Details
Santa Monica rent control is set by the city charter and run by the Santa Monica Rent Control Board. It covers roughly 28,000 units, according to a 2020 city explainer. Each controlled unit has a Maximum Allowable Rent (MAR), and the Board adjusts it once a year by a General Adjustment (GA). Units exempt from local control may still be limited by the statewide cap in Civil Code 1947.12, covered in the AB 1482 rent cap guide. Santa Monica is a separate city from Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles RSO does not apply there.
Quick answer: For controlled Santa Monica units, the General Adjustment effective September 1, 2026 is 2.6%, capped at $70 for units with a MAR of $2,674 or more. Last year it was 2.3%, capped at $60. The landlord must give at least 30 days’ notice and meet the Board’s eligibility conditions. Exempt units usually fall under the state cap of 8.7% for increases from August 1, 2026. Permanent relocation for a no-fault eviction runs from $20,500 to $41,900.
Is my Santa Monica unit rent controlled?
Most older multifamily rentals in Santa Monica are controlled, but the Board grants several exemptions, listed on its exemptions page:
- New construction. “Most properties built after April 10, 1979 may qualify for this permanent exemption.” It is not automatic: the Board must grant it. It does not apply to units created by conversion, to “move-on” buildings, to units built within five years of an Ellis Act withdrawal, or to units required under an agreement with the Board.
- Small owner-occupied properties. Properties of three or fewer units where the owner lives on site can receive a temporary exemption.
- Single-family homes and condos. Certain ones are exempt through the Board’s declaration process, sometimes called the 1815 declarations.
Every exemption must be granted by the Board. A landlord saying a unit is exempt does not settle it, and the Board can tell you a property’s status and MAR.
Exempt from Santa Monica rent control? The state cap may apply
A post-1979 building with a Board exemption can still be under state law. The state cap applies to most housing whose certificate of occupancy is more than 15 years old. Santa Monica is in Los Angeles County, part of the statute’s Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area, so the cap is:
- 8.7% for increases taking effect August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027;
- 8.0% for increases that took effect August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2026.
The main state exemptions are:
- housing with a certificate of occupancy within the previous 15 years;
- a house or condo owned by an individual (not a REIT, a corporation or an LLC with a corporate member) that gave the tenant the statutory exemption notice;
- an owner-occupied duplex.
A 1990 Santa Monica apartment building with a Board new-construction exemption is still likely under the 8.7% state cap. Test your unit with Is my rental exempt from the rent cap? and see all regions in California rent increase limits for 2026.
How much can rent go up in Santa Monica in 2026?
The General Adjustment takes effect each September 1. It is “primarily based on 75 percent of” the change in the Consumer Price Index. Santa Monica also sets a dollar ceiling for higher-rent units. The Board’s published history shows:
| Effective | General Adjustment | Dollar ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | 2.6% | Maximum $70 for units with a MAR of $2,674 or above |
| September 1, 2025 | 2.3% | Maximum $60 for units with a MAR of $2,587 or above |
| September 1, 2024 | 3.0% | Maximum $76 for units with a MAR of $2,517 or above |
A unit qualifies for the 2026 GA only if all of these are true:
- the tenancy began before September 1 of the previous year;
- all registration fees and penalties are paid;
- the unit is properly registered;
- there are no uncorrected health, safety or housing violations;
- the landlord has given proper written notice.
Two worked examples, both with the increase effective September 1, 2026:
- Lower-rent unit. The MAR is $2,000. The GA is 2.6%, or $52, for a new MAR of $2,052.
- Higher-rent unit. The MAR is $3,000. 2.6% would be $78, but the MAR is above $2,674, so the increase stops at $70, for $3,070.
For comparison, the same $3,000 unit in an exempt building under the state cap could go up 8.7%, or $261.
| Hypothetical unit, increase effective Sept 1, 2026 | Rule | Largest increase | New maximum rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled, MAR $2,000 | 2.6% | $52.00 | $2,052.00 |
| Controlled, MAR $3,000 | 2.6%, capped at $70 | $70.00 | $3,070.00 |
| Exempt, $3,000 rent, state cap | 8.7% | $261.00 | $3,261.00 |
The rent increase calculator handles the state-cap figure.
Registration fee and notice rules
The Board’s registration fee for fiscal year 2026/27 is $240 per unit. With proper notice, a landlord may pass through up to $10 a month of it, half the fee, to the tenant. An unpaid fee or an unregistered unit disqualifies the landlord from the GA.
