Consumer and Housing Protection

2025 Fair Housing Symposium
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Santa Monica Main Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium
601 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA

Join the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office for the 2025 Fair Housing Symposium, a vital community event focused on equity, justice, and tenant rights.

Featured Speakers:

Minty Siu-Kootinkoff, Legal Services Director, The People Concern – Sojourn
Daliah Setareh, Senior Attorney, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Attorneys from the Consumer Protection Unit, Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office
Lisa Parson, Equity and Inclusion Manager, City of Santa Monica

Topics include:

The history of racism in Santa Monica and the creation of the city's new Reparations Task Force
Fair housing protections for domestic violence survivors, immigrant tenants, and people with disabilities

Important Info:

Space is limited – Pre-registration is required
Parking validation available at the Main Library structure
Sustainable travel encouraged – bike or use public transit!

Click here to register

Price Gouging Protections During the 2025 Wildfire Emergency

Effective January 7, 2025, anti-price gouging laws are in place due to the regional wildfire emergency. These laws generally prohibit price increases of more than 10% during a declared state of emergency. This applies to:

Rental housing
Hotels, motels, and short-term rentals
Consumer goods and services

➡️ Click here for more information

If you believe you’ve been the victim of price gouging or have information about a potential violation, please contact the City Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit at:
📧 Consumer.Mailbox@santamonica.gov
📄 File a complaint online

The Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit enforces state and local laws to make sure that all businesses and landlords in Santa Monica treat consumers and tenants fairly.

For questions or assistance, call 311 or email Consumer.Mailbox@santamonica.gov.

These flyers, available in English and Spanish, provide contact information for a wide range of essential services in Santa Monica:

Essential Services

Servicios Esenciales

Jump to Section:

FAQ

How can I shop smart?

California law requires that all businesses play fair with their customers. Here are some of the laws you may not have known . . .

Charging the posted price

A store can’t charge more for a product than the lowest price that’s posted or advertised. This includes sale items, supermarket “club” specials, and catalogs. Accidental overcharges are more common than you’d think! Always check your receipt to make sure you were charged the right price. If a store overcharges, it may be a crime. (Business & Professions Code §12024.2.)

False advertising
Any advertisement that’s untrue or misleading is against the law – as long as the business knows or should know that it’s untrue or misleading. This includes “bait and switch” advertising: merchants can’t advertise a low-priced product that is unavailable simply to entice customers into the store to sell a higher-priced product. (Business & Professions Code §17500.)

Refunds and exchanges
Stores must give refunds or exchanges on all items that are returned within 7 days with a receipt. The only exception is if they have clear signs stating a no-refund or no-exchange policy in one of the following places: at each cash register and sales counter; at each public entrance; on tags attached to each item; or on their order forms.  (Civil Code §1723.)

“Going out of business” sales
In Santa Monica, “going out of business” and “liquidation” sales can’t be advertised or held without a City permit. The permit must be prominently displayed near the store entrance.  (S.M.M.C. 6.46)

Gift certificates
By law, gift certificates can’t have expiration dates. If they do, and the date has passed, the business must either refund the amount in cash or give you a replacement certificate at no cost. (Civil Code §1749.5.)

Credit card surcharges
Retail businesses can’t charge an extra fee when you pay by credit card. However, they can offer a discount on the established price if you pay cash. (Civil Code §1748.1.)

Same prices for men and women
Businesses are required to charge men and women the same price for similar goods and services. For example, dry cleaners can’t charge a higher price for cleaning women’s blouses than they do for men’s shirts.  (S.M.M.C. §4.32.171.)

If you have a complaint against a Santa Monica business or would like more information about your consumer rights, call the City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit at 311 or 1-866-311-SAMO.

What are the rules on soliciting for charity?

California has strict rules for people who solicit money for charities:

1. Before any solicitation, the person must show the prospective donor either a card or printed material that includes, in at least 10-point type, all of these things:

the name and address of the charitable organization
the name and business address of the paid solicitor
the percentage of the donation that will be used for charitable purposes
the fact that the charity is not tax-exempt (if applicable)
the percentage of the donation that may be written off the donor’s taxes

If printed material is used, it can be given out during the course of the solicitation. (Calif. Bus. & Prof. Code §17510.3(a))

2. Anyone paid to solicit for a charity must disclose prior to the solicitation:

the fact that they are a commercial fundraiser, and
their organization’s name as registered with the Attorney General

(Calif. Bus. & Prof. Code §17510.85)

3. Anyone paid to solicit for a charity must first register and post a bond with the California Attorney General. (Calif. Govt. Code §§12599 (b), (f), 12599.5)

If you’ve seen a solicitor who appeared to be breaking any of these rules in Santa Monica, please contact the Consumer Protection Unit at 311, or smconsumer.org.

What rights do I have as a car buyer?

