The Santa Ana City Council has approved continued funding for the Ayuda Sin Fronteras program, providing emergency financial assistance to households impacted by immigration enforcement operations. Established in July 2025, the program offers a one-time payment covering up to one month of past-due rent, utilities, or both. Residents must be referred through a community partner, and identification is required for household members, though citizenship status is not requested, according to the Rent Stabilization Division.
Separately, the maximum allowable rent increase for covered rental units and mobilehome spaces in Santa Ana has been set at 2.87% for the period of September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. This limit is determined by the annual adjustment formula within the city’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, which caps increases at the lesser of 3% or 80% of the change in the Consumer Price Index. Property owners subject to the Ordinance must implement only one rent increase within a 12-month period and adhere to all Ordinance requirements, including Rental Registry registration and notice provisions, before an increase takes effect.
The Rent Stabilization Division is concurrently issuing Notice of Late Registration emails and mailings in September 2026 to owners of rental units not yet registered for the 2026–2027 program year. Annual registration of all rental units is a mandatory compliance requirement under the Ordinance. Any registrations and associated payments remaining pending on October 1, 2026, will incur a registration fee of $104 per rental unit in addition to an immediate financial penalty. The Division encourages property owners and managers to complete their registration promptly.
Furthermore, the Rental Housing Board, established under Section 8-3180 of the Ordinance to administer and enforce renter protections, currently has two vacancies. The Board comprises seven members appointed by the City Council, with each Councilmember selecting one member for Council approval. Applications for these positions are available through the City Clerk’s Office.
The Rent Stabilization Division continues its community outreach efforts. In August 2026, division staff participated in the Santa Ana Police Department’s National Night Out event at Jerome Park, distributing multilingual educational materials and answering questions about the Ordinance. On August 12, 2026, staff collaborated with Latino Health Access to conduct a Tenant’s Rights Workshop, explaining local rent cap limits and eviction protections. The Division also continues to schedule upcoming community workshops, with dates and registration details to be announced.
City staff regularly address public inquiries via telephone and email concerning the Rent Stabilization and Just Cause Eviction Ordinance and general landlord/tenant issues, with common topics including evictions, allowable rent increases, and the Rental Registry. Residents seeking assistance interpreting the Ordinance or believing a property owner may be non-compliant are directed to several community partners, including the Fair Housing Council of Orange County and Community Legal Aid SoCal.
