Free Santa Monica Eviction & Tenancy Notice Forms

Yes. Santa Monica has had rent control since 1979 under the Santa Monica Rent Control Charter Amendment. It is one of the strongest rent control laws in California.

The charter covers most residential rental units and is administered by the Santa Monica Rent Control Board, an independent agency.

Santa Monica Rent Control Board →

• Just cause for eviction is required for all rent-controlled units
• A copy of the notice must be filed with the Santa Monica Rent Control Board
• Notice must reference the applicable section of the Rent Control Charter Amendment
• Tenant must be informed of their right to contact the Rent Control Board
• Certain evictions require prior approval from the Rent Control Board

Under Santa Monica Rent Control Board, Santa Monica requires just cause for any eviction of a covered tenant. The grounds fall into two categories:

Fault-based grounds — based on the tenant's conduct: non-payment of rent, breach of lease, nuisance, illegal use, criminal activity on the premises, refusal to renew, refusal to allow lawful entry, or other tenant-caused grounds enumerated in the ordinance.

No-fault grounds — based on the landlord's circumstances: owner or qualifying family-member move-in, withdrawal from the rental market (Ellis Act), substantial remodel or demolition, or compliance with a government order. No-fault terminations require relocation assistance.

The exact list of grounds, the documentation required for each, and any city-specific cure periods are set by Santa Monica Rent Control Board and updated as the ordinance is amended. Always verify the current grounds with the agency before serving a notice.

Santa Monica Rent Control Board — current just-cause grounds →

When a landlord serves a no-fault eviction in Santa Monica (owner move-in, substantial remodel, withdrawal from the rental market, demolition, or compliance with a government order), the local ordinance requires relocation assistance to be paid to the tenant.

Amounts typically vary by:

• Tenant category — standard tenants vs. senior (62+), disabled, low-income, or families with minor children (protected categories receive higher amounts)
• Unit size — studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom+
• Length of tenancy — long-term tenants are sometimes entitled to additional payments

Santa Monica Rent Control Board sets the current relocation schedule and updates it periodically (often annually, indexed to CPI). Timing of payment also varies by city — some require full payment at notice service, others split between service and vacancy. Confirm the current amounts and timing rules with the agency before serving a no-fault notice.

Santa Monica Rent Control Board — current relocation schedule →