Salinas Rent Protections Remain in Effect Ahead of November Vote
Salinas voters will decide November 3 whether to repeal four renter-protection ordinances. Until then, the rules remain in effect for covered rental units.
Salinas voters are scheduled to decide on November 3, 2026, whether to repeal four local ordinances covering rental registration, rent increases, evictions and tenant harassment. Until the election outcome is known, the ordinances remain in effect for covered rental units.
The vote follows the City Council’s adoption of Ordinance No. 2687, a repeal measure covering all four ordinances. A referendum petition then qualified the issue for the ballot, preventing the repeal from taking effect before voters decide.
What is on the ballot
Ordinance No. 2687 would repeal:
- Ordinance No. 2663: Residential Rental Registration
- Ordinance No. 2681: Rent Stabilization
- Ordinance No. 2682: Tenant Protection and Just Cause Eviction
- Ordinance No. 2683: Tenant Anti-Harassment
The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2687 on June 3, 2025. The repeal ordinance says it would take effect 30 days after adoption, but the referendum process kept that repeal from taking effect before the question could go to voters.
How the referendum reached voters
Monterey County election records show that the referendum petition was submitted on July 3, 2025. The Salinas City Clerk completed an initial review on July 7, 2025, and the Monterey County Registrar of Voters later issued a signature-verification certificate dated August 15, 2025.
The City Council considered the referendum on September 9, 2025, and took final action on September 23, 2025, choosing to submit the repeal question to voters. The council then approved the election resolution on June 2, 2026, placing the question before Salinas voters at the November 3 general municipal election.
What applies before the election
The City of Salinas’ current rental-program guidance says the four ordinances remain operative until voters decide on the repeal. The city continues to administer the programs and directs landlords and tenants to its rental-registration, rent-stabilization and tenant-protection resources.
Depending on the property and ordinance involved, current obligations may include rental registration, limits on rent increases, required notices, just-cause rules for certain evictions, relocation assistance in some no-fault cases, and restrictions on harassment or coercive conduct. Coverage is not identical for every rental unit. Exemptions and definitions in the ordinances and city guidance matter.
Renters should keep copies of rent-increase notices, eviction-related documents and communications involving possible harassment or loss of housing services. Landlords and property managers should continue using the city’s current forms, notices and compliance guidance rather than assuming the pending election suspends local requirements.
What happens next
The November 3 question concerns repeal of the four existing ordinances; it is not a vote to adopt a new renter-protection package. If voters approve the repeal, Salinas would move toward ending those local measures under Ordinance No. 2687 and any applicable implementation steps. If voters reject the repeal, the current ordinances would remain in place, subject to later lawful changes.
The election outcome is unresolved. Residents with questions about a specific rent increase, registration obligation, eviction notice or tenant-protection issue should review the city’s referendum documents and current rental guidance, and consider legal advice for case-specific questions.
Sources
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
