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Oxnard council adopts expanded tenant protections ordinance amid landlord objections
Summary
The Oxnard City Council voted 6–1 on May 20 to adopt Ordinance No. 3058, expanding just-cause eviction protections and other tenant safeguards. Supporters said the changes help stabilize renters; property managers and rental organizations warned of legal and operational risks.
The Oxnard City Council on May 20 adopted Ordinance No. 3058, amending sections of the city code to expand just-cause eviction protections and related tenant safeguards. The measure passed 6–1, with Councilmember Aaron Starr casting the lone dissent.
City leaders and tenant advocates said the ordinance will provide more stability for renters by adding new limits on evictions and enforcement tools. Residents and housing advocates who spoke during public comment urged the council to move quickly to protect tenants.
The ordinance modifies Oxnard Municipal Code sections 27-3, 27-4 and 27-10 and adds section 27-13, the city said in the staff report. The council adopted the ordinance after two rounds of public comment, including from property managers and landlord groups who urged caution.
Property management groups and landlords urged the council to reconsider or narrow the measure, arguing the ordinance as drafted could expose owners and managers to increased litigation and raise operating costs. Drew Williams, regional portfolio manager with STI Management, told the council the measure’s definitions “are so broad that they encompass many routine and necessary actions a landlord must take to manage property,” and warned that large penalties could spur frivolous lawsuits.
Andy, a local property manager who spoke during public comment, urged the council to confirm the city attorney’s legal authority to create the private right of action the draft contemplates and to consider alternatives such as education and mediation.
Council members acknowledged the tension between tenant protections and concerns from rental providers. Councilmember Bert Perallo, while supporting the ordinance, said he still believes that “if the district attorney of Ventura County was doing their job, we would not need to do all this stuff,” and said the city must continue to explore all enforcement and support avenues for renters.
Andrew Gonzalez, deputy city attorney, clarified that a separate anti-harassment ordinance raised in public comment was not before the council at this meeting and that the tenant-registration item was handled previously.
The full ordinance is now part of the Oxnard municipal code as Ordinance No. 3058 and will be implemented by the city’s Housing Department and enforcement partners. The council did not record a separate implementation schedule in the meeting minutes.
Looking ahead, council members asked staff to monitor potential legal challenges and report back on implementation issues and impacts on rental operations.
