The smoking ban in Santa Monica could soon take its hold on even more areas, with pending restrictions for lighting up in apartment buildings and in new hotels. "The City Council directed staff Tuesday to prepare ordinances banning smoking in all newly-constructed hotels and requiring landlords to designate apartments in multi-family buildings as either smoking or non-smoking units," explains the The Lookout News. more ›

A ban on smoking on residential balconies and porches in Santa Monica goes into effect today, reports the Argonaut. Part of tightened local laws regarding second-hand smoke, Ordinance 2318, adopted last month, bans people from lighting up on "all private balconies, patios, porches, and decks within [a] 25-foot radius [around all doors, windows, and vents] and also covers areas on neighboring properties" also within 25 feet of doors, windows, and vents. more ›

They tend to be our least favorite people, since we write hefty checks to them every month for our rent, but landlords aren't doing so well these days. Vacancies in commercial buildings are up and rising, say recent reports, and this year looks to be a tough one for landlords looking to lease. more ›

"There is really loud work near my house at 7 a.m. every day over the weekend. When are the quiet hours over?" Dear Reader, according to the city's municipal code 41.40, "construction in residential areas is limited to the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., during the week, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. It is banned on Sundays." In community meetings with police, officers have stated that someone on a construction site on a Sunday could be posing as a worker, but really there to steal equipment. In that case, it's a call to the police. Also, you may be interested to know that leaf blowers may not be used before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. according to the city's code, 114.06. more ›