Local Rules Near Downtown Santa Monica

Gas-powered leaf blowers have been banned in Santa Monica since 1991. Only electric blowers with manufacturer sound rating of 70 dB or less are allowed (July 2023 update). Hours: Mon-Fri 8 AM-8 PM. Photo/video evidence accepted for enforcement.

Residential zones are limited to 50 dBA at night and 55 dBA during the day (15-minute Leq); commercial zones allow 60/65 dBA; industrial zones allow 70 dBA anytime.

In residential zones (Noise Zone I), noise must stay at or below 50 dBA between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays, or 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. on weekends.

Construction is limited to Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; no construction is allowed on Sundays or on federal holidays.

No dog, cat, or other animal may bark, yell, or cry for more than five continuous minutes or for fifteen total minutes in any sixty-minute period.

The Santa Monica Airport Noise Abatement Code caps aircraft noise at 95 dB SENEL and bans departures or run-ups between 11 PM and 7 AM on weekdays or 11 PM and 8 AM on weekends.

No one may use sound amplifying equipment or play a musical instrument in public parks, beaches, or recreational facilities after 10 p.m. on weekdays or before 7 a.m. (8 a.m. weekends), unless they hold a City community event permit.

Every home-share host must maintain a minimum of $500,000 in liability insurance covering home-sharing, or use a hosting platform that provides equivalent or greater coverage for each transaction.

Santa Monica STRs are subject to occupancy limits based on the number of bedrooms and building/fire code standards. Overcrowding is a code violation. Operators must ensure guest count complies with local regulations.

STR guests in Santa Monica must comply with local parking regulations including permit parking districts and overnight restrictions. Beach-area parking is limited and metered. Operators should inform guests of parking options.

Santa Monica only allows home-sharing (hosted stays) and requires both a City home-sharing permit and a business license before renting any bedroom short-term. The host must prove primary residency and comply with extensive application conditions.

Santa Monica prohibits all unhosted vacation rentals entirely: the host must live in the dwelling and be physically present throughout every guest's stay. There is no annual night limit, but each host may only operate one home-share and must be present on-site every single night guests are there.

Home-share hosts must collect and remit the City's Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on all guest stays. Hosting platforms such as Airbnb are designated as the host's agent for TOT collection and are directly responsible for remitting taxes to the City.

Home-share hosts are personally responsible for ensuring guests comply with Santa Monica's noise ordinance (Chapter 4.12) and must actively prevent any nuisance activities arising from their home-share, not merely respond after the fact.

Santa Monica has formally designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones based on recommendations by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Properties in High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and wildland-urban interface areas must maintain required hazardous vegetation and fuel management under the adopted California Wildland-Urban Interface Code.

Smoke detectors are required in every residential dwelling, apartment, guestroom, condominium, and hotel or motel room in Santa Monica. Additional smoke detectors must be installed when remodeling a home beyond certain thresholds, and sellers must certify detectors are installed before a property sale.

Properties in fire hazard zones near Santa Monica must maintain defensible space per CA PRC §4291. Santa Monica itself is largely urban/coastal with limited wildfire risk, but properties near the Santa Monica Mountains may fall in fire hazard zones.

All fireworks are illegal in Santa Monica, including California State Fire Marshal-approved Safe and Sane fireworks. The only exceptions are City Council-approved aerial public displays, pyrotechnic effects for film and theatrical productions, and use by state or federal authorities.

Santa Monica is a leader in EV infrastructure. CA AB 2097 eliminates parking minimums near major transit. CALGreen requires EV-ready wiring in new construction. The city offers streamlined permits for residential charger installation.

On streets posted with overnight restrictions, no vehicle may remain parked for more than 30 minutes between 3 AM and 5 AM. City-wide, trailers and vehicles over 8 ft wide, 8 ft tall, or 20 ft long may not park on any public street between 9 PM and 6 AM without a City permit.

Trailers of any size and vehicles exceeding 8 feet wide, 8 feet tall, or 20 feet long are banned from all Santa Monica public streets and alleys between 9 PM and 6 AM unless the owner holds a City permit. This effectively prohibits overnight RV and boat-trailer street parking without authorization.

Any driveway crossing a public street, parkway, or sidewalk in Santa Monica requires written approval from the Superintendent of Streets, with maximum widths of 28% of lot frontage for residential uses and a 35-foot cap for commercial uses.

Commercial vehicles that exceed 8 feet in width or 8 feet in height may not park on any residential district street or alley except when actively making commercial deliveries, in an emergency, or for loading and unloading. Smaller commercial vehicles face no special restriction.

