Pasadena, CA short-term rental permit
Only the primary resident of a Pasadena home can hold the permit, whether the owner or a tenant with the owner's approval. A host who lives there less than 9 months a year can only rent for 31 days or more. Guests must park on the property.[5]
Every rule below links to the official source it comes from, verified October 1, 2026.
Can you rent short term in Pasadena?
Get a permit first
What you apply for: Short-Term Rental Permit
- Seasonal homes
- 746
- Housing units
- 63,203
- Residents
- 136,969
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates
- City rulePermit required
- City fee$123
- Tax on each stay17%
- Seasonal homes12 per 1,000
Pasadena short-term rental permit
Pasadena requires a Short-Term Rental Permit for stays of up to 30 consecutive days, issued only to the primary resident of the property. A $123 permit fee applies, plus a 3% records management fee with payment processing fees. The application is filed online once the supplemental forms are completed. A Type 1 permit covers hosted stays, where the host remains on site. A Type 2 permit covers unhosted stays, where the host is away. Vacation rentals are not permitted anywhere within the city. The permit number goes on all listings. Hosts remit transient occupancy tax at 12.11% each quarter, along with a tourism district assessment of 4.89%.[4]
What Pasadena asks of you
A Short-Term Rental permit is issued only to primary residents who live at the property at least nine months per calendar year.[4]
The permit fee is $123. A 3% records management fee is added, as are payment processing fees.[4]
The city requires no business license on top of the permit.[4]
The permit lasts one year. Renewals need no new Neighborhood Notice unless ownership or permit type changes.[6]
A Type 2 unhosted permit carries a limit of 90 days of guest stays per calendar year. Type 1 hosted stays have no limit.[6]
Under a Type 2 permit the host must retain a local contact person or property management company available 24 hours per day.[6]
Occupancy is limited to 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, so a two bedroom unit may host up to 6.[5]
Guest parking must be provided on the property. Street parking for guests is not allowed.[5]
Accessory dwelling units permitted on or after January 1, 2017 are not eligible.[5]
In an owner occupied duplex or triplex, the owner may rent the primary residence plus one additional unit.[5]
An inspection confirming basic fire and life safety compliance comes before the permit. Self-certification may be allowed, except for an accessory structure.[5]
A completed Neighborhood Notice must be delivered or mailed to all directly abutting property owners.[5]
The Short-Term Rental permit number must be included in any listing or advertising of the property. Leaving it out is treated as a violation.[6]
No signs can be posted advertising the short-term rental use or vacancies.[6]
Commercial events, parties and group gatherings are prohibited.[5]
Three violations against the same property result in revocation of the permit. Administrative fines also apply under Municipal Code Sections 1.25.160 and 1.25.170, with amounts the brochure does not state.[5]
What California asks wherever you host
These rules apply at this address whatever the city decides.
No state license exists for short-term rentals in California. The state's 2025 act on booking platforms says it does not preempt a local short-term rental ordinance.[1]
Since July 1, 2024, every mandatory fee has to sit inside the rate you advertise. Only government taxes and fees may be added later.[2]
State law caps city fines when a short-term rental violation threatens health or safety. The first ceiling is $1,500. A second violation within the year reaches $3,000, each later one $5,000.[3]
What a guest pays on top of your nightly rate in Pasadena
Each layer is set by a different authority, and not all of them are collected by the platform.
| Layer | Rate | Remitted to |
|---|---|---|
| Pasadena transient occupancy tax[4] | 12.11% | The city |
| Pasadena Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment[4] | 4.89% | The city |
| Total on a taxable stay | 17% |
A notice on the city's page says Airbnb and VRBO collect both charges for Pasadena bookings from April 1, 2026. An older block on the same page still says no platform collects the district assessment. Every host files a quarterly report, due on the 20th after each quarter ends.[4]
Airbnb taxes for hostsWhat the census counts
How much of Pasadena is already a second home
The Census Bureau counts 746 of Pasadena's 63,203 homes as vacant for seasonal, recreational or occasional use. That is 12 out of every 1,000. It ranks Pasadena 30th of the 37 California cities on this site for the share of its housing stock kept for part-year use.
- Rank in the state
- 30th of 37
- Share of housing
- 12 per 1,000
- Median home value
- $1,093,300
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 5-year estimates, tables B25004, B25001, B01003 and B25077.
Nearby and comparable
Where Pasadena sits among its neighbors
Los Angeles, CA
Primary residence only
With a Home-Sharing registration, for up to 120 days a year unless you hold Extended Home-Sharing.
Los Angeles short-term rental rulesSanta Monica, CA
Permit required
739 seasonal homes, 14 per 1,000 housing units.
Santa Monica short-term rental rulesLong Beach, CA
Registration required
1,292 seasonal homes, 7 per 1,000 housing units.
Long Beach short-term rental rulesWest Hollywood, CA
License required
465 seasonal homes, 18 per 1,000 housing units.
West Hollywood short-term rental rulesFAQ
Pasadena short-term rental questions
Can I Airbnb a house in Pasadena that I do not live in?
How many days a year can I rent my Pasadena home while I am away?
Do I still file a quarterly report if Airbnb collects the tax?
Do I need a business license for a short-term rental in Pasadena?
Sources
- Short-Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025 (SB 346), Government Code sections 50990 to 50996, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Business and Professions Code section 17568.6, lodging price display, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Government Code section 36900, fines for city ordinance violations, California Legislative Information, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-Term Rental Regulations, City of Pasadena, read on October 1, 2026
- Short-Term Rentals brochure, August 2026, City of Pasadena, read on October 1, 2026
- Supplemental Forms for Short-Term Rental Permit, revised August 2025, City of Pasadena, read on October 1, 2026
This page is not legal advice. It summarizes the official sources listed on this page as they read on October 1, 2026. Rules can change after that date, so check with the issuing office before you apply or publish a listing.
Before you list
Free tools for new hosts
Short-term rental agreement generator
Parties, dates, rent, deposit checked against your state's cap, and the house rules clauses you enforce. A signed-ready PDF for direct and Vrbo bookings.
Airbnb host fee calculator
What Airbnb takes on a booking under the 15.5% host-only fee or the old split fee, what the guest pays on top, and the payout that reaches you.
Airbnb profit calculator
Nightly rate, occupancy, Airbnb fee, management, mortgage, taxes and depreciation. You get cash flow, cash-on-cash return and what is left after the IRS.
Airbnb house rules
Generate a complete PDF house rules document for your property: rules, schedule, amenities, emergency contacts.