Pasadena, CA — landlord and rental rules

6 rules across 5 topics, including the county and state rules that bind here. Last verified 2026-08-18.

Rent controlVacancy decontrolJust-cause evictionRental registrationOther

Rent control

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Pasadena Measure H controls qualifying pre-February-1995 multifamily units
Pasadenahigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-18 — 45 days ago.

Pasadena Charter Article XVIII limits annual increases for covered multifamily rental units built before 1 February 1995, using 75% of the change in CPI.

The local rent ceiling applies to qualifying multi-unit residential rental property built before 1 February 1995; single-family homes and condominiums are outside the rent-control portion.

Exemptions

  • Single-family homes and condominiums are exempt from the local rent-control portion.
  • Residential rental units built after 1 February 1995 are exempt from the local rent-control portion.
Unit counts
2+ units
Construction
Built before 1996

In effect since 2022-12-22.

Sources

AB 1482 caps increases at 5% plus CPI, to a 10% ceiling
Californiamedium confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 62 days ago.

The Tenant Protection Act caps annual rent increases at 5% plus CPI, with a hard ceiling of 10%, on housing built more than 15 years ago.

The 15-year window rolls forward, so a building drifts into coverage with age rather than being fixed by its construction date at purchase.

Annual cap
10%
Construction
Built before 2011

In effect since 2020-01-01.

Sources

  • California Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482) — Cal. Civ. Code §1946.2, §1947.12

Vacancy decontrol

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Costa-Hawkins preserves vacancy decontrol
Californiamedium confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 62 days ago.

Costa-Hawkins exempts post-1995 construction and single-family homes and condominiums from *local* rent control, and preserves the landlord's right to reset rent to market on vacancy.

It does not help at the affordable end, because affordable stock is old stock: the buildings a small investor can actually buy are usually the ones Costa-Hawkins does not exempt.

Vacancy decontrol
Yes — rent resets on vacancy
Construction
Built after 1995

Sources

  • Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act — Cal. Civ. Code §1954.50 et seq.

Just-cause eviction

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Pasadena Measure H requires just cause for most residential terminations
Pasadenahigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-18 — 45 days ago.

An owner terminating a tenancy covered by Pasadena Charter Article XVIII must state one of the authorised just causes in the written notice.

Just-cause coverage is broader than the multifamily rent ceiling and reaches most residential rental units, including rented single-family homes, condominiums, and ADUs; stated institutional and owner-shared exemptions remain.

Unit counts
1+ units

In effect since 2022-12-22.

Sources

Rental registration

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Pasadena requires annual registration of Measure H units
Pasadenahigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-18 — 45 days ago.

Housing providers register every rental unit covered by Pasadena Charter Article XVIII annually and update changes in rent, tenancy, or ownership within 30 days.

Registration includes units covered only by the just-cause portion, such as many rented single-family homes, condominiums, and ADUs.

Unit counts
1+ units

In effect since 2022-12-22.

Sources

Other

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Insurance is a live underwriting problem, not a line item
Californiamedium confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 62 days ago.

FAIR Plan policies are up 139% since 2021, habitability claims are now commonly excluded, and earthquake cover is excluded from every standard policy.

Get a bindable quote before removing contingencies. An insurance assumption carried over from another state is the single largest silent error in a California pro forma.

Fair plan increase since2021
139%