Under California Vehicle Code Section 22651(k) and Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 3.12, vehicles parked on public streets for 72 or more consecutive hours are considered abandoned and subject to citation and towing. Temporary No Parking signs require 24–72 hours advance posting.

Santa Monica has extensive preferential parking zones under SMMC Chapter 3.08 requiring resident permits. Metered parking and time-limited zones are enforced throughout the city.

Exceeding Santa Monica's standard fence or wall height limit requires a permit. Increases up to 4 feet above the limit in side/rear setbacks can be approved administratively with adjacent owner consent; larger increases require a discretionary hearing.

Boundary fences in Santa Monica follow CA Civil Code §841 (Good Neighbor Fence Act) for shared cost. Spite fences over 10 ft are a private nuisance under CA Civil Code §841.4. Disputes are a civil matter between neighbors.

Front-yard fences, walls, and hedges are capped at 42 inches; side and rear fences and walls may be up to 8 feet, while hedges in those setbacks may reach 12 feet.

Retaining walls four feet tall or less (measured from footing bottom to wall top) are permit-exempt in Santa Monica; taller walls require a building permit and must comply with seismic design standards, including a prohibition on wood construction for walls over four feet in Seismic Design Categories D, E, or F.

In residential zones, barbed wire (especially concertina wire), electrically energized fences, and fences with jagged edges such as glass or nails are prohibited; wooden, picket, and decorative metal fences are permitted.

Feeding animals or birds in Santa Monica parks, piers, the public beach, or designated off-leash areas is prohibited without written authorization from the City Manager.

No dwelling may house more than four dogs over four months of age or more than five cats over four months of age.

Beekeeping is allowed only on single-family residential property, limited to two hives, and requires prior registration with the City's Animal Control Office.

Santa Monica does not impose breed-specific legislation. All dogs must be licensed per CA Food & Ag Code §30500+. Dangerous dog determinations are based on individual behavior rather than breed.

Dogs on any public property must be restrained by a leash of six feet or less in fixed length, held by a competent person, or confined in an automobile.

Up to thirteen fowl of any kind may be kept without a permit; pigs, bulls, and billy goats require a permit and must stay at least 300 feet from any residential or commercial district.

Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 4.04.162 prohibits wild animals, venomous reptiles, and monkeys without a permit from the Animal Control Officer. All snakes, reptiles, non-human primates, arachnids, and birds are banned from City parks, beaches, the Pier, and the Third Street Promenade.

No one may remove, cut, trim, prune, or otherwise disturb any tree on public property, including streets, sidewalks, parkways, and alleys, without first obtaining a City permit, and violations carry fines up to $1,000 or jail time.

Santa Monica requires property owners to maintain landscaping and prevent weed growth under SMMC Ch. 13.02. Overgrown vegetation, dying or dead plants, and inadequate ground cover are property maintenance violations.

Santa Monica bans spray irrigation of lawns and landscapes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day, limits sprinkler run times, and can activate tiered outdoor watering day-of-week restrictions from 3 days per week down to a complete ban during declared water shortage phases.

Santa Monica strongly encourages rainwater harvesting as part of its water self-sufficiency goal. The city promotes stormwater harvesting through BMPs and infrastructure. Landscape rebates are available for rainwater capture systems.

Santa Monica heavily restricts new turf. New residential properties may use high-water plants (including turf) in no more than 20% of total landscaped area. New commercial properties are prohibited from using turf. Ground cover must be live plant material.

Home occupations in Santa Monica may display only the occupant's address and name: no business signs, logos, or outdoor advertising of any kind are permitted.

Cottage food operations as defined under California Health and Safety Code § 113758 are explicitly recognized as a home occupation exception in Santa Monica, permitting non-resident workers on the premises.

Home occupations in Santa Monica require a Zoning Conformance Review before the City will issue a business license, confirming the use is incidental to the residential use and complies with Section 9.31.160.

Home occupations in Santa Monica are capped at 6 client visits per 24-hour period and must not generate vehicle or foot traffic beyond what is normal for a residential neighborhood.

Large family day cares are permitted in Santa Monica residential dwellings without hour or day restrictions, provided the operator lives full-time in the home and the facility is state-licensed.

Pool fencing in Santa Monica must be at least 5 ft with no opening over 4 inches per SMMC §8.12.150. When replacing 50%+ of an existing enclosure, full current code compliance is required. Gates must be self-closing and self-latching.

Building permits are required for pool and spa installation in Santa Monica. Plans must include barrier details, drainage, and safety features. Pools are classified as accessory structures in residential districts.

