My landlord said Measure H doesn’t apply because my building is "too new." How do I check?

The cutoff is buildings with a certificate of occupancy before February 1, 1995. Buildings built in 1995 or later are usually outside Measure H, though AB 1482 likely still applies.

Measure H is so new. Do landlords actually follow it?

Many do. Some don’t, especially smaller landlords who didn’t update their forms when the law took effect. Defective notices are common in Pasadena. If your notice looks like a generic California rent-increase form, it may not meet Measure H’s requirements.

I got a 60-day notice in Pasadena. Is it Measure H or AB 1482 that applies?

If your unit is covered by Measure H, Measure H applies. AB 1482 is the floor; Measure H is stricter. A Pasadena no-fault notice has to meet Measure H’s requirements (including relocation amount).

Can a Pasadena landlord raise rent on a vacant unit to market and start charging that to a new tenant?

Generally yes, on the initial rent for a new tenancy. This is called vacancy decontrol. Once the new tenancy is established, future increases are capped under Measure H.

I think my Pasadena rent increase exceeds the cap, but I’m not sure of the exact number. What do I do?

Check the Pasadena Rental Housing Board’s website for the current year’s cap, or call the Board. If your increase exceeds the cap, send a written response citing Measure H and consider filing a complaint with the Board.

City GuideLos Angeles CountyEdition 2026~ 6 min read

Pasadena Rent Control (Measure H)

Pasadena Rent Control, in plain English.

Plate — City · Pasadena Rent Control (Measure H)

Notice

General information. Not legal advice. This page explains Pasadena’s Rent Control Charter Amendment (Measure H) as of 2026. The ordinance is relatively new (passed in 2022, took effect in 2023) and rules have been clarified by the Pasadena Rental Housing Board over time. For your specific case, give us a call.

In plain English

Pasadena voters passed Measure H in November 2022, creating the city’s first rent control and just-cause-eviction law. It took effect in 2023. The law covers most multi-unit residential buildings in Pasadena built before February 1, 1995, with some exceptions. It caps annual rent increases based on a formula tied to local CPI and limits the reasons a landlord can end a tenancy. Because the ordinance is recent, landlords don’t always know the rules. Tenants benefit from checking.

Coverage.

Measure H applies if:

The building is inside the City of Pasadena.
The building has two or more units.
Certificate of occupancy was issued before February 1, 1995.
The unit is not otherwise exempt.

Look up your specific address through the Pasadena Rental Housing Board at cityofpasadena.net.

The annual rent cap.

For 2026, the Measure H annual rent-increase cap works out to approximately 4 percent. Measure H ties the cap to a CPI-based formula similar to AB 1482, with a separate ceiling set by the Rental Housing Board.

One increase per 12 months.
Written notice in the prescribed form.
30 / 90 day notice rules per increase size.

Just cause to evict (Pasadena Measure H).

Measure H provides strong just-cause-to-evict protection.

At-fault grounds include non-payment, lease violations, nuisance, illegal activity.

No-fault grounds include owner move-in, substantial remodel, withdrawal from rental market.

No-fault evictions require relocation assistance. The relocation amounts and tenant categories are set by the Pasadena Rental Housing Board.

Because the law is newer, defective notices are more common in Pasadena than in jurisdictions with mature ordinances. Pasadena landlords sometimes serve notices using AB 1482 templates that don’t include the city-specific just-cause language or relocation amounts. Those notices are often defective.

When your landlord violates Measure H.

Common violations:

Rent increase above the cap.
Notice using AB 1482 template instead of Measure H-compliant form.
No-fault notice without proper relocation amount.
Landlord claiming Measure H doesn’t apply to a covered unit.
Retaliation.

Save the evidence.
File a complaint with the Pasadena Rental Housing Board.
Talk to a tenant attorney.

Talk to the firm(310) 265-5000

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