News Alert: Oxnard Adopts New Fees for ALL Rental Properties
News Alert
Oxnard Adopts New Fees for ALL Rental Properties
By Janet M. Gagnon
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer & SVP, Government Relations
On May 22nd, the Oxnard City Council officially adopted new fees applicable to ALL rental housing providers. There will be a new rental registry fee of $138.77 per unit for all rental properties under the current rent stabilization ordinance (RSO) that applies to multifamily properties with certificates of occupancy issued on or prior to February 1, 1995. This fee is scheduled to increase to $143.21 per unit for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $146.88 per unit for fiscal year 2026-2027.
For Non-RSO properties, there will be a new Just Cause Ordinance enforcement fee of $69.39 per unit (JCO Fee) and Non-RSO property owners will now be required to register their properties with the City. This JCO Fee is scheduled to increase to $71.60 per unit for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $73.44 per unit for fiscal year 2026-2027. Non-RSO or “Just Cause Only” properties are those rental properties that fall outside of the RSO, meaning all single-family, condominiums, accessory dwelling units and newer multifamily properties with certificates of occupancy issued on or after February 1, 1995. The City will provide a one-year amnesty period for subjecting rental property owners to late filing fees in order to expedite registration of all units. This new fee ordinance will be effective on June 19, 2025.
AAGLA opposed the fees because they will discourage property owners, especially owners of single-family, condominiums and accessory dwelling units, from making their properties available for rent at a time when additional affordable housing is urgently needed in Oxnard. AAGLA recommended that the City only implement the new fees for RSO units initially for staff to gain experience with running its new rental registry and allow staff to work out any unforeseen issues. This would have cut the costs and staffing in HALF to implement the new registry. AAGLA suggested a minimum of a one-year delay for Non-RSO properties to allow staff sufficient time to fully implement the registry for RSO properties and conduct needed outreach. Unfortunately, our suggested, more practical and measured approach was rejected by the City Council.
Your Attendance at the Meeting Was Needed and Would Have Helped
Unfortunately, AAGLA was once again the only private property rights organization to show up and speak against the ordinance. Also, there were only two rental housing providers that bothered to show up to either of the City Council meetings in-person or via Zoom. With such low turnout from property owners and high turnout from Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (“CAUSE”), it is no wonder that the City Council kowtowed to CAUSE. In fact, newly elected Council Members Michaela Perez and Gabriela Rodriguez were candidates supported by CAUSE. Only Council Member Aaron Star had the courage of his convictions to do what is right by the City as a whole to vote against this reckless fee implementation.
This dangerous disregard for financial responsibility and the long-term impacts on available rental housing by the City Council will not change in Oxnard unless rental housing providers get directly involved by attending meetings and sending emails to oppose harmful policies.
Help Us Fight Back Against the Proposed Anti-Harassment Ordinance
We still have the horribly one-sided anti-harassment ordinance to fight that is due back to the full City Council at any time. Rather than an ordinance protecting everyone against wrongful harassment, it only addresses one segment – renters. In contrast, Claremont has an anti-harassment policy that protects everyone from harassment regardless of the perpetrator or victim – renters, owners and other renters. Oxnard should learn from Claremont on how to be responsible and equitable to all City stakeholders.
Also, we urge all rental housing providers now considering leaving the rental housing business in Oxnard due to these new registration and fee requirements to write to the full city council letting them know the results of their actions.
This article is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions regarding your property or specific leasing issues and the requirements of any legal changes described herein, please consult with an attorney.