Pasadena, CA Holiday Decorations: Lawn Ornament Rules (2026)

Residential lawn ornaments — statues, garden gnomes, decorative flags, religious displays such as nativity scenes or menorahs, secular figurines, and similar personal decorations — are not regulated by the Pasadena Municipal Code. PMC Chapter 17.48 (Signs) defines and regulates signage with a commercial or identification purpose; decorative items without commercial content are outside its scope. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 2 of the California Constitution protect residential expressive displays from content-based regulation, so a city ordinance discriminating against (for example) religious holiday decorations would face serious constitutional scrutiny. Standard zoning rules still apply: ornaments must be on private property, may not obstruct sidewalks, driveways, or the vision triangle at corners (PMC Title 12), and must not encroach into the public right-of-way. In Pasadena's Landmark Districts (PMC Chapter 17.62), temporary lawn ornaments and movable decorative items do not require a Certificate of Appropriateness. Permanent installations of large-scale yard art — fixed statuary, fountains over a certain size, or structural features — may trigger design review where they affect character-defining features of a designated landmark. The Pasadena Heritage organization publishes design guidance for historic-district residents. Homeowner associations in planned developments and condominiums may impose private restrictions stricter than city code, including approval requirements for any front-yard display.