Notices in Santa Monica: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Santa Monica Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Santa Monica's code says

Santa Monica code What Santa Monica's code adds
What a notice must say	A written statement of tenant and landlord rights and obligations, on the City form. Applies: Any notice ending a tenancy for a reason that triggers the permanent relocation fee. § 4.36.030 · code text Any notice to terminate a tenancy which is served upon tenants for any of the reasons set forth in Section 4.36.020 or shall be accompanied by the following on the form provided by the City: (1) A written statement of the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords under this Chapter; A written statement that the relocation fee is held in escrow or another City-approved account. Applies: Any notice ending a tenancy for a reason that triggers the permanent relocation fee; on the City form. § 4.36.030 · code text (2) A written statement informing the tenants that the required relocation fee has been placed in an escrow account or other account approved by the City; A written statement that the landlord met the city's displacement requirements; one way is a City-approved Displacement Plan. Applies: Any notice ending a tenancy for a reason that triggers the permanent relocation fee; on the City form. § 4.36.030 · code text (3) A written statement that the landlord has complied with Section 4.36.050. A copy of the Displacement Plan. Applies: When the landlord met the requirement through a City-approved Displacement Plan. § 4.36.030 · code text If the landlord has complied with Section 4.36.050 by obtaining City approval of a Displacement Plan, a copy of the Displacement Plan shall accompany the written statement. A written statement of tenant and landlord rights and obligations, on the City form. Applies: A rent increase notice above the lesser of CPI plus 5% or 10%, or above the permitted increase for an exempted unit. § 4.36.030 · code text Any notice of rent increase as described in Section 4.36.020(a)(4) or (a)(5) shall be accompanied by a written statement of the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords under this chapter on the form provided by the City. The same statements as a termination notice: rights and obligations, fee held in escrow, and displacement rules met. Applies: Due within 2 working days after the tenant says they are leaving after a qualifying rent increase or 6 months of temporary relocation. § 4.36.030 · code text A landlord shall provide the statements required under subsection (a) within two working days of notice by a tenant upon a landlord of relinquishment of a tenancy as set forth in Section 4.36.020(a)(4) through (a)(6).

The California rule underneath

Where Santa Monica's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
Notice of a rent increase	At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. Civ. Code § 827(b)(2), (b)(3)(A)
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord)	60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c)
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant)	At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)
30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant	30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. Civ. Code § 1946.1(d)
Notice to pay rent or quit	3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)
Notice to cure a lease violation or quit	3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(3)
No fee for serving notices	A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice Civ. Code § 1946.1(i)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much notice does a Santa Monica landlord have to give?

State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.

General information, not legal advice.

Notices in Santa Monica

Key points

What Santa Monica's code says

The California rule underneath

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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