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Pasadena is a historic city of roughly 138,000 residents in Los Angeles County, known for the Rose Bowl, CalTech, and its diverse architectural heritage. Facing significant rent increases that accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, Pasadena voters approved Measure H — the Fair and Equitable Housing Charter Amendment in November 2022. The ordinance took effect on December 22, 2022, making Pasadena one of the newer cities in the Los Angeles metro area to establish a comprehensive rent stabilization program.
Measure H applies to multi-unit residential rental properties built before February 1, 1995. It limits annual rent increases through an Annual General Adjustment (AGA) tied to economic indicators, requires just-cause eviction protections, mandates relocation assistance for no-fault evictions, and includes rent rollback provisions for rents that were increased beyond legal limits after May 17, 2021. Landlords are also required to register their units with the city and pay interest on security deposits.
For units not covered by Measure H — such as buildings constructed in 1995 or later — California's AB 1482 (Tenant Protection Act of 2019) serves as a backstop, capping annual rent increases at 5% plus local CPI (not to exceed 10%) and requiring just-cause eviction protections for tenants who have rented for 12 months or more.
Measure H covers multi-unit residential rental properties with 2 or more units built before February 1, 1995. Coverage is determined primarily by the year the property was built and its use as a rental.
If your unit is exempt from Measure H — for example, because it was built in 1995 or later, or is a single-family home or condo — California's AB 1482 may still protect you if the building was built more than 15 years ago and you have rented for at least 12 months. AB 1482 caps increases at 5% plus CPI (maximum 10%) and requires just-cause eviction. Single-family homes and condos are also exempt from AB 1482 unless the landlord has provided the required written disclosure — and even then, just-cause protections under AB 1482 may apply after 12 months of tenancy.
Measure H limits rent increases through an Annual General Adjustment (AGA) set each year by the City of Pasadena. Landlords may only raise rent once every 12 months and must provide at least 30 days' written notice before any increase takes effect.
Measure H does not automatically permit landlords to bank or carry over unused AGA increases from prior years. Landlords should confirm the current rules on banked increases with the Pasadena Rent Stabilization Office before attempting to apply prior-year adjustments.
Measure H requires landlords to have just cause before evicting a tenant in a covered unit. Just-cause reasons are divided into at-fault and no-fault categories.
For no-fault evictions, landlords are required to pay relocation assistance to displaced tenants. The amount is determined by the Pasadena Rent Stabilization Office and is intended to help tenants cover the cost of finding new housing in a high-cost rental market.
AB 1482 also provides just-cause eviction protections for eligible tenants in units not covered by Measure H. AB 1482's just-cause provisions apply after a tenant has resided in the unit for 12 months (or 24 months if there are multiple tenants and at least one has been there for 24 months). For covered units, Measure H's protections govern and are generally stronger than the AB 1482 baseline.
Pasadena's Measure H is administered by the City of Pasadena Rent Stabilization Office. The Office oversees landlord registration, the Annual General Adjustment, petition processes, and enforcement.
Landlords with units covered by Measure H are required to register each rental unit with the city. Failure to register can affect a landlord's ability to implement rent increases. Tenants can verify their unit's registration status through the Rent Stabilization Office.
Both landlords and tenants may file petitions with the Rent Stabilization Office. Landlords may petition for above-AGA increases based on capital improvements or increased operating costs. Tenants may petition for rent reductions if a landlord has failed to maintain the unit, illegally raised the rent, or violated other provisions of Measure H. Petition forms and instructions are available on the city's Rent Stabilization webpage.
Measure H requires landlords to pay annual interest on security deposits. For deposits held during January 1 through December 31, 2025, the interest rate is 0.12%. Landlords must pay this interest to tenants by January 31 of the following year.
Measure H includes protections against landlord harassment of tenants. Prohibited conduct includes interfering with a tenant's right to quiet enjoyment, threatening eviction without cause, and retaliating against tenants who exercise their rights under the ordinance. Tenants who believe they have experienced harassment may file a complaint with the Rent Stabilization Office.
Tenants whose rents were increased above permissible limits between May 17, 2021 and December 22, 2022 may be entitled to a rent rollback to the lawful amount. Tenants in this situation should contact the Rent Stabilization Office to initiate a review.
Use RentCheckMe's address checker to quickly determine whether your Pasadena rental unit is likely covered by Measure H or falls under AB 1482's protections instead.
The City of Pasadena Rent Stabilization Office is the official source for unit registration, AGA announcements, petition forms, and enforcement. Contact the Office directly with questions about your specific unit's coverage, rent history, or to report a potential violation.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rent control laws, AGA rates, and ordinance details change frequently — always verify current rules with the City of Pasadena Rent Stabilization Office or consult a qualified attorney or legal aid organization such as the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles before taking action on your tenancy.
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