The Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday, Nov. 7, is set to deliberate on a proposed ordinance that could impose substantial financial and procedural burdens on landlords in cases of no-fault evictions.  

Under the proposed legislation, landlords may be required to provide relocation assistance as high as $9,440 to tenants evicted for reasons such as substantial property rehabilitation or when the owner intends to move in.  

The ordinance would further mandate that landlords send paper notices to both the city and the property owner. This procedural change carries the potential to be exploited in legal proceedings, as tenant attorneys might challenge the proper filing and receipt of these notices to impede the progress of unlawful detainer lawsuits.  

For landlords, this could translate into a new administrative hurdle; proving that the city has received the mandatory notice may require them to undertake additional tasks such as utilizing certified mail services or even filing California Public Records Act requests.  

Victor Cao, CAA’s senior vice president of local public affairs, said the association strongly opposes the measure. 

“This proposed mandate will not only place a heavy financial burden on property owners but also introduce unnecessary red tape that could delay lawful evictions,” Cao said. “These changes could discourage investment in rental housing at a time when California is facing a severe housing shortage. We urge the City Council to consider the broad repercussions of this ordinance on both landlords and the overall availability of rental housing.” 

To help oppose this measure, please fill out CAA’s Costa Mesa rental housing provider form to stay informed, share your concerns, and oppose the eviction ordinance. For additional questions, contact Victor Cao, CAA’s senior vice president of local public affairs, at vcao@caanet.org.