ADUs and JADUs in Santa Monica may not be rented for terms of 30 days or less unless specifically authorized under the City's Home-Sharing and Vacation Rentals ordinance (SMMC Chapter 6.20).

Santa Monica does not require owner-occupancy for standard ADUs, but owner-occupancy is required for Junior ADUs (JADUs): the owner must reside in either the primary dwelling or the JADU, unless the owner is a government agency, land trust, or housing organization.

ADUs and JADUs in Santa Monica are fully exempt from development impact fees, including affordable housing, child care linkage, transportation, and parks and recreation fees.

Storage sheds and other detached accessory buildings must be placed on the rear half of the lot, set back at least 5 feet from the rear property line, and are limited to 14 feet or one story unless the stricter two-story standards are met.

Santa Monica allows ADUs and JADUs by-right on residential parcels, approved ministerially within 60 days, with detached ADUs limited to 850 sq ft (studio/1BR) or 1,200 sq ft (2+ BR), 4-foot side/rear setbacks, and a maximum height of 2 stories or 24 feet.

Garages may be converted to ADUs by-right in Santa Monica, and no replacement parking is required when a garage or carport is demolished or converted to create an ADU or JADU.

Santa Monica's floodplain regulations restrict or prohibit filling, grading, and other development that could increase flood damage or alter drainage patterns, and require all new development to provide adequate drainage.

Santa Monica prohibits non-stormwater discharges to the city's storm sewer system (MS4) and requires all property owners and businesses to follow good housekeeping practices including keeping trash receptacles covered and closed. Development projects must submit a Runoff Mitigation Plan before receiving a building permit.

Any development or construction within Santa Monica's designated special flood hazard areas requires a floodplain development permit before work begins. Violations constitute a misdemeanor.

Commercial cannabis uses in Santa Monica must be located at least 600 feet from schools, youth centers, and licensed day care centers, measured at the time a complete permit application is submitted.

Adults 21+ may cultivate up to 6 cannabis plants per household under CA Prop 64. Plants must be in a secure, enclosed area not visible from public view. Indoor cultivation is permitted; outdoor must be screened from view.

Santa Monica requires a cannabis retailer permit and City business license before operating any retail cannabis dispensary, with location standards set by Chapter 9.31 and operating hours capped at 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. All commercial cannabis activity not covered by Chapter 6.200 is expressly prohibited.

Santa Monica provides expedited permit processing for solar energy systems that qualify under California Government Code Section 65850.5, handled through the City's Solar Energy System Permit Expediting Ordinance.

Solar panel installations on existing buildings follow a ministerial (by-right) standard and are exempt from Architectural Review Board approval as long as they meet the code's visibility, height, and setback requirements.

CA Civil Code §714 (Solar Rights Act) prohibits HOAs from banning solar panels in Santa Monica. HOAs may only impose reasonable restrictions that do not significantly increase cost or decrease efficiency of solar installations.

Political and noncommercial signs are protected expression in Santa Monica. The sign code permits noncommercial signs provided they are not of prohibited types. Temporary signs on private property are generally allowed for political expression.

Residents in Santa Monica can post temporary signs (including garage sale signs) in any residential zone without a permit, limited to two signs of 8 sq ft each (or one 16 sq ft sign) plus one 4 sq ft window sign at any time, with an additional 120-day annual allowance for extra signs.

Snow is not applicable in Santa Monica due to its coastal Southern California climate. There are no snow removal or sidewalk clearing ordinances. Property owners maintain adjacent sidewalks under general maintenance duties.

Santa Monica enforces strict property maintenance under SMMC Ch. 13.02. Deteriorated fences, unsightly structures, and unmaintained landscaping are violations. Properties must be maintained to not diminish neighboring property values or enjoyment.

Santa Monica requires owners of vacant or substantially vacant properties to register them with the city, maintain them in a safe and non-blighted condition, and pay ongoing monitoring fees: with tiered inspection and security standards.

Exterior lighting may not spill onto neighboring properties at more than 0.5 foot-candles, and all fixtures must use IESNA 'Cut Off' or 'Full Cut Off' optics to prevent glare onto streets and adjacent land.

Santa Monica prohibits mercury vapor lamps, drop-down lenses, searchlights, and any flashing or moving lights, and restricts decorative spotlights from being aimed above the horizon between midnight and sunrise.

Santa Monica requires all rent-controlled units to be registered with the Rent Control Board. Annual registration fee is $240 per unit for 2025/2026. Half ($10/month) may be passed through to tenants with proper notice. The Board maintains a Maximum Allowable Rent database.

