Pasadena · Land use · Church or place of worship
Where is a church or other place of worship allowed in Pasadena?
In Pasadena, a church or other place of worship is needs a permit in 9 (RS, RM-12, RM-16, RM-32, RM-48 and 4 more, 8 with a condition) and not allowed in 2 (Pasadena use tables, read October 2026).
Key points
- Needs a permit: RS, RM-12, RM-16, RM-32, RM-48, CO, CL, CG and 1 more
- Not allowed: IG and OS
Find your lot's zone on the city zoning map, then read its row. Every status below was read from the Pasadena Municipal Code use tables (read October 2026). Base zones only. General information, not legal advice — check with the city before you apply.
Zones where a church or other place of worship can go
Pasadena's code calls this use “Religious facilities”. Each row links to the use table it comes from. A zone marked “see note” has a condition in the code, for example upper floors only or a larger lot.
| Zone | Status | Code |
|---|---|---|
| RS | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: Uses established after June 30, 1985, on sites greater than two acres shall require a zone change to PS (Public and Semi-Public). | § 17.22.030 |
| RM-12 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: Uses established after June 30, 1985, on sites greater than two acres shall require a zone change to PS (Public and Semi-Public). | § 17.22.030 |
| RM-16 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: Uses established after June 30, 1985, on sites greater than two acres shall require a zone change to PS (Public and Semi-Public). | § 17.22.030 |
| RM-32 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: Uses established after June 30, 1985, on sites greater than two acres shall require a zone change to PS (Public and Semi-Public). | § 17.22.030 |
| RM-48 | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 4: Uses established after June 30, 1985, on sites greater than two acres shall require a zone change to PS (Public and Semi-Public). | § 17.22.030 |
| CO | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 2: Uses on sites greater than two acres that were established after June 30, 1985, shall require a zone change to PS (Public, Semi-Public). | § 17.24.030 |
| CL | Needs a conditional use permit — see note Note 2: Uses on sites greater than two acres that were established after June 30, 1985, shall require a zone change to PS (Public, Semi-Public). | § 17.24.030 |
| CG | Needs a minor conditional use permit — see note Note 2: Uses on sites greater than two acres that were established after June 30, 1985, shall require a zone change to PS (Public, Semi-Public). Note 6: A minor conditional use permit is required to establish a new use. An existing use is a permitted (P) use. | § 17.24.030 |
| PS | Needs a conditional use permit | § 17.26.030 |
Zones where it is not allowed
What else applies
- Standards for this use: Section 17.50.230 (Religious facilities).
- Sub-rows 'with columbarium' (MC/P), 'with temporary homeless shelter', 'with affordable housing', 'with safe parking' (MC) are separate and not used. No size split. Standards: Section 17.50.230. Specific-plan districts (EPSP, Fair Oaks-Orange Grove, North Lake, West Gateway, East Colorado) have their own tables in S6-S11; they are not base districts and are left out.
- State law: Federal law (RLUIPA) bars zoning rules that treat religious assembly worse than other assembly uses.
- Not covered here: PD (Planned Development) district: uses set by rezoning (17.26.030.B); Specific-plan districts (EPSP, Fair Oaks-Orange Grove, North Lake SP-1, West Gateway, East Colorado): tables in S6-S11, treated as non-base; Section 17.80.020 definitions and Section 17.50.xxx specific-use standards are not in the packet. Overlay zones and specific plans can also change the answer.
Other uses in Pasadena
Who this affects
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the RS zone in Pasadena?
Only with a conditional use permit. Pasadena's use table lists it that way in RS (§ 17.22.030). The code adds a condition: “Uses established after June 30, 1985, on sites greater than two acres shall require a zone change to PS (Public and Semi-Public).”
Can I have a church or other place of worship in the IG zone in Pasadena?
No. Pasadena's use table does not allow it in IG (§ 17.24.030).
General information, not legal advice.
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