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The city of Santa Monica (the city) enacted a minimum wage ordinance (the MWO) that requires you to pay any employee who works at least two hours in one particular week within the geographic boundaries of the city at the local minimum wage rate (the Santa Monica minimum wage).1 The MWO is part of Santa Monica’s Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Ordinance.
You can find more information about Santa Monica’s Paid Sick Leave Ordinance on the Santa Monica Paid Sick Leave page. You can find more information regarding the MWO on the city's Minimum Wage Ordinance web page. You may also contact the city by phone at (800) 593-8222 or by email at wagehelp@dcba.lacounty.gov.
Read about the July 1, 2026, minimum wage increase.
Future rate increases will be made annually based on the Regional Consumer Price Index.2
A covered employee (employee) under the MWO is any employee who:
The Santa Monica minimum wage applies to employees working in Santa Monica, regardless of where the employer is located or whether the employee is a Santa Monica resident.4 Minimum wage requirements for hotel workers and hotel employers are covered by Santa Monica’s Hotel Workers Living Wage Ordinance. Information about the Hotel Workers Living Wage Ordinance may be found on the city’s website. You may not reduce the hourly wage paid to any employee or increase charges to employees for parking, meals, uniforms or other items, or decrease benefits to employees to pay for the costs of the increased hourly wage imposed by this MWO.5
Employees cannot waive their right to receive at least the Santa Monica minimum wage except through a valid collective bargaining agreement.6
For the first 160 hours of employment, you do not have to pay the full Santa Monica minimum wage to learners as defined by state law, but you must pay learners at least 85 percent of the applicable Santa Monica minimum wage. You must pay the full applicable Santa Monica minimum wage for every hour worked beyond 160 hours.7
You do not need to pay the Santa Monica minimum wage to individuals who are not entitled to the state minimum wage.8 For more information on these types of employees, see Minimum Wage.
You can find additional information regarding application of the MWO in a Frequently Asked Questions webpage and in the City of Santa Monica Minimum Wage Rules and Regulations.
The MWO requires you to post an official, city-provided notice specifying the minimum wage and describing employee rights.9 You must post the notice in English, Spanish and any other language spoken by at least five percent of your employees. The notices must be posted in a conspicuous place at all locations where employees work.
In addition, you must display the California Minimum Wage Order, which can be found on CalChamber’s California and Federal Labor Law poster.
At the time of hire, you must provide employees your company’s name, address and telephone number in writing.10
State law also requires you to provide the Wage and Employment Notice to Employees (Labor Code section 2810.5) at the time of hire to all nonexempt employees that includes this information and meets the obligation under the MWO.11 More information about the notice can be found on the HR Library's New Employee Orientation page.
You also are required to retain payroll records of each employee for a period of three years.12
The MWO is enforced by the Los Angeles County Department of Business and Consumer Affairs (Department) on behalf of the city.
The city can prosecute violations of the MWO either as a misdemeanor or an infraction. Misdemeanor violations of the MWO are punishable by up to six months in jail or a fine ranging from $150 to $500. Infractions are punishable by a fine ranging from $100 to $250. The applicable punishment is for each day the violation occurred.13
In addition, the city can issue an administrative citation for violations of the MWO. Fines are set by the city council. 14
An aggrieved employee, persons or entities acting on behalf of the public, or the city may file a lawsuit for any violation of the MWO.15
Remedies for violation of the MWO include: back pay; penalties of $100 to each employee for each day that the violation occurred; reinstatement; interest on wages owed; and attorneys’ fees and costs. For “willful” violations, these amounts may be tripled.16
The California Labor Commissioner also has the authority to investigate and enforce local minimum wage and overtime provisions, including the MWO, and to issue citations and penalties against employers for violations. However, the Labor Commissioner and the city cannot both cite the employer for the same violation.
Employees who assert their rights under the MWO are protected against retaliation.17 For example, employees have the right to complain to their employer that they are not being paid the Santa Monica minimum wage and file formal complaints asserting their rights.
If an employer takes adverse action against an employee within 90 days after the employee asserted rights protected by the MWO, it will be presumed this action was retaliation.18 The employer will have to offer evidence to rebut this presumption. Adverse action includes reducing the hours, wage or benefits, demoting, suspending, discharging or discriminating against an employee for exercising rights protected by the MWO.
1. Santa Monica Mun. Code secs. 4.62.010(c), 4.62.015
2. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.015(d)
3. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.010(c); City of Santa Monica Minimum Wage Rules and Regulations (January 2018), Rule 1
4. Frequently Asked Questions, page 4
5. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.060(b)
6. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.045
7. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.015(e)
8. Santa Monica Mun. Code secs. 4.62.010(c); 4.62.015(a)
9. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.015(f)
10. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.015(f)
11. Lab. Code sec. 2810.5
12. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec.4.62.015(g)
13. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.100(c)
14. Santa Monica Mun. Code secs. 4.62.100(b), 1.09
15. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.110(a)
16. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.110(b), (c)
17. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.070
18. Santa Monica Mun. Code sec. 4.62.070(b)