Pasadena, CA Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)

California Government Code §65852.2(a)(7) requires that ADUs permitted after January 1, 2020 be rented for terms of 30 days or more. Long-term rental of an ADU is otherwise allowed without a separate license under PMC §17.50.275. Pasadena's Short-Term Rental Program — established by Ordinance No. 7317 and codified at PMC §17.50.296 — defines an STR as a dwelling unit shared in whole or in part for transient occupancy of 30 consecutive days or less. The ordinance permits hosted (Type 1) and un-hosted (Type 2) STRs subject to two key limits: (1) the host must occupy the property as a primary residence for a minimum of nine months per calendar year, and (2) un-hosted stays are capped at 90 days per year (no cap for hosted). Vacation rentals — properties where the owner does not live at least nine months annually — are a prohibited use citywide. Because an ADU is a separate dwelling unit from the primary residence, using it as an STR conflicts with both PMC §17.50.296 (host-occupancy requirement) and the 30-day floor in Gov. Code §65852.2(a)(7). Pasadena also collects a 12.11% Transient Occupancy Tax plus a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment of 3.89%–4.89% on legal STRs. Pasadena's Measure H rent stabilization ordinance (City Charter Article XVIII, effective December 22, 2022) may apply to certain ADU rentals depending on the building's construction date and unit configuration; owners should consult the Pasadena Rental Housing Board for unit-specific guidance.