Measure VV
City of Santa Monica · Los Angeles County · November 3, 2026
The question on your ballot
MEASURE VV: Shall Article XXIII of the City Charter related to housing policies be amended to extend existing eviction protections to tenants renting single-unit dwellings and condominiums and require that for owner occupancy evictions from non- rent controlled units, the owner must intend in good faith to occupy the unit within 60 days after the tenant vacates and for at least 2 years thereafter?
In plain language
Measure VV changes housing rules in Santa Monica's City Charter. A YES vote adds eviction protections for renters of single-unit homes and condos. It also covers owner move-in evictions. If an owner evicts a tenant to move in, the owner must move in within 60 days. The owner must then live there for at least 2 years. A NO vote keeps the current Charter rules on these evictions.
Impartial analysis
Measure VV amends Santa Monica’s “Housing Policies” eviction protections, Article XXIII of the Santa Monica City Charter (“HPCA”), by (i) extending eviction protections to single-unit dwellings and condominiums; and (ii) aligning owner occupancy eviction requirements in the HPCA and Santa Monica Rent Control Charter Amendment (“RCCA”). Measure VV was placed on the ballot by the Santa Monica City Council. Both the RCCA and the HPCA prohibit evictions except as provided by law. The RCCA does so for rent-controlled units and the HPCA does so for most other units. The HPCA excludes single-unit dwellings and condominiums from eviction protections. Measure VV extends HPCA eviction protections to tenants in single-unit dwellings and condominiums. The HPCA requires that for an owner to evict a tenant for owner occupancy, the owner or relative must intend to occupy the unit for at least one year and begin occupancy within 30 days of tenant vacancy. Measure VV amends the HPCA to align it with the RCCA by increasing these timeframes to require that the owner or relative must intend to occupy the unit for at least two years and begin occupancy within 60 days of tenant vacancy. Heidi von Tongeln City Attorney
Official ballot arguments
Filed for the official voter guide by each side, printed as submitted.
Argument in favor
No family should be evicted from their home for arbitrary reasons or without good cause. The Santa Monica City Charter already specifies that tenants in multi-family buildings can only be evicted for specific reasons listed in the charter. The same protections apply to tenants in rent-controlled single-family homes and condominiums. This Charter amendment would extend those same protections to tenants in non-rent-controlled single-family homes and condominiums. In other words, it ensures that non-rent-controlled tenants have the same rights as rent-controlled tenants when their landlord serves them with an eviction notice. This measure also makes minor technical revisions to the procedures for owner move-in evictions in non-rent-controlled units to align the procedures with those for rent-controlled units. The amendments in this measure are crucial to preserving the stability and diversity of our community. It is important for all tenants to enjoy the same rights, and this measure helps accomplish that goal. — Ellis Raskin, City Councilmember; Barry Snell, City Councilmember; Kay Ambriz, Rent Control Board Vice Chair; Soledad Marcial
The proponents' own argument inadvertently proves our point: no family should be arbitrarily barred from their own home or forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars just to move into it. Yet, that is precisely what Measure VV demands. Extreme financial penalties While masked as "eviction protection," this proposal effectively forces local homeowners out of their properties. By claiming to expand rights for one group, it strips fundamental rights from another. Do not be misled by a "minor technical revision" label. This measure imposes extreme financial penalties on homeowners and violates the foundational promise made to all Santa Monica residents that homes and condominiums remain protected for their owners to inhabit. Not "Minor Technical Revisions" Labeling extensive changes to the Santa Monica City Charter as "minor technical revisions" misleads voters. These amendments create rigid regulatory hurdles and complex legal procedures, turning straightforward residential arrangements into bureaucratic minefields. A Flawed "One-Size-Fits-All" Approach Proponents argue that all housing types should be treated identically. But an individual condo or single-family residence is fundamentally different from a commercial multi-family apartment complex. Forcing individual residences into a regulatory structure designed for large commercial landlords ignores reality and invites costly administrative disputes and legal conflict between tenants and homeowners. Reject promises of slippery politicians seeking a few quick votes. Vote NO on Measure VV.
Argument against
Protect Santa Monica Homeowners and Rental Housing Stock: Vote NO on Measure VV By expanding rent control to single-family homes and condominiums, this proposed Charter Amendment represents an extreme and counterproductive policy shift. It unfairly penalizes individual families and small property owners while actively worsening Santa Monica’s housing shortage. Unfair Financial Penalties on Mom-and-Pop Homeowners. Single-family homes and condominiums are predominantly owned by individual families, seniors, and small property owners—not large corporate landlords. If a homeowner temporarily rents out their home to cover medical costs, care for an aging parent, or accommodate a job relocation, this measure would force them to pay $20,000 to over $40,000 in mandatory relocation fees just to move back into their own property. A family should never be forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars simply to reoccupy a residence they legally own. Shrinks Santa Monica’s Rental Supply. Imposing excessive financial penalties and rigid administrative barriers on property owners will inevitably drive single-family homes and condos off the rental market entirely. Rather than protecting tenants, this measure will shrink the overall pool of available rental units, increase competition, and ultimately push housing costs higher across the city. Harms Multi-Generational Families and Aging Seniors. Many residents rely on renting out their home temporarily with plans to return for retirement, downsize, or provide housing support for children or elderly relatives. Penalizing owner move-ins with exorbitant fees and lengthy delays severely disrupts these multi-generational family plans and hurts residents trying to care for their loved ones. Protect local homeowners, preserve housing availability, and support Santa Monica families. Vote NO on Measure VV. Jay Johnson, Former Chair, Santa Monica Rent Control Bd. — Nancy Cook Smith; Esther Hickman,; John Kelso; Clara Benrey
Measure VV is simple and straightforward. It will (1) ensure that renters in non-rent-controlled condominiums and single-family homes have the same eviction protections as renters in controlled condominiums and single-family homes; and (2) align owner-occupancy eviction requirements for rent-controlled and non-controlled units. Let’s fact-check some of the claims in the arguments opposing this measure: i. The measure will not establish new price controls for condominiums or single-family homes. It just establishes that tenants can only be evicted for specified reasons. ii. The measure does not create new “unfair financial penalties.” Existing Santa Monica law already requires relocation payments to qualifying tenants in a “single-family home” or “a room in a single-family home” (see SMMC Chpt. 4.36). This measure would not change those existing requirements or add any new relocation payment requirements. iii. The measure does not shrink Santa Monica’s housing supply. On the contrary, by providing new eviction protections, it ensures that longtime Santa Monica families can stay in their homes without fear of eviction for arbitrary reasons. iv. The measure does not harm multigenerational families and seniors. Property owners still have the right to take any rental units off the market, but this measure provides extra safeguards that ensure the owner will reside at the unit on a long-term basis. Please vote YES on Measure VV to ensure that all tenants have the same protections.
What supporters and opponents say — outside sources (not official ballot arguments)
Statements by campaigns, officials and news coverage, quoted with attribution and linked to the original. VoterDecoder did not write them and does not endorse either side.
Supporters say
No public statements in favor were found.
Opponents say
No public statements against were found.