Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Pasadena?

**Yes**, Pasadena requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate legally. You need to apply for this permit through the city and comply with all regulations, including primary residency and TOT requirements. Operating without a valid permit can result in fines and penalties. You must have a permit.

What is the TOT tax rate in Pasadena, CA?

**0.1211%** is the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) rate for short-term rentals in Pasadena. You need to collect this tax from your guests and remit it to the city on a regular basis. This tax applies to all rentals shorter than 30 days, so make sure you comply.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Pasadena?

**Yes**, you need to live in your property to rent it on Airbnb in Pasadena. The city only allows 'Home-Sharing,' meaning the host must reside on-site during the rental period. This requirement ensures that short-term rentals do not negatively impact residential neighborhoods. Primary residency is required.

How many nights per year can I rent my property in Pasadena?

**90 nights per year** is the limit for unhosted short-term rentals in Pasadena. If you are hosting and present on-site, there is no annual night limit. Pasadena aims to strike a balance between allowing homeowners to earn income and preserving the residential character of neighborhoods.

Pasadena

Q: Are short-term rentals allowed in Pasadena?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in Pasadena, but with restrictions. Pasadena exclusively allows 'Home-Sharing' in the host's primary residence. Unhosted rentals are capped at 90 days per year, while hosted rentals (where the host is on-site) have no annual night limit. Make sure you follow rules.

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Mar 12, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Pasadena requires all short-term rental hosts to obtain a permit and exclusively allows 'Home-Sharing' in the host's primary residence. Unhosted rentals are capped at 90 days per year, while hosted rentals (where the host is on-site) have no annual night limit.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Pasadena, you must actually live in the home you are renting for at least nine months of the year. You can rent out your whole home for up to 90 days a year while you are away, or rent out a room indefinitely if you are staying in the house at the same time. Renting out second homes, investment properties, or apartments is strictly forbidden. You must apply for a permit (which is currently free) and include your permit number on your listing.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$0

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Primary residency is strictly enforced; you must reside there 274 days a year.
2Unhosted rentals (renting the whole house while away) are capped at 90 days annually.
3ADUs (guest houses/backhouses) built after 2017 cannot be used for short-term rentals.
4Apartments and multi-family buildings are generally prohibited from the STR program.
5You must list your permit number on the very first line of your Airbnb/VRBO description.
6Fines for operating without a permit start at $500 per day.
7The TOT rate is an unusual 12.11%—ensure your platform is collecting the full amount.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility14 rules

Pasadena, CA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Pasadena, CA: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Pasadena, CA: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.

Requirements20 rules

Pasadena, CA: You must live at the property for at least 9 months per year to qualify as primary residence.
Pasadena, CA: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Pasadena: You must live at the property for at least 9 months per year to qualify as primary residence.

Application process11 rules

Pasadena, CA: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of Primary Residency, Homeowner's Exemption documentation, Liability Insurance certificate, Signed Host Agreement.
Pasadena STR permit - Step 4: Await Approval and Post Permit. Once approved, you must display your permit number in the first line of any listing on Airbnb/VRBO. Time: 14-28 days.

Taxes2 rules

Pasadena: The TOT rate is an unusual 12.11%—ensure your platform is collecting the full amount.
Pasadena charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.1211%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the base TOT, but hosts must still file quarterly reports to verify the TBID/Tourism fees if applicable.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Pasadena enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Pasadena, CA occupancy calculation: 2 guests plus the host's family, or 2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional (total max 10). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Pasadena requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, First aid kit, Emergency exit map.

Penalties8 rules

Pasadena, CA: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. Multi-family buildings are generally prohibited from STR use unless specifically designated.
Pasadena, CA: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions5 rules

Pasadena, CA: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Pasadena, CA: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Pasadena exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Pasadena

Prohibited

CaliforniaUpdated Mar 12, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$0

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Primary residency is strictly enforced; you must reside there 274 days a year.
2Unhosted rentals (renting the whole house while away) are capped at 90 days annually.
3ADUs (guest houses/backhouses) built after 2017 cannot be used for short-term rentals.
4Apartments and multi-family buildings are generally prohibited from the STR program.
5You must list your permit number on the very first line of your Airbnb/VRBO description.
6Fines for operating without a permit start at $500 per day.
7The TOT rate is an unusual 12.11%—ensure your platform is collecting the full amount.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility14 rules

Pasadena, CA: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Pasadena, CA: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Pasadena, CA: Properties with affordable housing restrictions or subsidies cannot be used for short-term rentals.

Requirements20 rules

Pasadena, CA: You must live at the property for at least 9 months per year to qualify as primary residence.
Pasadena, CA: You must display your permit/registration number on your listing. Platforms may remove non-compliant listings.
Pasadena: You must live at the property for at least 9 months per year to qualify as primary residence.

Application process11 rules

Pasadena, CA: To apply for an STR permit, you'll need: Proof of Primary Residency, Homeowner's Exemption documentation, Liability Insurance certificate, Signed Host Agreement.
Pasadena STR permit - Step 4: Await Approval and Post Permit. Once approved, you must display your permit number in the first line of any listing on Airbnb/VRBO. Time: 14-28 days.

Taxes2 rules

Pasadena: The TOT rate is an unusual 12.11%—ensure your platform is collecting the full amount.
Pasadena charges a Transient Occupancy Tax of 0.1211%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the base TOT, but hosts must still file quarterly reports to verify the TBID/Tourism fees if applicable.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Pasadena enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Pasadena, CA occupancy calculation: 2 guests plus the host's family, or 2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional (total max 10). Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Pasadena requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, First aid kit, Emergency exit map.

Penalties8 rules

Pasadena, CA: Operating an STR in a rent-controlled unit can result in permit denial and fines. Multi-family buildings are generally prohibited from STR use unless specifically designated.
Pasadena, CA: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions5 rules

Pasadena, CA: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Pasadena, CA: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.
Pasadena exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Pasadena?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Pasadena, CA?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Pasadena?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Pasadena?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Pasadena?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Pasadena?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Pasadena, CA?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Pasadena?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Pasadena?

5How many nights per year can I rent my property in Pasadena?

Disclaimer