Short-Term Rentals in Pasadena, CA

If you live in Pasadena or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Pasadena has 9 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Pasadena outlaws 'vacation rentals,' meaning any dwelling that isn't the operator's primary residence rented out for pay, under Section 17.50.296(D). Only a host's actual primary residence, documented by at least two official records and lived in at least nine months a year, can be permitted for short-term rental.

Key details: Vacation rentals: Prohibited use citywide. Primary residence proof: 2+ of vehicle, license, voter, tax records. Residency minimum: Must live there 9 months per year. ADU exception: Only if permitted before January 1, 2017. Governing section: PMC Section 17.50.296(D) and (B)(7).

Operating an unpermitted vacation rental, meaning a unit that is not the host's primary residence, is a straight violation of Section 17.50.296(D) enforceable under Municipal Code Chapters 1.24 and 1.25, with criminal or civil penalties, administrative fines under Sections 1.25.160 and 1.25.170, and, per Section 17.50.296(I)(4), an order to repay the city's investigative costs, back taxes, and any illegally collected rental revenue.

This is one of the stricter rules in Pasadena's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Night Caps

Un-hosted short-term rentals in Pasadena, where the host is off-site for the whole stay, are capped at 90 days per calendar year under Section 17.50.296(F)(4). Hosted stays, where the host remains on the property, carry no annual day limit at all.

Key details: Un-hosted cap: 90 days per calendar year. Hosted stays: No annual day limit. Governing section: PMC Section 17.50.296(F)(4). Recordkeeping: 3 years of stay-length records required. Verification: Records submitted at each annual renewal.

Exceeding the 90-day un-hosted cap, or falsifying the stay records used to verify it, is a violation of Section 17.50.296 enforceable under Chapters 1.24 and 1.25; three violations at the same address trigger automatic suspension of the permit, and the city manager can revoke it after a hearing, barring the host from a new permit for at least one year.

Noise Rules

Pasadena requires every short-term rental to avoid noise, vibration, glare, or odors that interfere with neighbors' enjoyment of their homes, and ties that duty directly to the citywide noise ordinance in Chapter 9.36 and the litter ordinance in Chapter 8.64, alongside a hard occupancy cap and a ban on commercial events.

Key details: Occupancy cap: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2. Commercial events: Weddings, parties, corporate events prohibited. Noise standard: Must comply with PMC Chapter 9.36. Litter standard: Must comply with PMC Chapter 8.64. Nuisance liability: Host responsible for guest nuisance violations.

A noise or nuisance complaint substantiated against a short-term rental is enforced under Chapters 1.24 and 1.25 of the Municipal Code; three violations at the same property automatically suspend the permit, and the city manager can revoke it after a hearing under Chapter 1.25, with a one-year wait before the host may reapply. Advertising without a visible permit number is a separate violation under Section 17.50.296(F)(3).

Short-Term Rental Permits

Any Pasadena host must obtain a short-term rental permit from the planning and community development department before renting a primary residence to a paying guest for 30 days or less. The permit requires a notarized affidavit, fire and life-safety compliance, and neighbor notice, and it runs for one year subject to renewal.

Key details: Permit issuer: Planning & Community Development Department. TOT certificate: Required from Finance Department before permit. Permit term: One year, renewable annually. Eligible units: Single-family, duplex, condo, townhome, multi-family. Excluded units: Covenant-restricted affordable and Section 8 units.

Operating without a valid permit, or violating any provision of Section 17.50.296, is punishable under Municipal Code Chapter 1.24 (General Penalty), and hosts also face administrative fines under Sections 1.25.160 and 1.25.170. Three code violations at the same short-term rental property trigger automatic suspension of the permit; after notice and a hearing before the city manager or designee under Chapter 1.25, the permit can be revoked outright, and a host whose permit is revoked must wait at least one year before reapplying.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Pasadena actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

Host Presence Rule

Pasadena's short-term rental ordinance splits stays into two categories based on whether the host is on-site: a 'hosted stay' requires the host to remain on the property throughout the guest's visit, while an 'un-hosted stay' means the host is off-site, a status that triggers a separate annual limit.

