Costa Mesa vs Santa Ana
How do tenant anti-harassment rules compare between Costa Mesa, CA and Santa Ana, CA?
Costa Mesa has fewer restrictions than Santa Ana.
Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County
California Civil Code 1940.2 prohibits Orange County landlords from using force, threats, fraud, utility cutoffs, or repeated false-eviction filings to coerce tenants into vacating. OC has not adopted a separate county-level tenant-anti-harassment ordinance like LA's TAHO.
View full Costa Mesa rules →Santa Ana, CA
Orange County
Santa Ana's Rent Stabilization framework prohibits landlord harassment of tenants, including utility shutoffs, lock changes, false notices, and bad-faith repairs intended to push tenants out of rent-stabilized units.
View full Santa Ana rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Costa Mesa | Santa Ana |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Civil Code 1940.2 | - |
| Penalty | Up to $2,000 per violation | - |
| OC local ordinance | None | - |
| Legal aid | Legal Aid Society of OC | - |
| Prohibited acts | - | Lockouts, shutoffs, threats |
| Immigration threats | - | Expressly prohibited |
| Remedy | - | Civil damages plus penalties |
| Repeat offenders | - | Escalating fines |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Costa Mesa FAQ
Does OC have a tenant-anti-harassment ordinance like LA?
No. Orange County has not adopted a county-level TAHO. Tenants rely on Civil Code 1940.2, retaliation protections in 1942.5, and FEHA harassment provisions.
Can a landlord shut off utilities to force me out?
No. Civil Code 789.3 prohibits utility shutoffs intended to terminate occupancy. Damages of $100 per day plus actual harm and attorney's fees apply.
Santa Ana FAQ
Can a landlord shut off water during a dispute?
No. Self-help utility shutoff is illegal under California Civil Code 789.3 and Santa Ana's anti-harassment protections, and exposes the landlord to per-day statutory damages and city penalties.
What if a landlord threatens to call ICE?
Threats based on immigration status are prohibited harassment. Tenants may report the conduct to the city, sue for damages, and use Santa Ana's sanctuary policies barring city cooperation in such referrals.
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