Central OC: Costa Mesa Council Blocks Rental Registry and Eviction Tracking Rules

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[Costa Mesa] Council Kills Rental Registry, Charts New Course for Tenant-Landlord Relations
In a 5-2 vote on March 17, 2026, the Costa Mesa City Council rejected proposals to establish a citywide rental registry and an at-fault eviction notification requirement. The rental registry would have required owners of covered multifamily units to register properties, report lease activity, vacancies, and tenant details, and pay an estimated $19 per unit annually — funding a program projected to cost more than $321,000 per year. Mayor John Stephens, alongside Council Members Mike Buley and Manuel Chavez, argued the registry would create an undue administrative burden on staff and landlords, with costs ultimately passed to tenants in a city where approximately 60% of its 41,000 housing units are renter-occupied. Rather than a mandatory registry, the council directed staff to explore a voluntary "renters' solution network" providing education on existing legal rights and responsibilities under state law. Dissenting Council Members Andrea Marr and Arlis Reynolds argued the data would have enabled evidence-based policy on housing stability and eviction patterns.

[Costa Mesa] 115-Acre Fairview Developmental Center Site Moving Toward 3,600-3,800 Unit Redevelopment
The planning process for the 115-acre Fairview Developmental Center (FDC) site at 2501 Harbor Boulevard has reached the Preferred Plan Framework stage. The state's Department of General Services will retain 20 acres for an Emergency Operations Center and the Department of Developmental Services will retain 15 acres for affordable housing, leaving approximately 80 acres for a comprehensive new development. Three financial concepts were evaluated: Concept 1 at 2,300 units carries a $233 million financing gap and is deemed infeasible; Concept 2 at 3,450 units leaves a $5 million gap; and Concept 3 at 4,000 units generates a $26.7 million surplus. City staff currently recommends a residential mix of 3,600 to 3,800 units — a range that offsets high infrastructure costs including demolition, new roads, and sewer work — while fulfilling the state mandate for a minimum of 200 permanent supportive housing units. Community workshops are scheduled March 24 through March 30.

[Fountain Valley] Unanimous Council Vote Locks In 50-Year Water Lease, Clearing Path for New Housing
The Fountain Valley City Council unanimously approved a 50-year water lease on March 17, 2026, securing an additional 386 acre-feet of water annually. Municipal leadership characterized the agreement as essential for long-term growth capacity, specifically citing that projected utility limits had been blocking the approval of new tentative tract maps and high-density residential projects. Secured water rights are a primary prerequisite for new tract map approvals in California, and this deal clears a significant bottleneck that had stalled the development pipeline in Fountain Valley.

What's Developing

[Orange] City Weighs Governance Shift to Charter City Status
As of March 16 and 17, 2026, the City of Orange is actively evaluating a transition from General Law to Charter City status. This governance change would grant the city increased authority over municipal affairs, including greater flexibility in local election procedures, the ability to set local prevailing wage requirements for public works projects, and more direct control over land-use and zoning decisions that might otherwise be superseded by state mandates. A related community workshop on the Historic Preservation Ordinance is scheduled for March 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Old Towne Orange.

[Santa Ana] Smoke Shop Buffer Zone Ordinance Approved, Reshaping Downtown Commercial Leasing
The Santa Ana City Council formally approved stringent new regulations for smoke shops on March 20, 2026. The ordinance mandates a minimum 1,000-foot buffer from schools, parks, homes, and childcare facilities. Smoke shops are also subject to mandatory annual inspections to ensure compliance with operational standards. The regulations directly affect current and prospective commercial leases in the downtown core and adjacent mixed-use corridors.

[Garden Grove] Civic Center Revitalization Project Advances Infrastructure Milestones
The Garden Grove Civic Center Revitalization project — which includes modernization of police facilities and the creation of new public park space — reported ongoing infrastructure milestones during the March 17-23 window. Final environmental and utility coordination meetings were summarized in city memorandums on March 12 and 19. The project is part of the city's broader "Buy in Garden Grove" economic development initiative, which includes ongoing small business technical assistance through the Small Business Development Center and Grow America.

