Marsha Jones Moutrie City Attorney Joseph Lawrence Assistant City Attorney 1685 Main Street, Room 310 Santa Monica, CA 90401 310.458.8336 attorney@smgov.net

The City Attorney's Office does legal work for the City of Santa Monica and enforces laws.

Consumer Protection
The Consumer Protection Unit enforces Local and State laws to assure that consumers are treated fairly and lawfully by local businesses. The Unit also enforces the City's tenant harassment law, and handles complaints of housing discrimination. It prosecutes violations of the workplace smoking law. The Unit provides information and assistance with filing Small Claims cases.

Code Enforcement
The City Attorney’s Office works with city departments to secure compliance with a wide range of code, permitting and licensing provisions which help protect the quality of life in Santa Monica. If you have a question or complaint about code compliance or nuisance abatement, contact the Building and Safety Division at (310) 458-8355. If you have a question about zoning, contact the Department of Planning and Community Development at (310) 458-8341. For information about business licenses, call (310) 458-8747.

Santa Monica Laws
The Municipal Law Division of the City Attorney’s Office drafts local laws and defends law suits about them. The division also does advisory and transactional work for the city and represents the city in civil cases involving planning and land use, housing, environmental issues and contract and business disputes. If you have a question about a local law, refer to the Santa Monica Municipal Code.

Lawsuits Against the City
Lawsuits against the City are defended by the Civil Liability Division of the City Attorney’s Office. Claims against the city may be directed to the City Clerk's Office.

Criminal Division
The Criminal Division of the City Attorney’s Office prosecutes a wide variety of criminal cases ranging from serious crimes such as domestic abuse, drunk driving, and burglaries to minor infractions. The division also helps crime victims obtain restitution. Most of the criminal cases arise from arrests made and citations issued by the Santa Monica Police Department. If you are the victim of a crime, you should contact the Santa Monica Police Department to make a report. If you want to obtain a restraining order to prevent domestic violence, you may go to the Domestic Violence Clinic at the Santa Monica Courthouse, 1725 Main Street, Room 121, between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday.