City of Santa Monica
The following is a brief overview of the tenant protections available in this city. For more details please refer to the ordinance itself and any other resourced linked below.
Overview
What tenant protections does the city have?
Rent Control
Just Cause for Evictions
Who enforces the tenant protections?
Santa Monica Rent Control Board
When were these protections adopted and most recently updated?
Adopted: 1979
Updated: 2022
Rent Stabilization
Exemptions
SFH and condos per Costa Hawkins Act. Anything built after 4/10/79. Owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes, short term rentals, nonprofit owned housing, gov’t subsidized housing, per local law.
How much can rent be increased and how often?
75% of CPI or 3%, whichever is less
Is banking allowed?
No
Are passthroughs or additional costs allowed (pets, utilities, parking, etc)?
Landlords can petition as long as they certify that the unit is not subject to any uncorrected citation or notices of violation of any state or local housing health, or safety laws issued by any government official or agency, no banking
Eviction Protections
Exemptions
Some government subsidized units and other institutaional units (hospitals, convents, etc)
Under what circumstances is the landlord obligated to pay relocation assistance to tenant?
All no fault just cause evictions and some temporary displacements.