The State has prohibited all nonessential operations and gatherings from 10 p.m. - 5 a.m., effective 11/21/20 through 12/21/20, click here for details. City Hall remains closed to the public. Click here for the latest COVID-19 information and click here to connect with a helpful staff member.

COVID-19 - Reopenings and Service Changes

Local Businesses 

The LA County Department of Public Health is the lead agency on the emergency and sets the timeline for reopening businesses by sector, not the City. Everyone should visit the County's website for up-to-the-minute updates at: www.covid19.lacounty.gov/recovery

Resources and information about local economic recovery can be found at santamonica.gov/economicrecovery

Every Santa Monica business is required to adhere to the latest County’s public health requirements for reopening for their sector, which are posted at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/coronavirus

Essential businesses have always been able to operate during the public health emergency. For a comprehensive list of “essential” sectors, refer to the County’s Safer at Home Business FAQs. Customers are advised to call ahead to ensure the business they want to visit is open.

Roadmap to Recovery Parking Updates Safer at Home FAQs What's Open in LA County County of Public Health COVID-19 Website

City Facility Reopenings

A number of City facilities will begin to reopen with restrictions on a rolling basis. City staff need time to make facility improvements to ensure a safe reopen for the community. We are also working to make necessary changes to programming due to modified operating hours, staff reductions, social distancing, and infection control guidance.

Here's what's open now:

  • Parks (outdoor recreation only)
  • Santa Monica State Beach
  • Beach Bike Path 
  • Ocean Front Walk
  • Tennis Courts Details and Info
  • The Cove Skatepark Details and Info
  • Santa Monica Beach parking lots - see "Parking" section below.
  • Community gardens
  • Santa Monica Pier - open daily until 10 p.m. Details and Info 
  • Swim Center. Details and Info
  • Youth Sports Field Reservations and Permits. Details and Info
  • Reed Park Tennis Office (as of September 21, 2020). Details and Info
  • Select Playgrounds  
    • Reopening October 9:
      • Airport Park Playground
      • Clover Park Playgrounds
      • Douglas Park Playground
      • Gandara Park Playground
      • Joslyn Park Playground
      • Marine Park Playground
      • Memorial Park Playground
      • North Beach Playground (slide closed)
      • Reed Park Playground
      • South Beach Universally Accessible Playground
      • Tongva Park Playground
      • Virginia Avenue Park Playground

    • Reopening October 12:
      • Annenberg Community Beach House Playground

  • Parks that do not have nearby restrooms or need additional maintenance will not open until it is safe to do so, with announcements to follow. These playgrounds are:

    • Euclid Park Playground
    • Ishihara Park Playground
    • Ocean Park Beach Playground
    • Ozone Park Playground

Park Equipment Safety Requirements

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City Facility Closures

The LA County’s Department of Public Health has issued guidance that high contact programs and recreational amenities that require close contact less than six feet in distance should continue to be suspended at this time. This includes activities such as all non-professional team sports, group sporting events, organized intermural activities, pick-up basketball and volleyball, lawn bowling, andor organized races. It also includes recreational amenities such as splash pads, outdoor fitness equipment, and outdoor BBQ grills in parks. Here's a list of closures. Check back regularly for updates.

  • Annenberg Community Beach House (pool to remain closed through June 2021). Details at annenbergbeachhouse.com
  • Basketball courts
  • Public access to Camera Obscura Art Lab. Open only to artist studio residency candidates with restrictions based on LA County Public Health Order. Details and Info
  • City Hall (City business will continue)
  • Clover Park office
  • GoSaMo Center public counter
  • Housing Office
  • Muscle Beach
  • Park fitness equipment
  • Santa Monica Public Library branches (book returns and curbside service available)
  • Memorial Park buildings 
  • Miles Memorial Playhouse 
  • Park-based meeting rooms at Douglas, Euclid, Joslyn, Marine Park, and Reed Park.
  • Splash pads
  • Virginia Avenue Park Campus Facilities 
  • Volleyball courts
  • Select Playgrounds 
    • Parks that do not have nearby restrooms or need additional maintenance will not open until it is safe to do so, with announcements to follow. These playgrounds are:
      • Euclid Park Playground
      • Ishihara Park Playground
      • Ocean Park Beach Playground
      • Ozone Park Playground

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Council, Commissions & Public Meeting Changes

City Council is meeting every other Tuesday via teleconference. For more information, visit www.smgov.net/council

The following boards and commissions can meet via teleconference during the remainder of the local emergency, but only as necessary to perform specified, primarily adjudicative and quasi-adjudicative duties set forth in the City Charter and Municipal Code: 

  • Audit Subcommittee
  • Planning Commission
  • Airport Commission
  • Library Board
  • Personnel Board
  • Recreation & Parks Commission
  • Architectural Review Board
  • Arts Commission
  • Building & Fire-Life Safety Commission
  • Landmarks Commission  

Meetings of the following boards, commissions, task forces, and appointed bodies remain suspended. 

  • Clean Beaches & Ocean Parcel Tax Citizens Oversight Committee
  • Community Gardens Advisory Group
  • Commission for the Senior Community
  • Commission on the Status of Women
  • Disabilities Commission
  • Housing Commission
  • Social Services Commission
  • Task Force on the Environment
  • Urban Forest Task Force

This order does not impact the Rent Control Board.  

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Youth Program Reopenings

This fall, the City of Santa Monica’s out of school programs will continue to reopen with limited capacity to ensure safety for the community. City staff are working to make necessary changes to programming due to modified operating hours, staff reductions, social distancing, and infection control guidance. 

  • CREST fall programs will begin in September 2020 on a very limited basis. For more information, visit smgov.net/crest
  • Police Activities League fall programs will begin in September 2020 on a very limited basis. For more information, visit smpal.org
  • Programs at Virginia Avenue Park’s fall programs will begin in September 2020 on a very limited basis. For more information, visit smgov.net/vapark

Reopening is subject to change based on the County of Los Angeles Public Health orders and guidelines. 

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Recreation Program Cancellations

  • Aquatics: programming and permits
  • Sports: Fitness center, tennis programs, adult sports field permits, and adult sports leagues.

Recreation Reopenings 

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Event Cancellations 

All events have been cancelled. 

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Service Changes

Animal Shelter

The counter for the Santa Monica Animal Shelter is closed.

Big Blue Bus

The GoSaMo Center public counter is closed, and the Big Blue Bus and MODE Call Center will remain open; however, Saturday call center hours are canceled. 

  • BBB customers may visit this website, call 310-451-5444, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  
  • MODE members may visit this website, call 310-458-MODE (6633), Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.  
  • BBB and MODE customers may continue to reach us via Santa Monica Works at smgov.net/santamonicaworks 

Building and Safety 

  • Plan review, permitting and inspections will continue as normal.  Staff will facilitate the intake of permit applications and issuance of building permits digitally through email and phone throughout the City Hall closure.
  • All other submittals (e.g. extensions, renewals, records requests) will be done via email at eplans@smgov.net with payments made online.
  • Inspections staff taking added precautions in regards to personal interactions and spacing.
  • Expiration of building projects permitted before March 16 are tolled (paused) and will resume after the local emergency is over. Learn more.

City Attorney's Office

The City Attorney’s Office is closed in person to the public. Service will continue at 310-458-8336 and attorney.mailbox@smgov.net.

City Clerk 

  • During the Candidate Nomination Period, staff will be available by appointment, phone and email. Please visit smvote.org for more information.
  • Passport services are suspended.
  • Please drop off any items related to lobbyist registrations, claims, subpoenas, or lawsuits at the Public Safety Facility front desk (333 Olympic Drive). 
  • For Public Records requests, please visit the Public Records request website. 

Code Enforcement

  • Our priority is enforcing the State, County and Local emergency orders including business closures and operations and physical distancing.  Code Enforcement is also responsible for responding to emergencies that are life safety and health safety. 
  • Code Enforcement's call center is staffed Monday-Friday 8am to 5pm to take complaints from the public that fit into these categories. The number is 310-458-4984 and email is code.enforcement@smgov.net.  

