City of Pasadena Update
City of Pasadena Update: Rent Caps, Registry and More!
Pasadena's Allowable Rent Increase to Be 2.5%: Annual General Adjustment
The City of Pasadena Rental Housing Board has announced the new Annual General Adjustment (AGA) for rent-stabilized units subject to the city's rent stabilization and tenant protection ordinance passed by voters as Charter Amendment, Measure E. The new AGA will be 2.5% from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The Rental Housing Board adopted the new AGA on June 18, 2026.
The AGA is the maximum annual percentage by which rent for covered rental units may be increased for existing tenancies. The AGA is calculated at 75% of the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the Los Angeles region during the previous 12-month period ending on March 31 of each year. For the 2026-2027 April 1 to March 31 period, the CPI increased by 3.4%, resulting in a new AGA of 2.5%. Although 75% of the 3.4% CPI calculates to 2.55%, the city's ordinance requires the AGA to be rounded to the nearest one-quarter of a percent.
Example: A 2.5% increase on a monthly rent of $2,000 would equal $50, bringing the new monthly rent to $2,050, provided all applicable requirements are met.
Pasadena housing providers must follow all applicable Charter requirements before increasing rent. Housing providers with questions about coverage, rent increases, or how the AGA applies can contact the Rent Stabilization Department's Housing Counselors for assistance.
Pasadena Housing Providers Landlord Group Delivers Signatures to City Clerk
The Pasadena Housing Providers landlord group has delivered approximately 29,000 signatures to the City Clerk to place a ballot initiative on the March 2028 ballot that would substantially amend the city's Measure H, the rent stabilization and tenant protection charter amendment voters passed in 2023. The initiative needs approximately 13,750 qualified signatures to qualify for the ballot.
Key aspects of the proposed ballot measure include:
- Required equal representation for tenants and housing providers on the Rental Housing Board;
- Limits on increases to the annual rent registry fee;
- Merger of the Rent Stabilization Department into the city's main Housing Department to lower administrative costs; and
- Maintenance of current rent increase limits and eviction protections.
For more information, visit Pasadena Housing Providers.
Pasadena Rental Registry Now Open: Due October 31, 2026
The 2026 Rental Registration period officially opened in Pasadena on September 1, 2026. All residential rental properties in Pasadena must be registered with the City's Rental Registry, and property owners must complete their annual registration no later than October 31, 2026. The city's Rent Stabilization Department has introduced an updated Rental Registry system intended to simplify the process and guide users through registration in five steps.
The Rent Stabilization Department suggests that property owners have their property and unit information ready before starting the registration process, including tenancy and rent information, exemption details, and current owner or property manager contact information.
The Rent Stabilization Department is also offering free, in-person walk-in sessions to help property owners complete the 2026 Rental Registration. Registry staff will be available to provide one-on-one assistance, answer questions, guide property owners through the registration process, and help address issues they may encounter.