Santa Monica Rent Control

02/17/2026

The LA County Emergency Rent Relief Program is now also available to tenants who have faced emergency-related financial hardship. Today, tenants who have been affected by the 2025 Eaton or Palisades fire and windstorm events or any other emergency financial hardship, may apply for financial assistance. Funds are paid directly to landlords and covered expenses may include:
• Past-due rent or mortgage payments
• Eligible utilities
• Other verified, related housing costs
Up to six months of rental or mortgage relief (limited exceptions apply) may be provided with a maximum award limit of $15,000 per unit.

Applications close Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 4:59 p.m., and both tenants and landlords must complete their portions of the application to be considered.

Interested renters and landlords can review eligibility requirements at lacountyrentrelief.com.

This Program will provide financial assistance to landlords to mitigate the economic impacts caused by the pandemic & resulted in tenants’ inability to pay rent.

12/16/2025

If you’re a landlord or tenant affected by the 2025 Eaton or Palisades fire and windstorm events or any other emergency financial hardships, you may be eligible for financial assistance.
While tenants may not directly apply, they can refer their landlords to apply if they have experienced emergency-related rent debt.

Application Window
Applications for the Emergency Rent Relief Program will open on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM PST. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, January 23, 2026 at 4:59 PM PST.

This Program will provide financial assistance to landlords to mitigate the economic impacts caused by the pandemic & resulted in tenants’ inability to pay rent.

12/08/2025

Join us for our annual Landlord-Tenant Forum this week. Details and sign-up information below. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT3_bqcEI6sWPnDmFASbJ3nkaVE9Cy5AkophK4ck4Rf4zMhw/viewform

05/20/2025

Attend our SEMINAR FOR OWNERS AND PROPERTY MANGERS this Thursday, May 22! ►To sign up scan the QR code or go to forms.office.com/g/ChHTBGd6uS

05/20/2025

Attend our TENANT SEMINAR this Thursday, May 22! Please RSVP using the QR Code or sign up link: https://forms.office.com/g/a1J1j38GKn

04/16/2025

03/10/2025

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03/06/2025

Countywide Eviction Protections for Tenants Financially Impacted by the 2025 Wildfires

On February 25, 2025, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a “Resolution of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Protecting Qualifying Income Eligible Tenants Directly Financially Impacted by the January 2025 Windstorm and Critical Fire Events.” The resolution prohibits eviction of qualifying income-eligible tenants who are unable to pay rent because they are directly financially impacted by the January 2025 LA County wildfires and who provide timely notice to their landlords. Rent is still owed for the protected period, but the resolution allows more time for eligible tenants to pay.

As a convenience to Santa Monica landlords and tenants, the City has launched a webpage with Frequently Asked Questions explaining details of the eviction protections and who may qualify. The page also includes a link to a recommended certification form created by the LA County Department of Consumer Affairs that tenants must provide to their landlord within seven days of rent coming due as one of the requirements for protection.

https://www.santamonica.gov/wildfire-eviction-protections?mc_cid=7ad2f27a3f&mc_eid=6e8a3f4c53
For additional information, see the FAQ or visit Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs at https://dcba.lacounty.gov/

01/10/2025

Emergency Order Addresses Impacts of the Palisades Fire 🔥

On Wednesday, January 8, Santa Monica City Manager David White signed an emergency order in response to the impacts of the Palisades Fire.

The emergency order includes a curfew, from sunset to sunrise, in the areas where a mandatory evacuation order is in effect to support law enforcement efforts in these zones, and other measures to facilitate an effective response.

“The Palisades Fire is currently impacting neighborhoods in the northern part of Santa Monica with approximately 2,472 households under a mandatory evacuation order within the city of Santa Monica and 8,338 under a voluntary evacuation warning,” Mayor Lana Negrete said. “This emergency order further assists our first responders and further protects residents as we weather this regional crisis and, ultimately, begin and support recovery efforts.”
The Santa Monica Police Department, along with mutual aid law enforcement partners, has been deployed during the course of the Palisades Fire to support evacuation efforts and protect life and property.

The local emergency order institutes several additional measures that may be of particular interest to tenants and landlords:
• Restricts evictions of residential tenants who provide accommodation to those displaced by evacuation orders, including their pets
• Suspends enforcement of provisions in the municipal code relating to home-sharing, vacation rentals, and minimum lease term requirements for persons who provide alternative accommodations to persons displaced by the Palisades Fire only
• Prohibits construction activities in evacuation areas and allows for extended time to complete the work
• Allows impacted schools to temporarily operate within non-residential zones in Santa Monica
• Suspends preferential parking rules and enforcement for residents providing accommodations for those displaced by the Palisades Fire
• Prohibits price gouging for emergency and recovery goods and services

Find the latest updates on Santa Monica evacuation orders, services, and resources at santamonica.gov.

Tenants and landlords with questions regarding how the emergency order may impact their controlled rental unit may email the Rent Control office at [email protected] or call (310) 458-8751. Please note, City Hall is closed Friday, January 10.