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Pasadena · Renting & eviction

Renting in Pasadena: the rules that apply

Pasadena limits yearly rent increases on Covered Rental Units, requires relocation pay for income-eligible tenants in listed evictions, and regulates buyouts. State law governs deposits, landlord entry and repairs.

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Key points

  • Rent increases: City rule: existing tenancies in Covered Rental Units get a yearly adjustment of 75% of the CPI rise, at most 1 per 12 months.
  • Just cause: State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, a covered unit's tenancy may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.
  • Notice to end: State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.
  • Relocation pay: City rule: good-standing, income-eligible tenants get 2½ months of HUD fair market rent for demolition, market removal and other listed causes; half for move-ins.
  • Buyouts: City rule: in Covered Rental Units, a Rental Board notice must precede a buyout offer; the tenant has 45 days to cancel after signing.
  • Deposits: State law limits deposits to 1 month's rent, or 2 months for qualifying small landlords, returned within 21 days of move-out.

Each rule below is marked Pasadena code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Rent increases

Pasadena code City rule: existing tenancies in Covered Rental Units get a yearly adjustment of 75% of the CPI rise, at most 1 per 12 months.

All 11 Pasadena rules on rent increases, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Eviction and just cause

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Allowed at-fault reasons
  • Using the unit, or letting it be used, for illegal drug dealing, including selling or holding drugs for sale there.
    Applies: Under the city's drug-related eviction rules; the landlord may evict, and must when the rules require it.
    § 9.95.020 · code text
    The tenant is using the rental unit, or allowing the rental unit to be used, for illegal drug dealing activities or purposes.
  • Committing or allowing a drug-related nuisance in the unit, its attached areas, or the complex's common areas.
    Applies: Under the city's drug-related eviction rules; the landlord may evict, and must when the rules require it.
    § 9.95.020 · code text
    The tenant is committing or permitting to exist a "drug-related nuisance" in the rental unit or the appurtenances thereof, or the common areas of the complex containing the rental unit.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Just cause required: After 12 months of lawful occupancy, the owner may terminate only for a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)). Just-cause eviction in California — the full state rule →

Relocation payments

Pasadena code City rule: good-standing, income-eligible tenants get 2½ months of HUD fair market rent for demolition, market removal and other listed causes; half for move-ins.

All 14 Pasadena rules on relocation payments, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Notices

Pasadena code State law: 60 days' notice to end a tenancy, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year.

All 9 Pasadena rules on notices, with the code text and the state law underneath →

Security deposits

CA state law Pasadena has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Security deposit cap: One month's rent, on top of the first month's rent (Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)(1), (c)(6)). Deposit return deadline: 21 calendar days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of any deductions (Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)). California security deposit law — the full state rule →

Retaliation

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Protected activities
  • Using the right to request mediation by filing a mediation petition.
    § 2.380.070 · code text
    It is declared that the right to institute mediation as provided in this chapter is a protected right contemplated by Civil Code Section 1942.5(c), and the provisions of Civil Code Section 1942.5 forbidding the eviction of tenants exercising their rights described therein, and providing remedies for such wrongful evictions, shall apply to the right of a tenant to request mediation.
Remedies
  • The tenant may use it as a defense in an eviction (unlawful detainer) case.
    Applies: The tenant filed a mediation petition and the landlord willfully failed to take part in mediation.
    § 2.380.070 · code text
    If a tenant files a petition for mediation, and his landlord willfully fails to participate in the mediation process, such failure may be raised by the tenant as a defense to an unlawful detainer proceeding filed against him by the landlord.

Also in Pasadena's code: Housing Mediation Contractor (§ 2.380.070). This page does not summarize it yet.

CA state law Underneath, California law still applies. Retaliation protection period: For 180 days after a tenant complains about habitability (to the landlord or an agency), the landlord may not evict, raise rent or cut services in retaliation (Civ. Code § 1942.5(a), (b)). Retaliatory eviction in California — the full state rule →

Harassment and lockouts

CA state law Pasadena has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Lockouts and self-help eviction banned: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, or remove the tenant's belongings to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(b)). Utility shutoffs banned: A landlord may not cut off water, heat, electricity, gas or other utilities to force a tenant out (Civ. Code § 789.3(a)). Tenant harassment and lockouts in California — the full state rule →

Repairs and habitability

CA state law Pasadena has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Duty to keep the unit habitable: The landlord must deliver a unit fit to live in and repair conditions that make it untenantable (Civ. Code § 1941). Repair and deduct: A tenant may make a repair the landlord neglects and deduct the cost from rent, up to one month's rent, no more than twice in any 12 months (Civ. Code § 1942(a)). Habitability and repair-and-deduct — the full state rule →

Landlord entry

CA state law Pasadena has no rule of its own on this, so California law applies. Landlord entry notice: Reasonable written notice, presumed to be 24 hours, and entry only during normal business hours (Civ. Code § 1954(d)(1), (e)). Landlord entry notice in California — the full state rule →

