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Santa Monica General Adjustment limits
Santa Monica's General Adjustment is 2.6% for rent years starting September 1, up from 2.3% the year before. It is also capped at $70.00 per month, which is the figure that binds once the rent is over $2674.00 per month, and it takes 30 days of written notice.
Source: Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent Verified August 9, 2026
The figures behind this
Applies September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027
75% of CPI-LA for the 12 months ending March. For units with a Maximum Allowable Rent of $2,674 or more the increase is also capped at $70 a month, whichever is less.
Source: Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent Verified August 9, 2026
Applies September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027
Applies to units with a Maximum Allowable Rent of $2,674 or more.
Source: Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent Verified August 9, 2026
Applies September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2027
Source: Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent Verified August 9, 2026
"Per Measure RC, passed by the voters in November 2022, increases can range from 0% to 3%, and the Rent Control Board retains the authority to impose a dollar-amount maximum after holding a public hearing." The formula is 75% of the change in the area CPI; the 0–3% band is the outer limit, not the year's number.
Source: Santa Monica Rent Control Board: Frequently Asked Questions (v. 6/16/2025) Verified August 9, 2026
Applies September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026
The 2025 GA was 2.3%, capped at $60 for Maximum Allowable Rents of $2,587 or above.
Source: Santa Monica Rent Control Board: General Adjustment and Registration Fee History Verified August 9, 2026
"Landlords must give notice to tenants at least 30 days in advance to increase rents per the 2026 GA effective September 1."
Source: Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent Verified August 9, 2026
The Rent Control Board allows the GA only if the tenancy started at least a year before it takes effect (before September 1 of the previous year), all Rent Control registration fees and accrued penalties for the property have been paid, the unit's tenancy is properly registered, there are no uncorrected citations or notices of violation of health, safety or housing laws for the property, the owner is in compliance with all provisions of the Rent Control Law, the owner gave tenants starting 7/31/17 or after a copy of the Rent Control Information Sheet and declared it on the Tenancy Registration form, and the owner serves proper written notice, typically 30 days. The city's Maximum Lawful Rent page attributes these conditions to Chapter 3 of its regulations; we quote the Board's own FAQ, which lists them in full.
Source: Santa Monica Rent Control Board: Frequently Asked Questions (v. 6/16/2025) Verified August 9, 2026
What to do
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September 1
Santa Monica General Adjustment becomes available
The new GA can be used for rent years starting September 1. You still have to give 30 days' written notice before it takes effect.
It is not automatic. The tenancy has to have started before September 1 of the previous year, every registration fee and penalty on the property has to be paid, the tenancy has to be properly registered, and there can be no uncorrected citations or notices of violation of health, safety or housing laws on the property.
Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent
Source: Santa Monica: Maximum Lawful Rent Verified August 9, 2026
What we do not hold
- The General Adjustment conditions are quoted from the Rent Control Board's own FAQ and Maximum Lawful Rent page, which attribute them to Chapter 3 of the Rent Control regulations. We have not read that chapter's text directly.
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