Pasadena
Cultural anchor of the valley — Old Town, the Rose Bowl, and dense mixed-use corridors.
Snapshot
Population
136,969
US Census ACS, 2024 / FBI UCR Table 8, 2024
Median home price
$1,233,000
Redfin, 2026-08
Median rent
$2,265/mo
US Census ACS, 2024
Crime / 1k
31.8
FBI UCR Table 8, 2024
Market
Price / sq ft
$781
Redfin, 2026-08
Months of supply
3.5
Redfin, 2026-08
Median days on market
47
Redfin, 2026-08
Renter-occupied
57.5%
US Census ACS, 2024
Median household income
$105,192
US Census ACS, 2024
Housing units
63,203
US Census ACS, 2024
Developments
380 S. Rosemead Blvd
169 unitsA seven-story, 169-unit apartment building approved without a public hearing — entitled ministerially by Los Angeles County in 2022 at 193 units, upheld on appeal, and redesigned downward in 2026 under the same permit.
The Affinity
95 unitsPasadena wrote a custom zoning district for a 3.3-acre Arroyo Parkway assembly in 2022 and certified an EIR. Four years on, no permits have been pulled — the Planning Commission renewed the entitlements 7-0 in July 2026, pushing them to June 2028.
452 N. Los Robles Ave
227 unitsA 227-unit apartment proposal for the 99 Cents Only site on North Los Robles Avenue went through predevelopment review in 2020, then was withdrawn by its developer in 2021.
What you can build here — ADU
Typical SFR: 1 ADU + 1 JADU. Size: detached up to 1,200 SQFT; attached 850/1,000 SQFT; 800 SQFT protected. Height: detached 18 ft / 2 stories (16 ft in Hillside Overlay / street-visible historic); attached up to 25 ft. Side/rear setback 4 ft. JADU max 500 SQFT. State fee exemptions apply. 60-day ministerial clock.
§17.50.275. Last verified 2026-08-18. Not legal advice — confirm current requirements with Pasadena's planning department. See the statewide ADU floor every city sits on top of.
What you can build here — zoning standards
| Zone(s) | Density | Height | Setbacks F / S / R | Lot coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family | RS-1/2/4/6 | 1 du/lot | 28–32 ft (encroachment plane) | 25' avg / 10% width (5–10') / 25' | 35–40% |
| Duplex | RM-12 | 2 units/lot | 28–32 ft | 25' avg / 5–10% / rear 10' | 35–40% |
| Townhome | RM-16/32/48 | 16–48 du/ac effective | 23–38 ft | Per zone | Per zone |
| Multifamily | RM-16 / RM-32 / RM-48 | 16–48 du/ac | 23–38 ft | 20–40' front / 5' side / 0–25' rear | Per zone |
Parking · SF/MF 2 covered/unit (>650 sf), 1 for ≤650 sf; guest 1/10 units (MF).
Overlays to check · SB 9 lot-split eligible · Density Bonus Law applicable · Historic Overlay · Hillside Overlay · TOD reductions
Base zoning — always check for a project-specific overlay or density-bonus increase. Not legal advice. Pasadena Municipal Code Title 17 Ch 17.22 Tables 2-3+ (municode/elaws), Housing Element 2021-2029. Last verified 2026-08-23. Full zoning code
Housing assistance
Pasadena runs its own housing department. See every affordable-housing resource across the San Gabriel Valley, including 211 for emergency shelter.
Advisory Desk
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