Santa Monica has one of California's strictest rent control laws, adopted by voters in 1979. The 2025 general adjustment is 2.3% (max $60 increase, effective Sept 1). Covers most multi-family buildings built before April 10, 1979. Annual registration fee is $240/unit.

Santa Monica landlords must pay a mandatory relocation fee when displacing tenants for demolition, Ellis Act withdrawal, owner-occupancy, or when imposing rent increases above the CPI+5% or 10% cap. Fees are set by City Council resolution and must be deposited in escrow before the termination notice is served.

Santa Monica enforces strict just-cause eviction protections. Tenants may only be evicted for enumerated at-fault or no-fault reasons. No-fault evictions require relocation assistance. Ordinance 2776 (2024) expanded anti-discrimination and harassment protections.

Santa Monica requires all generators, residential and commercial, to use a three-container collection system (black, blue, green) and to source-separate organic waste including food scraps into the green container. Organics must not be placed in the black or blue containers.

Trash and recycling containers may not be set out earlier than 4:00 p.m. the day before collection and must be removed by 8:00 p.m. on collection day. Between collections, bins must be stored on private property at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way.

Tree limbs, brush, and yard trimmings set out for Santa Monica collection must be cut to no more than 4 feet in length and tied in bundles not exceeding 40 pounds. Palm fronds do not need to be placed in containers.

Dumping solid or liquid waste in storm drains, streets, sidewalks, public parks, or the beach is unlawful in Santa Monica, with fines starting at $250 and escalating to $1,000 for repeat offenses, plus possible jail time.

Santa Monica's Resource Recovery & Recycling team collects trash, recycling, and organics weekly on your assigned day. Confirm your day through the city or 311. When a holiday occurs, all collection is delayed one day.

Santa Monica mandates recycling under SB 1383 organics diversion requirements. The city's Resource Recovery Division provides recycling collection. Commercial properties have mandatory recycling program participation. Hazardous materials have separate disposal procedures.

Sidewalk vendors must display their permit at all times, comply with the City's noise ordinance, keep their area litter-free with an on-hand trash container, and are prohibited from using open flames, leaning equipment against street furniture, or displaying goods not immediately for sale.

Stationary sidewalk vendors are banned from the beach, the Transit Mall, residential zones, within 25 feet of the Third Street Promenade, and within 500 feet of the Pier bridge entrance in Palisades Park. Roaming vendors cannot operate in or adjacent to residential zones between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Food trucks in Santa Monica are regulated as vehicle vendors under SMMC Ch. 6.36. A city business license and LA County Health Permit are required. Sidewalk vending requires a separate permit under the city's vending program.

Solicitors and peddlers in Santa Monica must pay a license fee under SMMC Ch. 6.32. All persons engaged in door-to-door soliciting, canvassing, or peddling (by foot, vehicle, or other means) must comply with licensing requirements.

Santa Monica prohibits solicitors from ringing bells or knocking at residences displaying 'No Peddlers' or 'No Solicitors' signs per SMMC Ch. 6.32. Violations are enforceable under the municipal code.

Most Santa Monica parks close at 11 p.m. and reopen at 6 a.m. Palisades Park has a later curfew of midnight to 5 a.m., while Chess Park closes from sunset to sunrise.

R1 zone floor area ratio (FAR) ranges from 0.45 to 0.55 depending on the number of stories and whether the project involves an addition to an existing structure rather than new construction.

In the Bergamot Districts, buildings must be set back from the street curb face by 10 to 20 feet depending on the specific street, and in Mixed-Use/Commercial Districts, buildings adjacent to residential zones must respect a daylight plane starting at 30 feet above the shared property line.

In Mixed-Use and Commercial Districts, base (Tier 1) building height is 2 stories/32 feet in most zones, with higher limits available for projects providing affordable housing or community benefits under a tiered system.

Planting, trimming, or altering any tree or plant in the parkway strip (the area between curb and sidewalk) requires a City permit, and the Director of Community and Cultural Services has exclusive authority to supervise all work on public trees.

Residential yard sales in Santa Monica do not require a Temporary Use Permit if held no more than twice per year per dwelling unit and lasting no more than two days each.

Santa Monica requires automatic fire sprinkler systems in all newly constructed buildings, with one limited exception for small detached residential garages. Existing buildings must also be retrofitted with sprinklers when undergoing significant additions, renovations, occupancy changes, or when a story is added.