[Regional] Rep. Correa Secures $13.3M in Federal Funding for OC Cities
U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced on March 23, 2026, that he secured over $13.3 million in federal community project funding for cities including Orange and Santa Ana. Key recipients include Rancho Santiago Community College District Foundation ($1,031,000 for clean tech innovation and sustainable operations), Santa Ana College ($1,031,000 for STEM and workforce development), and regional allocations for fire and police station improvements, senior centers, and parks.

Neighborhood Pulse

[Fountain Valley] School Zone Safety Overhaul Underway Across 11 Campus Corridors
The City of Fountain Valley is implementing a comprehensive signing and striping project across 11 school zones. Phase 1 (March 16-20) covered Ethan B. Allen Elementary, Monroe Language Academy, Northcutt Elementary, and Los Amigos High School. Phase 2 (April 6-10) will address Fulton Middle, Masuda Middle, Plavan, Courreges, Tamura, Vista View, and Fountain Valley High School.

[Tustin] OC Animal Care Master Agreement Formalized, Relieving City Budget
The Tustin City Council has formalized its participation in the regional Master Agreement for OC Animal Care Services, effective June 1, 2026. A key provision removes the requirement for participating cities to provide ongoing capital investment for the regional shelter facility located in Tustin, generating substantial annual savings for the city's General Fund.

[Orange] Historic Preservation Ordinance Workshop Coming to Old Towne
The City of Orange announced a community workshop on its Historic Preservation Ordinance for March 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The session will discuss potential updates to renovation guidelines for properties in the Old Towne district.

[Villa Park] Water District Rate Study Enters Third Workshop
The Serrano Water District held its third Rate Study Workshop on March 19, 2026, focused on the technical analysis of current water delivery costs and projected infrastructure needs. These studies are the standard precursor to tiered water rate adjustments for residential and commercial properties in Villa Park. The city is also soliciting public comments on its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update addressing wildfire and flood preparedness.

[Westminster] Soccer Field Ribbon-Cutting Set for April 9 at Sigler Park
The City of Westminster announced a soccer field ribbon-cutting ceremony at Sigler Park for April 9, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., with site preparations currently underway. The city is also finalizing plans for the American Vietnam War Veterans Day recognition ceremony on March 29 at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park.

Client Conversation Starters

Is Costa Mesa moving toward rent control?

It's moving in the opposite direction right now. The council voted 5-2 on March 17 to reject both a rental registry and an at-fault eviction tracking ordinance — two tools advocates had pushed for as a way to monitor displacement and eviction trends in a city where 60% of residents rent. The majority argued the programs would cost too much and ultimately drive up rents. The two dissenting council members said they'd revisit the issue if conditions worsen, so this is a settled decision for now, but not a permanently closed door. If you rent in Costa Mesa, the voluntary education network the city is exploring is where to watch for tenant resources going forward.

What's happening with that big empty property on Harbor Boulevard?

That's the former Fairview Developmental Center — 115 acres that have sat largely unused since the state closed it in 2015. The city is now deep into planning a new neighborhood there, with city staff recommending between 3,600 and 3,800 homes, plus retail, open space, and at least 200 units of permanent supportive housing. Community workshops are open through March 30, and this is one of the few remaining chances for residents to weigh in on what gets built. If you live near Harbor Boulevard, this project will reshape that part of the city between 2027 and 2030.

What do Santa Ana's new smoke shop rules actually mean for my neighborhood?

As of March 17, new and existing shops must maintain a 500-foot buffer from homes and a 1,000-foot distance from schools, parks, and childcare facilities. Nearly 60% of the city's 43 smoke shops are currently out of compliance and have six months to meet the new standards. If you live near one of these shops, the enforcement window starts now — and at least six other OC cities are watching Santa Ana's approach closely as they consider their own ordinances.