For purposes of this Chapter, the following words or phrases shall have the following meanings:
"Business"
means a Coastal Zone business, extended downtown core business, hotel, or a Pier business. For purposes of this Chapter, "business" does not include nonprofit entities.
"Coastal Zone"
means that area bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west, by the City borders on the south and north, and on the east by the Lincoln Boulevard centerline south of Pico Boulevard and Fourth Street north of Pico Boulevard. Properties adjacent to the east side of Fourth Street between Pico Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard are included within the area defined by this definition; otherwise the Fourth Street boundary shall be at the centerline.
"Coastal Zone business"
means a business operating within the Coastal Zone with gross receipts over $5,000,000 in the year 2000 for that location.
"Coastal Zone employer"
means any person who owns, controls, or operates a Coastal Zone business, and includes any person, contractor, or subcontractor who, in a managerial, supervisory, or confidential capacity, employs extended Coastal Zone workers to provide services at a Coastal Zone business in conjunction with the business's purpose.
"Coastal Zone worker"
means any person who is employed by a Coastal Zone business.
"Employer"
means a Coastal Zone employer, extended downtown core employer, hotel employer or Pier employer.
"Extended downtown core"
means that area bounded by Ocean Avenue on the west, Wilshire Boulevard on the north, Fifth Street on the east and Colorado Boulevard on the south. Properties on both sides of the boundary streets shall be included within this definition.
"Extended downtown core business"
means a business operating within the extended downtown core with gross receipts over $5,000,000 in the year 2000 for that location.
"Extended downtown core employer"
means any person who owns, controls, or operates an extended downtown core business, and includes any person, contractor or subcontractor who, in a managerial, supervisory, or confidential capacity, employs extended downtown core workers to provide services at an extended downtown core business in conjunction with the business's purpose.
"Extended downtown core worker"
means any person who is employed by an extended downtown core business. "Extended downtown core worker" does not include a managerial, supervisory or confidential employee.
"Hotel"
means an establishment that provides temporary lodging in the form of overnight accommodations in guest rooms to transient patrons who maintain a permanent place of residence elsewhere for payment for periods of 30 consecutive calendar days or less, and may provide additional services, such as conference and meeting rooms, restaurants, bars, or recreation facilities available to guests or to the general public. "Hotel" includes motor lodges, motels, apartment hotels, and tourist courts meeting the definition set forth above. "Hotel" also includes any contracted, leased or sublet premises operated in conjunction with a hotel or that is used for the primary purpose of providing services at a hotel. "Hotel" does not include a hostel, which is a lodging facility primarily characterized by dormitory-style accommodations, shared bathrooms, and reservations of beds rather than rooms. "Hotel" also does not include corporate housing, rooming houses, boarding houses, or private residential clubs, single-room occupancy housing, vacation rentals, or bed and breakfast establishments within a single-unit residence.
"Hotel employer"
means any person who owns, controls, or operates a hotel, and includes any person, contractor or subcontractor who, in a managerial, supervisory, or confidential capacity, employs hotel workers to provide services at a hotel in conjunction with the hotel's purpose.
"Hotel worker"
means any person who is employed by a hotel employer to provide services at a hotel. "Hotel worker" does not include a managerial, supervisory or confidential employee.
"Laid off worker"
means any worker who, in a particular week, performs at least two hours of work within the geographical boundaries of the City for an employer, was employed by an employer for six months or more, and whose most recent separation was due to lack of business, a reduction in force or other economic, non-disciplinary reason. Laid off workers includes Coastal Zone and extended downtown core workers with a separation from active service occurring after September 11, 2001, and hotel and Pier workers with a separation from active service occurring after September 9, 2025.
"Length of service"
means the total of all periods of time during which a worker has been in active service, including periods of time when the worker was on leave or on vacation.
"Pier"
means Santa Monica Pier, consisting of both the Newcomb Pier and the Municipal Pier, protruding from the Santa Monica State Beach at the southwesterly terminus of Colorado Avenue, and extending for approximately 2,135 feet into the Santa Monica Bay.
"Pier business"
means a business that provides hospitality services on the Pier, including eating and drinking establishments, as defined by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.51.020C.8, large-scale facilities, as defined by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.51.020C.7.d and small-scale facilities, as defined by Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.51.020C.7.e and employs five or more Pier workers.