You have additional rights when you buy a car from a dealer:

You have the right to have a used car inspected by your mechanic, at your expense and with the dealer's approval, before you buy.
You have the right to have a used car inspected by your mechanic, at your expense and with the dealer's approval, before you buy.
Used cars are not returnable, but you can buy a 2-day option to cancel if the car costs less than $40,000. (For details see .)
Used cars are not returnable, but you can buy a 2-day option to cancel if the car costs less than $40,000. (For details see Vehicle Code Sections 11709.2 and 11713.21.)
You have the right to an itemized price list of all financed options or “add-ons,” such as service and insurance contracts, and theft and surface protection products. The dealer must advise you of the cost of the monthly installment payments with and without items listed. No charges may be added to the contract without full disclosure and without your consent.
If the dealer arranges your loan, the interest rate is likely to be higher than if you get the loan yourself. By law, dealers can get up to 2.5% of the loan value as a fee from the bank.
If you finance your vehicle purchase, the dealer must give you your credit score and explain in writing how it was used.
If you finance your vehicle purchase, the dealer must give you your credit score and explain in writing how it was used.
For “certified” used cars, you have the right to a detailed inspection report. “Certified” means:

o The odometer shows actual mileage and has not been altered;

o The car was never bought back by a dealer or manufacturer under state or federal warranty laws;

o The car was never in a collision, fire, or flood which substantially impaired the use or safety of the car;

o The car has no Lemon Law Buyback, manufacturer repurchase, salvage, junk, non-repairable, flood, or similar designation;

o The car has no frame damage; and

o The car cannot be sold “as is.”

If you are buying a used car and it is not "certified," you may want to ask the dealer why not. (For details see Vehicle Code Section 11713.18.)

If you have a problem with a car dealer in Santa Monica, contact the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office at smconsumer.org or 311. For dealers located outside of Santa Monica, you may file a complaint with the California Department of Motor Vehicles at www.dmv.ca.gov (go to Forms menu, select Request for Records and Consumer Complaint, then select Record of Complaint form), or call (800) 777-0133.

My car was towed! What are my rights?

California has tough laws to protect consumers from unfair practices by towing companies.

Towing without authorization It’s illegal to tow a car from any private property without the written authorization of the property owner (or representative), who must also be present at the time of the towing. This means that even if someone parks in a “tow away” zone, their car can’t be towed unless an employee of the business specifically requests the tow and is present at the time. So, for example, during off-hours a car cannot be towed from a private business lot unless someone from the business is there and asks for the tow. (Calif. Vehicle Code §22658(L)(1).)

Refusing to accept payment by credit card The towing company must accept credit card payments for towing and storage fees. And they can’t charge extra for using the credit card. (Calif. Vehicle Code §22658(k).)

Charging for extra days If a vehicle is released within 24 hours from the time it’s brought to the storage facility, regardless of the calendar date, the storage charge shall be for only one day. So only one day’s storage charge may be charged for any vehicle released the same day that it’s towed. (Calif. Vehicle Code §22658(i)(2).)

Penalties and consumer remedies When a towing company violates any of these rules, consumers can sue the company in Small Claims Court and get four times the amount they paid. (For failing to take credit card payment, the penalty is limited to $500.) Also, towing companies that violate these rules may be guilty of a crime and prosecuted in appropriate cases.

If you have a complaint or question about a Santa Monica business or want more information about the law, call the City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit at 311 or 1-866-311-SAMO.

What is the unauthorized practice of law?

Unauthorized Practice of Law

What is unauthorized practice of law?
It refers to anyone who practices law but is not a licensed attorney.

What is “practicing law”?
It includes giving legal advice, preparing legal documents, appearing in court, and any other service typically done by lawyers.

Who is allowed to provide legal services?
By law, there are only three ways that people are allowed to give any kind of legal help for money:
(1) if they’re a licensed attorney;
(2) if they’re a paralegal being supervised by a licensed attorney who’s named on their business card; or
(3) if they’re a “Legal Document Assistant” and registered with the County. (Even then, they’re only allowed to type up standard documents that you request; they can’t give any legal advice!)

Anyone who falls outside these three definitions is committing a crime and you should not give them your money! If they’re doing business in Santa Monica, please report them to the Consumer Protection Unit.

How can I tell if someone is really a lawyer?
Check their name on the State Bar website (www.calbar.ca.gov).

What about immigration consultants?
This is a common area of fraud. Immigration consultants must be bonded by the state and cannot make any promises that are not in writing and with a factual basis. Otherwise, they’re guilty of a separate crime.

A non-lawyer offered to help me with my eviction. Is that okay?
Not if they’re giving legal advice or helping with any of the legal aspects of the case. Also, “Unlawful Detainer Assistants” must be specially registered with the State of California or they’ve committed a separate crime.

If you have a complaint or question about a Santa Monica business or would like more information about consumer rights, call the City Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit at 311 or 1-866-311-SAMO.