The GA increase requires at least 30 days’ written notice. The Board publishes a “Notice of Change in Terms of Tenancy – 2026” form for this purpose, with instructions on its maximum allowable rent page. Santa Monica has no longer notice period than Civil Code 827, which requires 30 days for 10% or less and 90 days for more. See the rent increase notice guide.
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Just cause eviction in Santa Monica
In controlled units, a landlord may evict “only for one of 10 specified reasons,” according to the city’s rent control and AB 1482 explainer. The same explainer says Measure RR, passed in 2010, “applied eviction protections to nearly all Santa Monica tenants, regardless of whether they live in a rent-controlled unit.”
That explainer dates from 2020, so confirm the current list of grounds and any exceptions with the Rent Control Board before acting on a specific notice. The statewide rules are in California just cause eviction. State law generally gives way where a local just cause law is more protective.
Santa Monica relocation fees for 2026–27
The Santa Monica Housing Office administers relocation fees under SMMC 4.36.040. They are updated each July 1 by CPI. The city’s tenant relocation fee page lists these permanent relocation amounts, effective July 1, 2026:
| Unit size | Standard household | Household with a senior, disabled person or minor (SMMC 4.36.040(d)) |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $20,500 | $21,450 |
| One bedroom | $28,300 | $30,200 |
| Two or more bedrooms | $39,350 | $41,900 |
When a tenant must leave only temporarily, such as during repairs, SMMC 4.36.100(c)(1) sets 2026 per diems instead:
- hotel: $405 per day per household;
- meals: $43 per day per person;
- laundry: $2 per day;
- pets: $40 per day for a cat and $73 per day for a dog.
Say a household with a 7-year-old child rents a one-bedroom and receives a no-fault notice in October 2026. The permanent relocation fee is $30,200. If the same household instead had to leave for five nights during repairs, the hotel per diem alone would be $2,025 ($405 × 5). Meals would add $43 per person per day. See California relocation assistance for how local amounts sit above the state’s one-month minimum, and the Ellis Act explained for building withdrawals.
Buyout agreements in Santa Monica
Santa Monica regulates buyout offers under SMMC Chapter 4.57. According to the city’s buyout explainer, before offering any buyout the landlord must give the tenant a written notice of rights. It must cover:
- the right to refuse the offer;
- the right to consult an attorney and/or the Rent Control Board;
- the right to receive not less than the permanent relocation fee under SMMC 4.36.040;
- the right to cancel the agreement within 30 days after all parties sign it.
The landlord files the signed agreement with the City Clerk no sooner than day 31 and no later than day 60. If the landlord does not comply, the tenant may cancel.
Because of the relocation floor, a buyout of a two-bedroom unit for a standard household must be at least $39,350 in 2026–27. Compare any offer against that figure before signing. More in cash for keys in California.
Where to get help in Santa Monica
- Santa Monica Rent Control Board: (310) 458-8751, [email protected], for coverage, MAR lookups, GA eligibility and buyout questions.
- Santa Monica Housing Office: for relocation fees; see the city’s relocation fee page.
- Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs: its rent increase page lists the county’s state-cap figures of 8.0% and 8.7%.
Questions people ask
What is the Santa Monica rent increase for 2026?
The General Adjustment is 2.6%, effective September 1, 2026, with a $70 maximum for units whose MAR is $2,674 or more. It was 2.3%, with a $60 maximum, in 2025.
Are buildings built after 1979 rent controlled in Santa Monica?
Most properties built after April 10, 1979 can qualify for a permanent exemption, but the Board has to grant it. Converted units and units built within five years of an Ellis withdrawal do not qualify. Exempt buildings are often under the 8.7% state cap.
How much is relocation in Santa Monica?
From July 1, 2026, it is $20,500 for a single, $28,300 for a one-bedroom and $39,350 for two or more bedrooms. The amounts rise to $21,450, $30,200 and $41,900 for households with a senior, a disabled person or a minor.
Can I cancel a buyout agreement in Santa Monica?
Yes, within 30 days after all parties sign. You can also cancel if the landlord did not follow the disclosure and filing rules.
Related California renter guides
- Los Angeles rent control (RSO) guide
- California rent increase limits for 2026 by county
- Rent increase calculator: your maximum legal rent
- Just cause eviction rules under state law
- When a California landlord must pay you to move
- Cash for keys and tenant buyouts in California
This page explains what the cited California law says. It is not legal advice. Last verified September 28, 2026.