Item 344/2026
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Ursula Luna-Reynosa
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Economic Development and
Housing
Date: 8/25/2026
Subject: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance adding Chapter 8.72 to Title 8 of the Garden Grove Municipal Code to establish safety and security requirements for hotel workers. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
It is recommended that the City Council introduce and conduct the first reading of an Ordinance adding Chapter 8.72 to Title 8 of the Garden Grove Municipal Code to establish safety and security requirements for hotel workers, and set the Ordinance for second reading and adoption at the next regular City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND
Hotel employees, particularly those who work alone in guest rooms or other isolated areas, may be exposed to threatening or violent conduct, and other emergency situations. Several California cities, including Anaheim and Ontario, have adopted hotel employee safety regulations requiring personal security devices, trained responders, employee training, notice of employee rights, and protections against retaliation for exercising their rights under the Ordinance.
Hotel employee safety practices may vary based on a hotel’s brand standards, ownership structure, management company, and existing operating procedures. Some hotel operators may already provide personal security devices, employee training, and established response protocols, while others may not offer the same level of protection.
The proposed Ordinance would establish a consistent minimum citywide standard for hotels while allowing individual operators to maintain or implement more protective policies.
Establishing a uniform baseline is a recognized best practice and helps ensure that hotel employee safety does not depend solely on a hotel’s brand affiliation, ownership, or internal operating procedures.
Item 344/2026
DISCUSSION
The proposed Ordinance is intended to strengthen workplace safety for hotel employees who are assigned to work alone in a guest room or restroom facilities while providing hotel operators with a reasonable period to obtain equipment, train personnel, update procedures, and provide required notices
The proposed Ordinance includes the following core requirements:
Personal security devices. Hotels must provide covered employees (those who work alone in guest rooms or other designated areas ) with a personal security device capable of summoning prompt assistance when an employee reasonably believes that threatening or violent conduct or another emergency is occurring.
Designated and trained responders. Hotels must maintain a dependable response system and designate trained personnel, such as security staff or an on-duty manager, to respond to personal security device activations. At least one trained responder must be a vailable whenever covered employees are working.
Training. Hotels must provide training regarding hotel response procedures, operation of the personal security devices, employee rights under the Ordinance, and the duties of designated responders.
Employee protections following an incident. An employee who reports threatening or violent guest behavior may request reassignment away from the offending guest.
Employees must be allowed reasonable paid time to contact law enforcement and cooperate with a police investigation, consistent with the Ordinance.
Notice requirements. Hotels must provide written notice of employee rights and procedures in English and in other primary languages spoken by the number of employees specified in the Ordinance. Hotels must also provide notice to guests of the protections afforded hotel workers.
Anti-retaliation and enforcement. Hotels may not retaliate against employees for exercising rights under the Ordinance. The Ordinance provides enforcement mechanisms and remedies for violations.
Implementation of the Ordinance is proposed for January 1, 2027, which would provide affected hotel operators with approximately four months following the August 25, 2026 introduction to prepare for compliance. Following introduction and first reading, the Ordinance would return to the City Council for second reading and adoption at a subsequent regular meeting. Although the Ordinance would become effective 30 days after adoption, implementation and enforcement of the hotel employee safety requirements would begin on January 1, 2027.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Item 344/2026
Adoption of the Ordinance is not anticipated to result in a significant direct impact on the General Fund. Implementation may require a limited amount of staff time for outreach and education, complaint intake, compliance review, and enforcement. Affected hotel operators would be responsible for the costs associated with personal security devices, employee training, required notices, and other operational measures necessary to comply with the Ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Introduce and conduct the first reading of the proposed Ordinance establishing hotel employee safety regulations;
Set the Ordinance for second reading and adoption at the next regular City Council meeting; and
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to take any administrative actions and execute any ancillary documents necessary to implement the Ordinance, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
By: Greg Blodgett, Deputy Director
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Ordinance adding Chapter 8.72 to Title 8 of the Garden Grove Municipal Code enacting hotel worker protection regulations.