"Pier employer"
means any person who owns, controls, or operates a Pier business, and includes any person, contractor or subcontractor who, in a managerial, supervisory, or confidential capacity, employs Pier workers to provide services at a Pier business in conjunction with the business's purpose.
"Pier worker"
means any person who is employed by a Pier employer to provide services at the Pier. "Pier worker" does not include a managerial, supervisory or confidential employee.
"Worker"
means a Coastal Zone worker, extended downtown core worker, hotel worker or a Pier worker.
(Added by Ord. 2031CCS § 1, adopted 12/11/01; amended by Ord. No. 2847CCS, 2/10/2026)
The requirements of this Chapter shall apply to Coastal Zone employers, extended downtown core employers, hotel employers operating on City-owned property, and Pier employers.
(Added by Ord. 2031CCS, § 1, adopted 12/11/01; amended by Ord. No. 2847CCS, 2/10/2026)
(a) 
Preference for Laid Off Workers. An employer shall offer in writing, to the last known address of laid off workers, all positions which are or become available after the effective date of this Chapter for which the laid off workers are qualified. A laid off worker is qualified for a position if the worker: (1) held the same or similar position at the same site of employment at the time of the worker's most recent separation from active service with the employer; or (2) is or can be qualified for the position with the same training that would be provided to a new worker hired into that position. The employer shall offer positions to laid off workers in an order of preference corresponding to categories (1) and (2) in the preceding sentence. Where more than one worker is entitled to preference for a position, the employer shall offer the position to the worker with the greatest length of service with the employer at the employment site.
(b) 
Time Limit. A laid off worker who is offered a position pursuant to this Chapter shall be given no less than 10 days in which to accept or decline the offer.
(Added by Ord. 2031CCS, § 1, adopted 12/11/01; amended by Ord. No. 2847CCS, 2/10/2026)
All of the provisions of this Chapter, or any part thereof, may be waived pursuant to a bona fide collective bargaining agreement, but only if the waiver is explicitly set forth in such agreement in clear and unambiguous written terms. Neither party to a collective bargaining agreement relationship may waive or supersede any provision of this Chapter by means of unilaterally imposed terms and conditions of employment.
(Added by Ord. 2031CCS, § 1, adopted 12/11/01; amended by Ord. No. 2847CCS, 2/10/2026)
No employer shall refuse to employ, terminate, reduce in compensation, or otherwise take any adverse action against any person for seeking to exercise or enforce his or her rights under this Chapter by any lawful means, for participating in proceedings related to this Chapter, for opposing any practice proscribed by this Chapter, or for otherwise asserting rights under this Chapter. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that an adverse employment action taken against a worker within 90 days of the worker's exercise of rights under this Chapter was taken in retaliation for the exercise of such rights. This Section shall also apply to any laid off worker who mistakenly, but in good faith, alleges noncompliance with this Chapter.
(Added by Ord. No. 2847CCS, 2/10/2026)
(a) 
Civil Action. The City or any aggrieved person may enforce the provisions of this Chapter by means of a civil action.
(b) 
Injunction. Any person who commits an act, proposes to commit an act, or engages in any pattern or practice that violates this Chapter may be enjoined therefrom by a court of competent jurisdiction. An action for injunction under this subsection may be brought by any aggrieved person, by the City Attorney, or by any person or entity who will fairly and adequately represent the interests of an aggrieved person or persons.
(c) 
Damages and Penalties. Any person who violates the provisions of this Chapter is liable for any actual damages suffered by any aggrieved person or for statutory damages up to the amount of $100 per aggrieved person per day. For willful violations, the amount of monies and penalties to be paid under this subsection shall be trebled.
(d) 
Cumulative Remedies. The remedies set forth in this Chapter are cumulative. Nothing in this Chapter shall be interpreted as restricting, precluding, or otherwise limiting a separate or concurrent criminal prosecution under this Code or State law.
(e) 
The provisions of this Chapter shall not be construed as creating a cause of action against the City.
(Added by Ord. 2031CCS, § 1, adopted 12/11/01; amended by Ord. No. 2847CCS, 2/10/2026)