Santa Monica Relaxes Mask Mandate; Updates Parking Enforcement

SANTA MONICA, CA — Face coverings or masks are now only required indoors and around crowds in Santa Monica, city officials announced Wednesday.

Interim City Manager Lane Dilg Wednesday signed the 36th supplement to Santa Monica’s local emergency aligning Santa Monica’s guidance for face coverings with Los Angeles County and the State of California.

"Under this guidance, face coverings must continue to be worn indoors and around crowds, including for those who have been vaccinated," according to the city. "This allows time for the vaccination rate to increase leading up to the full reopening of the state’s economy on June 15, when face coverings will only be required in certain settings."

Vaccinations are climbing among Santa Monicans and so far 71% of Santa Monicans are vaccinated, city officials said.

“This supplement further signals the return to normal we’ve worked so hard to reach," Dilg said. "We are grateful to the 71 percent of Santa Monicans who have been vaccinated and all community members who have worked together to promote public health. Thank you for continuing to mask up as we look forward to a full reopening of our State economy on June 15."

The City defines crowded space as locations outside of people's homes where a person cannot maintain at least 6 feet of distance from non-household members and it is unknown whether all persons present are fully vaccinated. A crowded space includes, but is not limited to, live performances, parades, sporting events, and the Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Front Walk, and the Third Street Promenade on weekends, national holidays, and after noon on Fridays.

The city also announced some shifts to parking enforcement.

The 36th supplement supersedes and replaces the First Revised 20th Supplement issued July 15, 2020, city officials said. It also sunsets certain provisions from previous supplements regarding parking-related citations and enforcement, with the result that all of the following resume:

• Imposition of late payment penalties for unpaid or delinquent parking citations
• Enforcement of parking restrictions and limitations in Green Parking Zones
• Towing for violations of the California Vehicle Code related to delinquent parking citations and expired registration.

For the latest information, please visit santamonica.gov/coronavirus, or call the City at 311.

For more news and information about the vaccine rollout in California, visit Patch's information hub. Also, be sure to check out How To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In California.

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