Santa Ana Municipal Code § 8-3200 Violations

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any provision of this Article. The violation of any provision of this Article shall first be punished through the use of an administrative citation, as provided in Santa Ana Municipal Code section 1-21, et seq., prior to prosecution as a misdemeanor or infraction, as provided in Santa Ana Municipal Code section 1-8.

(b) Civil Action. Any aggrieved person, including the City and the People of the State of California, may bring a civil action for damages for any violation of this Article or the rules, regulations, orders and decisions of the Rental Housing Board. The burden of proof in such cases shall be by a preponderance of the evidence. No administrative remedy need be exhausted prior to filing a civil suit pursuant to this section.

(c) Injunctive Relief. Any person who commits an act, proposes to commit an act, or engages in any pattern and practice that violates this Division, or the policies, procedures, regulations, rules, orders and decisions of the Rental Housing Board, may be enjoined therefrom by any court of competent jurisdiction. An action for injunction under this section may be brought by any aggrieved person, including the City and People of the State of California. No administrative remedy need be exhausted prior to filing an action for injunctive relief pursuant to this section.

(d) Affirmative Defense. A Landlord's failure to comply with any requirement of this Article may be asserted as a complete affirmative defense in an unlawful detainer or any other action brought by the Landlord to recover possession of the Rental Unit. Additionally, any attempt to recover possession of a Rental Unit in violation of this Article shall render the Landlord liable to the Tenant for damages in a civil action for wrongful eviction. The prevailing party in an action for wrongful eviction shall recover costs and reasonable attorneys' fees.

(e) Public Nuisance. In addition to other penalties provided by law, any condition caused or permitted to exist in violation of any provision of this Article shall be deemed a public nuisance and may be summarily abated as such by the City, and each day such condition continues shall constitute a new and separate offense.

(f) Non-Exclusive. The remedies provided in this Article are not exclusive, and nothing in this Article shall preclude any person from seeking any other remedies, penalties or procedures provided by law, nor is exhaustion of remedies under this section a prerequisite to the assertion of any other such right.

(Ord. No. NS-3027, § 3, 10-18-22; Ord. No. NS-3073, § 1, 11-5-24)