing. (For example, an owner of a single-family dwelling that lives in that dwelling.)
Applications are currently being accepted and are located on the City Clerk’s Office website at www.santa-ana.org/rental-housing-board. If you or someone you know may be interested in serving on the Rental Housing Board, we encourage you to apply.
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.
Know Your Rights
If you believe the owner or property manager for your rental unit or mobilehome may not be in compliance with the Ordinance, or you need assistance interpreting the Ordinance, please reach out to one of the City’s community partners:
Fair Housing Council of Orange County
2021 E. 4th Street, Suite 122
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-569-0823 Option 4
Public Law Center
601 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-541-1010 x 303
Community Legal Aid SoCal
2101 North Tustin Avenue
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-571-5200
Latino Health Access
450 W 4th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone: 714-542-7792
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:
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92702
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