Oxnard committee backs work on tenant anti‑harassment ordinance, asks staff to revise language

The Oxnard Community Services Public Safety and Housing Development Committee on March 25 reviewed a proposed tenant anti‑harassment ordinance and voted to direct staff to make recommended changes and bring the item to the City Council for further consideration (3–0).

The ordinance, as drafted by the Housing Department with outside counsel, would add Article 3 to Chapter 27 of the Oxnard City Code to prohibit specified landlord conduct citywide and create civil and criminal enforcement paths, staff said. Assistant Director Albert Meyers told the committee the measure was drafted after tenant complaints alleging tactics such as threats to report immigration status, refusal to make repairs, and other actions intended to force tenants to vacate so landlords could reset rents.

The ordinance would make specified harassment violations misdemeanors and would allow tenants, the city or an organization to pursue civil damages and attorney fees, Meyers said. The housing department estimates the rule would apply to roughly 22,000 rental units in Oxnard and recommended adding a partially dedicated assistant city attorney and a full‑time housing investigator to enforce complaints.

Interim Housing Director Brenda Lopez and housing staff…