The Pasadena Rental Housing Board has approved maximum rent increases of 2.5% beginning Oct. 1, the city announced Monday.
The city’s “Annual General Adjustment” for rent-stabilized units is effective through Sept. 30, 2027, the board decided at its June 18 meeting.
The AGA is the annual percentage by which rent may be increased for an existing tenancy in a covered rental unit under Pasadena law. Before increasing rent, landlords must follow all applicable requirements under the City Charter. An overview of increase notices and requirements is online at the Rent Stabilization Department’s “Rent Levels and Rent Increases” webpage.
The Rental Housing Board calculates the AGA as 75% of the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for the Los Angeles area during the 12-month period ending in March, officials said. For the 2026–27 period, that CPI came in at 3.4%.
The city provided an example of what a 2.5% AGA increase may look like on a monthly rent of $2,000 — $2,000 multiple by 2.5% equals $50, for a new monthly rent of $2,050 if all applicable requirements are met.
Landlords may apply this increase once per 12-month period, officials said. The charter does not authorize an increase above the maximum lawful rent or eliminate the requirement for written notice.
Pasadena law allows landlords seeking a rent increase beyond the AGA may be eligible to file a petition for an “Upward Adjustment of Rent.”
“For tenants, the AGA provides a clear benchmark for reviewing rent increase notices,” according to a city statement. “For landlords, it establishes the maximum increase that may be applied without filing a petition for an upward adjustment. Because coverage and rent-increase requirements can vary by property and tenancy, the Rent Stabilization Department encourages tenants and landlords to contact its housing counselors with questions.”
For more information, call the department at 626-744-7999 with any questions.
