Santa Monica · Renting & eviction
Renting in Santa Monica: the rules that apply
Santa Monica has a Rent Control Law (Charter Article XVIII) and adds city relocation fees, tenant harassment rules and a home-sharing-only short-term rental rule. Security deposits, repairs and landlord entry follow state law.
Key points
- Rent increases: The city's Rent Control Law (Charter Article XVIII) covers rent increases; Tenant Protection §§ 4.27.080–4.27.090 gives eviction defenses for excessive rent increases.
- Relocation fee: City law requires a permanent relocation fee, for example when a landlord files notice to take a unit off the rental market.
- Large increases: City relocation fee is owed if a tenant leaves within 120 days after rent rises over the lesser of CPI plus 5% or 10%.
- Harassment: City law bars bad-faith harassment, such as cutting services or abusing entry; damages are actual or $1,000 to $20,000, whichever is greater, per offense.
- Notices: Relocation-fee termination notices, on the City form, must state tenant rights and that the fee is in escrow or another City-approved account.
- Short-term rentals: Only home-sharing is allowed, in the host's primary residence, with a city permit and business license; at most 2 visitor groups per date.
Each rule below is marked Santa Monica code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.
Rent increases
Santa Monica has a related local rule: Rent Control Law (Charter Art. XVIII); Tenant Protection (§§ 4.27.080–4.27.090). This page does not summarize it yet; read the text in the library. Where it does not apply, the state rule below does.
| Rent cap right now | 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 (5% plus 3.7% inflation) Applies: Covered units only. Inflation is the BLS consumer price index for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area, April to April, as the statute requires; the figure is recomputed every year. |
|---|---|
| Statewide rent increase cap (AB 1482) | 5% plus the change in cost of living, or 10%, whichever is lower, over any 12 months Applies: Covered units only; measured against the lowest rent charged in the prior 12 months. |
| Number of rent increases | No more than two increases in any 12-month period |
| Rent cap — new construction exemption | Housing with a certificate of occupancy issued within the previous 15 years is exempt (rolling) Applies: Mobilehomes excepted. |
| Rent cap — single-family home or condo exemption | A home or condo that can be sold on its own is exempt when the owner is not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member, and the tenant was given the written exemption notice Applies: The same exemption applies to the just-cause rule (§ 1946.2(e)(8)). |
| Rent cap — owner-occupied duplex exemption | A duplex in one building is exempt when the owner lived in the other unit at the start of the tenancy and still does, unless either unit is an ADU or JADU |
| New tenancy resets the rent | When no prior tenant remains, the owner may set the initial rent; the cap applies to later increases |
| Rent cap sunset | § 1947.12 is repealed on January 1, 2030 unless extended |
Eviction and just cause
| Units covered |
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| Allowed no-fault reasons |
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CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →
Relocation payments
Santa Monica code City law requires a permanent relocation fee, for example when a landlord files notice to take a unit off the rental market. City relocation fee is owed if a tenant leaves within 120 days after rent rises over the lesser of CPI plus 5% or 10%.
All 21 Santa Monica rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Notices
Santa Monica code Relocation-fee termination notices, on the City form, must state tenant rights and that the fee is in escrow or another City-approved account.
All 6 Santa Monica rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →
Security deposits
CA state law Santa Monica has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →
Retaliation
CA state law Santa Monica has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →
Harassment and lockouts
Santa Monica code City law bars bad-faith harassment, such as cutting services or abusing entry; damages are actual or $1,000 to $20,000, whichever is greater, per offense.
Repairs and habitability
CA state law Santa Monica has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →
Landlord entry
CA state law Santa Monica has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →
Short-term rentals
Santa Monica code Only home-sharing is allowed, in the host's primary residence, with a city permit and business license; at most 2 visitor groups per date.
All 4 Santa Monica rules on short-term rentals, with the code text →
Other Santa Monica rules on this
Santa Monica's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.
- Tenant Harassment (Ch. 4.56)
- Rent Control Law (Charter Art. XVIII)
- Tenant Protection (§§ 4.27.080–4.27.090) — eviction defenses for excessive rent increases
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
How much can rent go up in Santa Monica?
The city's Rent Control Law (Charter Article XVIII) covers rent increases; Tenant Protection §§ 4.27.080–4.27.090 gives eviction defenses for excessive rent increases. Santa Monica also has a related rule: Rent Control Law (Charter Art. XVIII); Tenant Protection (§§ 4.27.080–4.27.090) — eviction defenses for excessive rent increases.
Does a landlord in Santa Monica need a reason to evict?
Santa Monica's code: Rental units that are not rent-controlled units under the City Charter. (Only as a tenant's defense to a nonpayment eviction after a bad-faith, far-above-market increase meant to force the tenant out by fraud, intimidation or coercion.) (§ 4.27.090); Move-in by the owner or a relative; condo conversion or a sale tied to conversion. (Limit: not allowed in condos or co-ops unless created or converted by April 10, 1979, or Rent Board granted a removal permit or vested right.) (§ 4.27.030). State law: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)).
How much can a Santa Monica landlord charge for a security deposit?
Santa Monica has no local rule on this that we found (checked October 2026); state law applies: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)).
General information, not legal advice.
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