Romy Ganshaw of the City Attorney's Office explained the new non-rent-controlled rental registry ordinance adopted by the City Council earlier in the fall. The requirement covers any parcel that contains at least one rental housing unit not subject to Santa Monica's local rent-control law.

The registration will require owner contact information, property and unit identifiers, tenant-occupancy status, tenancy start dates, voucher use, and information to determine applicability of local just-cause eviction protections and deed-restrictions. The ordinance requires owners to display a registration certificate in a conspicuous place or provide a copy to tenants; failure to display a certificate prohibits a landlord from demanding or accepting rent and may be raised as an affirmative defense in eviction proceedings.

Ganshaw said annual registration timing and fee amounts will be set in regulations; council will set fees to recover administrative costs and owners may pass through 50% of the annual registration fee to tenants on a pro rata monthly basis, except deed-restricted units.

Penalties include administrative fines, civil remedies, injunctions and potential criminal sanctions. The City will initially follow an education-first approach when registrations are incomplete, then proceed to enforcement if owners fail to comply.

Why it matters: the registry gives the city data to better enforce tenant-protection laws and to detect displacement trends including buyout arrangements and unlawful evictions.

What's next: The city will publish the registration form and announce the first annual registration date in implementing regulations.