Key details: Hosted stay: Host remains on-site throughout guest's stay. Un-hosted stay: Host is off-site the entire stay. Contact requirement: 24-hour local contact required regardless of presence. Primary residence rule: Host must live there 9+ months a year. Governing section: PMC Section 17.50.296(B)(3) and (B)(6).

Renting out a unit that fails to meet the primary-residence and host-availability requirements described in the notarized affidavit is a permit violation enforceable under Chapters 1.24 and 1.25 of the Municipal Code; three violations at one property trigger automatic suspension, and a revocation hearing before the city manager can follow, barring the host from reapplying for one year.

Occupancy Limits

Pasadena caps every short-term rental at two guests per bedroom plus two more, regardless of the unit's size. Municipal Code Section 17.50.296.F.5 sets the hard ceiling, and hosts who exceed it repeatedly risk permit suspension.

Key details: Occupancy cap: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2. Un-hosted stay limit: 90 days per year. Hosted stay limit: No annual day limit. Vacation rentals: Prohibited citywide. Permit suspension trigger: 3 violations at same property.

Hosting more guests than the two-per-bedroom-plus-two limit in Section 17.50.296.F.5 is a Municipal Code violation punishable under Chapter 1.24's general penalty and administrative fines under Sections 1.25.160-.170; three violations at the same address can trigger automatic suspension of the short-term rental permit, and a subsequent revocation after hearing bars reapplication for one year (Section 17.50.296.I.3).

Repeat Violator Strikes

Pasadena tracks violations against short-term rental properties, not just hosts. Rack up three violations at the same address and the city can automatically suspend the permit, with revocation possible after a hearing before the city manager's office.

Key details: Trigger: Three violations at same property. Result: Automatic permit suspension. Revocation process: Notice and hearing, city manager. Reapplication wait: At least one year after revocation. Enforcement chapters: PMC Ch. 1.24 and 1.25.

A third violation at the same address can automatically suspend the short-term rental permit. Revocation follows notice and a hearing before the city manager's office. A revoked host must wait at least one year before reapplying, and criminal or civil enforcement can add reimbursement of city investigative costs, back transient occupancy taxes, and administrative fines under Sections 1.25.160-.170.

This is one of the stricter rules in Pasadena's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

STR operators in Pasadena must provide parking information to guests. Guest vehicles must comply with city parking rules including permit zones and overnight restrictions.

Key details: Permit Zones: Many neighborhoods have permit parking. Host Duty: Provide parking information. Citations: $53–$73+ per violation. Street Cleaning: Guests must observe schedules.

Parking violations carry fines from $53 to $73 or more depending on the offense. Vehicles may be towed in no-parking zones.

Taxes & Fees

Pasadena hosts must collect a 7% transient occupancy tax from every short-term rental guest and remit it to the tax administrator, on top of complying with the permit process in Section 17.50.296. Registration, quarterly reporting, and three years of recordkeeping are mandatory, and late payment triggers escalating penalties.

Key details: Tax rate: 7% of rent charged per stay. Governing chapter: PMC Chapter 4.44, Transient Occupancy Tax. Filing deadline: Last day of month after each quarter. Late penalty: 10%, rising to 50% after 20 days. Fraud penalty: Additional 25% of tax owed.

Failing to remit the tax on time adds a 10% penalty, escalating to 50% if delinquency continues past 20 days, plus 25% for fraud and 1% monthly interest under Section 4.44.080. After four years of nonpayment the tax administrator can record a lien against the operator's real property under Section 4.44.140, then issue a collection warrant to a sheriff or marshal under Section 4.44.150. Operators can appeal an assessment within 10 days of notice.

The Bottom Line

Pasadena is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Pasadena, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Pasadena's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.