Power Shutoffs Spark California Eviction War

February 10, 2026

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A bizarre California landlord-tenant fight is now hinging on a question bigger than clothing: can property owners use power shutoffs and paperwork tactics to pressure residents out of their homes?

Story Snapshot

Residents at Olive Dell Ranch in Redlands, California—long known as a clothing-optional nudist community—sued after new ownership imposed a mandatory-clothing policy in public areas.
Owners say electricity was disconnected for nonpayment and cite concerns about electricity theft; residents say they paid and call the shutoffs illegal retaliation meant to force evictions.
The civil lawsuit involves 56 plaintiffs seeking at least $5 million and alleges civil rights violations, elder abuse, and breach of contract.
Police responded to incidents involving meter removals and an altercation that led to mutual-combat arrests, underscoring how quickly civil disputes can escalate.

A private resort becomes a high-stakes housing dispute

Residents say Olive Dell Ranch operated for decades as a private, gated, clothing-optional resort with long-term tenants living in RVs and mobilehome-style setups. That arrangement became unstable after new ownership took a more active role in 2023 and began rebranding it as “Olive Dell RV Park and Resort.” Residents argue the renaming was designed to sidestep California’s Mobilehome Residency Law protections, setting the stage for tighter rules and tougher evictions.

The flashpoint arrived in 2025 when owners implemented a mandatory-clothing policy in public areas, a sharp departure from the property’s long-running culture. Residents responded with a civil lawsuit and a demand for damages, saying the shift wasn’t just a lifestyle dispute but a breach of the terms they relied on when they moved in. Owners, meanwhile, have indicated that nudity on site is no longer acceptable and have pushed residents to comply or leave.

Electricity shutoffs and competing claims over payment

Residents claim the conflict escalated when electricity was disconnected to some units, leaving people without basic services and, in certain cases, without power for medical devices. Residents told reporters they rely on equipment such as CPAP machines, nebulizers, and pacemakers, and they argue that cutting power functions as an end-run around lawful eviction procedures. Their attorney has also pointed to state restrictions on utility shutoffs used as leverage in tenancy disputes.

Owners dispute the retaliation narrative. A landlord representative has said power was cut due to nonpayment and referenced California Penal Code 498, which covers electricity theft. Residents counter that they attempted to pay and that payments were refused or ignored—one of several factual issues likely to matter in court. With each side telling a different story about billing, access to meters, and who has legal control of utilities, the case hinges on documentation, timelines, and compliance with state landlord-tenant rules.

Evictions, policing, and the limits of government “help”

Owners filed 23 unlawful detainer actions as the lawsuit proceeded, according to reporting cited by residents’ counsel, and residents say the combination of eviction filings and utility actions amounts to coordinated pressure. Police were called when meters were removed, and authorities reportedly treated at least one situation as a civil matter rather than a criminal one. A separate confrontation resulted in mutual-combat arrests of a tenant and a landlord employee, highlighting how quickly unresolved property disputes can turn volatile.

Civil-rights arguments collide with property rights questions

Residents’ attorney has argued that the clothing mandate and related actions violate civil-rights protections by treating nudism as a protected “characteristic,” while also alleging elder abuse and breach of contract. The strength of those claims will depend on how a judge interprets the agreements that governed residency and whether the law recognizes nudism in the way plaintiffs assert. On the other side, property owners typically retain broad authority to set rules—yet that authority has limits when it intersects with housing protections and utility shutoff restrictions.

Nudist resort residents furious after property owner demands they put clothes on, cuts off power https://t.co/Ps6lsq5mV5 pic.twitter.com/Ke9p2HklJw

— New York Post (@nypost) February 7, 2026

A hearing date listed for February 28, 2026 signals the dispute is moving deeper into the legal system, not closer to a neighborhood-style compromise. For conservatives watching from afar, the takeaway isn’t about endorsing nudism; it’s about the rule of law and the danger of letting any side—landlords or regulators—weaponize essentials like power, permits, and enforcement discretion. California’s complex housing framework often produces exactly this: costly litigation, unclear accountability, and residents stuck in the middle.