Buyout agreements

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Required disclosure
  • Yes; before offering a buyout, the landlord must give a Rental Board form notice in the tenant's primary language.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only; given before the buyout offer; the notice is dated and signed by the landlord and tenants.
    § 1810 · code text
    Before making a Buyout Offer, the Landlord shall provide the Tenant(s) with a notice, which shall be written in the primary language of the Tenant on a form prepared and authorized by the Rental Board; and which shall be dated and signed by the Landlord and the Tenant(s).
Filing with the city
  • Yes; the landlord must file the signed notice and buyout agreement with the Rental Board within 60 days of signing.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only.
    § 1810 · code text
    The Landlord shall file with the Rental Board copies of the notice required pursuant to this section signed by the Tenant and the Landlord and the Buyout Agreement within 60 days of the Buyout Agreement execution.
Required terms
  • In the tenant's primary language; 12-point-or-larger bold text above the tenant signature states a 45-day right to cancel after signing.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only; cancelling carries no obligation or penalty; it also says the tenant need not sign and may consult an attorney or Rental Board.
    § 1810 · code text
    Every Buyout Agreement shall be written in the primary language of the Tenant and state in a minimum of 12-point bold type above the Tenant signature line as follows:
  • Signed and dated by the landlord and the tenant.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only.
    § 1810 · code text
    Every Buyout Agreement shall be signed and dated by the Landlord and Tenant.
  • The tenant must get a copy of the fully signed buyout agreement.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only.
    § 1810 · code text
    A copy of the fully executed Buyout Agreement shall be given to the Tenant.
Time to cancel
  • 45 days to cancel.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only; for any reason, counted from signing by the landlord and tenant, with no obligation or penalty.
    § 1810 · code text
    A Tenant shall have the right to cancel a Buyout Agreement for any reason for up to 45 days after execution by the Landlord and the Tenant without any financial obligation or penalty.
  • Until the applicable statute of limitations period ends.
    Applies: Covered Rental Units only; when the required notice or the buyout agreement does not meet the section's or the Rental Board's rules.
    § 1810 · code text
    Whenever the notice required pursuant to this section and/or the Buyout Agreement does not conform to the requirements of this section or Rental Board regulations, the Tenant shall have the right to cancel the Buyout Agreement through the applicable statute of limitations period.

Also in Pasadena's code: The Pasadena Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment (Charter Art. XVIII, § 1810). This page does not summarize it yet.

Short-term rentals

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Allowed
  • Yes, in the host's primary residence, with a short-term rental permit.
    Applies: Houses, duplexes, condos, townhomes and apartments; not affordable or Section 8 units. Unhosted stays up to 90 days a year; hosted stays unlimited.
    § 17.50.296 · code text
    Short-term rentals shall be permitted in single-family residences, duplexes, condominiums, townhomes, and multi-family rental units, except covenant restricted (affordable) and Section 8 units.
  • No. Vacation rentals are not allowed.
    Applies: Homes that are not a primary residence and are rented for short stays for pay.
    § 17.50.296 · code text
    Vacation rentals, as defined in this section, are a prohibited use and shall not be operated in the city.
Cap on rentals
  • The owner's primary residence plus 1 more unit on the property.
    Applies: Owner-occupied properties with several units, such as duplexes, triplexes or apartment buildings.
    § 17.50.296 · code text
    the owner of such property may short-term rent his/her primary residence plus one additional dwelling unit on the property.
Permit or registration
  • A short-term rental permit and a transient occupancy registration certificate are required.
    Applies: Before renting any primary residence to a short-term guest.
    § 17.50.296 · code text
    The host is required to obtain a short-term rental permit from the city, pursuant to the provisions of this section, before renting any primary residence to a transient occupant/guest.
Primary residence
  • Yes.
    Applies: All short-term rentals. The host must live there at least 9 months a year.
    § 17.50.296 · code text
    The short-term rental unit is his/her primary residence and that the local responsible contact person or property management company will be available 24 hours per day.
  • Yes, for the main home; the second unit may also be rented.
    Applies: ADUs or accessory structures built or permitted before January 1, 2017. Units permitted after that date may not be short-term rented.
    § 17.50.296 · code text
    both of which can be used for short-term rental activity provided the main structure is the host's permanent residence.

Hotel and short-term rental tax

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Tax rate
  • 7% of the rent.
    § 4.44.030 · code text
    For the privilege of occupancy in any hotel, each transient is subject to and shall pay a tax in the amount of 7% of the rent charged by the operator.
Who collects it
  • The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent.
    § 4.44.050 · code text
    Each operator shall collect the tax imposed by this chapter to the same extent and at the same time as the rent is collected from every transient.

Other Pasadena rules on this

Pasadena's code also has these chapters. We have not summarized their values on this page yet; read them in the library.

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

Does a landlord in Pasadena need a reason to evict?

State law: after 12 months of lawful occupancy, a covered unit's tenancy may end only for a just cause stated in the notice.

How much can a Pasadena landlord charge for a security deposit?

State law limits deposits to 1 month's rent, or 2 months for qualifying small landlords, returned within 21 days of move-out.

Can I rent out my home short-term in Pasadena?

Pasadena's code: Yes, in the host's primary residence, with a short-term rental permit. (Houses, duplexes, condos, townhomes and apartments; not affordable or Section 8 units. Unhosted stays up to 90 days a year; hosted stays unlimited.) (§ 17.50.296); No. Vacation rentals are not allowed. (Homes that are not a primary residence and are rented for short stays for pay.) (§ 17.50.296).

What is the hotel tax on short-term rentals in Pasadena?

Pasadena's code: 7% of the rent. (§ 4.44.030); The operator collects the tax from each guest at the same time as the rent. (§ 4.44.050).

General information, not legal advice.

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