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
$1,232,185
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.
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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