Any organized event on City-owned property involving 150 or more persons, or requiring a temporary structure needing a Fire or Building permit, requires a community event permit from the City's Community Events Committee.

Parades and marches in Santa Monica require a community event permit and must follow five designated parade routes, generally in one direction only. Alternative routes may be permitted if cross-traffic can be maintained and participant safety ensured.

Santa Monica residents or businesses can close a neighborhood street for a block party by filing a permit with the Department of Transportation. The process requires a neighbor petition, advance notice, and is limited to streets classified as Neighborhood Streets, Shared Streets, or Avenue: Industrial.

Restaurants in Santa Monica may set up outdoor dining on public sidewalks only as an accessory use to a legally established eating or drinking establishment, after obtaining Zoning Conformance Review, a Sidewalk Dining Permit, and a City license agreement.

Santa Monica sidewalks must maintain a continuous 4-foot clear path for pedestrians at all times. Unattended property on any public sidewalk, street, or right-of-way is prohibited after 10 minutes, and portable display tables or carts face strict size and location rules.

Nightclubs, bars, and establishments with amplified music must locate all customer entrances and exits on commercial streets only, and must use two-door vestibules with solid-core doors to contain sound.

Car alarms may not sound for more than fifteen minutes in Santa Monica; police may enter the vehicle to disconnect an alarm that has exceeded the limit.

Santa Monica bans single-use plastic carry out bags at all retail establishments. Grocery stores and pharmacies may only provide reusable bags or recycled paper bags (for at least 10 cents per bag). The ban also applies at City facilities, City-permitted events, and Santa Monica Farmers Markets.

Santa Monica food and beverage providers may only give out single-use straws and utensils upon customer request: they may not be automatically provided with orders. Plastic straws may still be kept and dispensed to customers with disabilities who request them.

Santa Monica prohibits food and beverage providers from dispensing prepared food or drinks in any non-marine degradable disposable food service ware, effectively banning polystyrene (Plastic #6) containers, cups, plates, bowls, trays, lids, and similar items.

In Santa Monica's Downtown, Main Street corridor, and portions of Montana Avenue, sitting or lying on public sidewalks in a way that blocks pedestrian access is prohibited between 6 AM and 1 AM. The rule is geographically limited and not a city-wide prohibition.

Santa Monica classifies a data center as a Communication Facility, Equipment within Buildings - indoor space holding computer servers. The use needs a Conditional Use Permit in the IC Industrial Conservation district, is permitted by right in the OC Office Campus district, and is barred from residential zones.

Santa Monica Municipal Code Chapter 4.12 caps exterior noise at the property line. Residential Zone I limits are 60 dBA daytime and 50 dBA overnight; industrial Zone III is 70 dBA at any hour. A data center's cooling and generators must meet the nearest zone's limit.

New developments in Santa Monica's recycled water service area with at least 7,500 sq ft of floor area must use 100% recycled water for surface irrigation and eligible dual-plumbing applications, effective January 1, 2023.

When a Santa Monica hotel changes ownership or control, the incoming employer must retain all eligible hotel workers for a 90-day retention period and may only discharge them during that period for documented individual cause.

Santa Monica designates Landmarks through the Landmarks Commission when a structure meets at least one of six criteria related to historical, architectural, cultural, or aesthetic significance. Once an application is filed, all demolition and alteration of the structure is immediately prohibited.

Property owners in Santa Monica's Third Street Neighborhood Historic District must obtain a Landmarks Commission certificate before making most exterior changes, constructing new buildings, or demolishing contributing structures in the district.

Santa Monica allows designated Landmarks, Structures of Merit, and contributing buildings in Historic Districts to enter into Mills Act historical property contracts with the City for property tax reductions, subject to three eligibility conditions.

Massage establishments and massage technicians in Santa Monica must obtain a police permit in addition to a standard business license. State-licensed massage therapists may qualify for an exemption from the police permit requirement under Section 6.104.170.

Adult entertainment (sexually-oriented) businesses may only operate in Santa Monica's designated commercial districts, must be at least 500 feet from schools, parks, libraries, churches, and residential zones, and at least 1,000 feet from any other adult business.

All tobacco retailers in Santa Monica must hold a valid city tobacco retailer's license, renewed annually by June 30. Retailers must check ID for anyone appearing under 27, cannot display products within reach of customers, and may not sell from mobile locations.

Santa Monica bans smoking in an extensive list of public outdoor and indoor locations, including all parks, beaches, the Pier, outdoor dining areas, farmers markets, and within 20 feet of building entrances. The ban also extends to common areas and outdoor right-of-way near multi-unit residential buildings.