Notices in Pasadena: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Pasadena Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Pasadena's code says

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Filing a copy with the city	Yes, a copy of the tenant notice, with proof of service on each tenant, filed with the Rental Housing Board. Applies: Landlord taking all units off the rental market (Ellis Act); the notice to each displaced tenant sent when the Board is notified. § 9.97.050 · code text A copy of the notice shall be filed with the Board with proof of service upon each tenant. Yes, a copy of the landlord's notice of intent to withdraw, filed with the Rental Housing Board. Applies: Landlord taking all units off the rental market (Ellis Act); the 120-day notice to each tenant. § 9.97.050 · code text A copy of this notice shall be filed with the Board. Yes, a declaration filed with the city prosecutor or another designated city office. Applies: Evictions for drug dealing or a drug-related nuisance. § 9.95.030 · code text When the termination of tenancy is for any ground set forth in Section 9.95.020, the landlord shall file with the city prosecutor or other city office designated by the board of directors, a declaration in a form and in the number prescribed by said office setting forth the reasons for the termination with specific facts to permit a determination of the date, place, witnesses and circumstances concerning the reason.
What a notice must say	Under penalty of perjury, on the city's form: unit count, address, tenant names, each unit's rent and last increase date. Applies: The landlord's notice to the Rental Housing Board of plans to withdraw units. § 9.97.050 · code text The notice shall be on a form provided by the Rent Stabilization Department, and shall contain statements, under penalty of perjury, providing information on: Statement that the Board has been notified; the tenant's name and amount of rent paid; the rent specified in the notice to the Board; rights to regain possession and to damages; and the right to an extension for certain tenants Applies: landlord withdrawing all units from the rental market (Ellis Act); notice to each tenant to be displaced, given when the Board is notified § 9.97.050 · code text At the time notice is given to the Board pursuant to Paragraph (A)(1), the landlord shall provide written notice to any tenant to be displaced stating Statement that the accommodations are withdrawn; all accommodations on the parcel are being withdrawn; the withdrawal date; fees due the City or Board have been paid; all tenants are entitled to relocation assistance; and rights to regain possession and damages Applies: Written notice to each tenant on the property of intent to withdraw accommodations § 9.97.050 · code text Said notice shall contain a statement that the accommodations are withdrawn, that all of the accommodations on the parcel are being withdrawn, the date upon which the accommodations are to be withdrawn, that the landlord has paid all fees due the City or the Board, and a statement that all tenants are entitled to relocation assistance, along with any other notice requirements under Article XVIII. The reason for the eviction. Applies: Termination notices under the city's drug-related eviction rules. § 9.95.030 · code text The landlord shall state the reason for the eviction in the written notice of termination served on the tenant pursuant to California Civil Code Section 1946.
Notice to end a tenancy	120 days. Applies: Written notice to each tenant of the landlord's plan to withdraw the units. § 9.97.050 · code text No less than 120 days prior to the date upon which the accommodations are to be withdrawn, unless a tenant qualifies for a longer period, and in compliance with Section 1806(a)(10) of Article XVIII, the landlord shall provide written notice to each tenant on the property of the landlord's intent to withdraw the accommodations. 1 year after the withdrawal notice is delivered to the Rental Housing Board. Applies: Tenants at least 62 or disabled who have lived there at least 1 year and notify the landlord in writing within 60 days of delivery. § 9.97.050 · code text then the date of withdrawal of the accommodations of that tenant shall be extended to one year after the date of delivery of that notice to the public entity

The California rule underneath

Where Pasadena's rule above does not cover a situation, state law still applies.

CA state law The statewide rule underneath
Notice of a rent increase	At least 30 days' notice for an increase of 10% or less; at least 90 days for an increase of more than 10% Applies: The 10% is measured against the rent charged at any time in the 12 months before the increase, counting all increases in that period together. Civ. Code § 827(b)(2), (b)(3)(A)
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (landlord)	60 days' notice; 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than one year Applies: Where the unit is covered by just cause (Civ. Code § 1946.2) or a local ordinance, the notice must also state a qualifying cause. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b), (c)
Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (tenant)	At least as long as the rental period (one month for a month-to-month tenancy) Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)
30-day notice when the unit is sold to an owner-occupant	30 days' notice when a separately sellable unit is in escrow to a natural person who will live there for at least a year Applies: Notice within 120 days of opening escrow, given once, and all § 1946.1(d) conditions met. Civ. Code § 1946.1(d)
Notice to pay rent or quit	3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, stating the amount due and how to pay Applies: May be served any time within one year after the rent became due. Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2)
Notice to cure a lease violation or quit	3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays, to perform the broken lease term or leave Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(3)
No fee for serving notices	A landlord may not charge the tenant a fee for serving or posting a notice Civ. Code § 1946.1(i)

Who this affects

TenantsLandlordsProperty managers

Frequently asked questions

How much notice does a Pasadena landlord have to give?

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

Notices in Pasadena

Key points

What Pasadena's code says

The California rule underneath

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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