Fee for Razing Low-Cost Lodging on Coast Rises

Property owners who want to demolish low-cost lodging in Santa Monica’s coastal zone, which includes nearly all properties between Ocean Avenue and the beach, will have to pay $8,000 per room to do so under a new ordinance recently passed by the City Council.

The fees will go into a fund for groups that want to develop low-cost lodging, defined as rooms costing less than $80 per night.

The state Coastal Commission has a $5,000-per-room fee in effect. City Manager John Jalili said the council would have to receive commission approval to implement the new fee.