Orange council bans game rooms, approves utility rate increases and several contracts; tiny-home rules tabled

The Orange City council on Oct. 14 approved a package of ordinances and contracts that will ban game rooms and amusement redemption machines across the city, raise water and sewer rates by 3 percent, and authorize multiple vendor contracts, while leaving proposed rules for tiny-home villages under further review.

The council voted to amend the city code to prohibit amusement redemption machines and game rooms in all zoning districts and to add new definitions and zoning restrictions to Chapter 12 (planning and zoning). The measures passed on the first readings recorded at the meeting. Council members recorded aye votes during roll calls on the ordinances.

The votes came amid other routine and policy business: the council approved a modest 3 percent increase to water and sewer rates to raise revenue for repairs and maintenance; authorized a multi-year trash service adjustment under the Waste Management contract that raises residential and commercial rates; and approved contracts for electrical services and cloud-hosted police software. Councilors also adopted the Orange Economic Development Corporation (EDC) fiscal 2026 budget and made multiple EDC board appointments.

Why it matters: The ban on game rooms changes where amusement-style redemption machines may operate in Orange and could affect small businesses that currently host these machines. The utility increases and the trash-contract rate adjustments will be reflected on residential and commercial bills, officials said, and the grant programs described at the meeting show ongoing external funding that the city is pursuing for infrastructure and disaster recovery projects.

Most significant actions

Votes at a glance - Ordinance banning game rooms and amusement redemption machines (Code ch. 4.17; planning & zoning amendments): Passed (roll call: McKenna Aye; Chandler Aye; Childs Aye; Birch Aye; Mortimer Aye). The ordinance adds definitions for "amusement redemption machines," "gambling device," and "game rooms" and prohibits them in all zoning districts; effective upon second reading if approved on both readings.

- Ordinance amending zoning map (rezoning multiple subdivisions to MUZD, mixed-use): Passed (roll call as above). Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 5–0.

- O…