Housing Office

  • Voucher holders who need assistance should contact their housing specialist via email or leave a voicemail on their extension (or email section8.mailbox@smgov.net). All voucher holders will receive a letter in the mail about signing up for AssistanceCheck, and should follow the instructions in the letter.
  • Routine recertification inspections have been canceled.
  • All other inquiries should be directed to smhousing@smgov.net. For those without access to email, please call 310-458-8740 and press 0 to leave a voicemail (we will respond to voicemails as quickly as possible but callers should expect delays).

Library

Parking

  • The public lobby at the GoSaMo Center is closed.
  • Parking staff are available to answer emails via parking@smgov.net and telephone calls (310-458-8295) and complete online services and requests for validations. No walk up counter services are available and parking for city meetings and events will not be provided at this time.    
  • Film-LA requests for the Beach and surface lots will not be accepted at this time.   
  • Pier, Downtown and Beach parking operations may be temporarily suspended to reduce public crowding:
    • Open Beach Parking: 
      • Non-cashiered lots: 9-N, 8-N, 7-N, 6-N, 5-A-N, 5-N.
      • Annenberg Community Beach House lot open daily.
      • Lot 4-South and 5-South open 7 days per week, cashiered lots.
      • Pier Deck and Lot 1-North (1550 PCH) – 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 
      • Lot 1-South has been temporarily designated an ADA-preference parking lot only through July 30, then returns to normal public access.
      • Beach/Ocean Avenue parking meters are open.
      • Parking meters and preferential parking in zone 3 is being enforced.   
  • To pay or contest a parking citation, call (800) 214-1526 or visit paytickets.smgov.net. 
  • Beginning May 22, the City resumed enforcing preferential parking rules in Beach Zone 3. The suspension of preferential parking rules in other zones and parking restrictions in green zones remain suspended through the end of the local emergency.
  • Street sweeping restrictions are being enforced beginning Monday, July 6. Street sweeping occurs in neighborhoods once per month during the first full week.
  • The City is issuing citations for parking violations for street sweeping.
  • Towing for violations of the California Vehicle Code relating to abandoned vehicles resumed as of July 1, 2020.
  • All other parking regulations, including yellow curb zone, time limit zones not within a residential preferential parking zone, and parking meter fees and regulations, are being enforced.

Planning 

  • For general questions, please e-mail planning@smgov.net.  This email address will be monitored throughout the day and a planner will respond within 24 hours.
  • If you have an assigned planner, please email them directly for inquiries. Planners will be returning inquiries over email or phone within 24 hours.
  • Planning application submittal appointments will be accepted via e-mail.  Please e-mail planning@smgov.net with “APPLICATION SUBMITTAL (PROJECT ADDRESS)” in the subject line to request a submittal appointment.  You will be contacted by Planning staff who will schedule your submittal appointment for the following Tuesday or Thursday with further details regarding how to prepare for on-line document submittal and paying fees with a credit card.  Unfortunately, same-day appointments cannot be accommodated unless there are urgent reasons. More information>> 
  • Deadlines for reviewing and acting on planning applications and exercising rights under planning entitlements, are tolled (paused) commencing as of March 16, 2020, and will resume after the local emergency is over.  Learn more.

Mobility

  • The Mobility Division is now able to accept applications and issue all permits remotely with modified procedures, including Oversize Load Permits, Temporary No Parking Signs (TNPS), Temporary Traffic Control Plans (TTCP), & Roadway Closure Permits. Please email us at transportation.planning@smgov.net for service. The account is monitored daily from 8 am to 5 pm, except for Saturdays, Sundays and alternate Fridays.
  • Worksite Transportation Plans and Emission Reduction Plans should only be submitted using the CityGrows portal. Any plans or payments mailed to City offices may not be received until staff has returned to standard working arrangements. If you would like assistance completing your TDM plan, requesting an extension, or making a payment please contact TDMPlans@smgov.net. To learn more about transportation resources for Santa Monica businesses, contact the GoSaMo Transportation Management Organization.

Rent Control Public Counter

The Rent Control public counter is closed. Service will continue at 310-458-8751 and rentcontrol@smgov.net. 

Utility billing, business license and treasury

Don’t see what you’re looking for?

Department contact information is available here and don’t hesitate to call 310-458-8400 or email info@santamonica.gov for assistance.

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