Pasadena landlords have one more chance to get in-person help registering their rental units before the Oct. 31 annual deadline, and it's Thursday, Oct. 29.

The city's Rent Stabilization Department will close its offices on Friday, Oct. 30, under its alternating-Fridays schedule, and Saturday, Oct. 31, is not a business day, PasadenaNow reported. That leaves the Oct. 29 walk-in session as the final chance for face-to-face assistance before the deadline.

The free session runs from 9 a.m. to noon in the department's first-floor conference room at 199 S. Los Robles Ave. No appointment is needed, but owners should bring their registry login information and updated property and unit records.

What's due

Owners of covered rental properties must register their units and pay the annual Rental Housing Fee of $236.54 per unit for the fiscal year that began July 1, according to the city's Rental Registry page. Covered units include rented single-family homes, condominiums, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and multifamily properties. The fee cannot be passed on to tenants.

The registration period opened Sept. 1. The city urged early filing in an Oct. 21 news release, citing the need to resolve questions and registration problems before the deadline. Online registration remains available through Oct. 31.

Grace period and late fees

The city allows a seven-day grace period through Saturday, Nov. 7, with no late fees. After that, penalties escalate:

  • Nov. 8: 15% penalty, or $35.48 per unit
  • Dec. 16: 30% penalty, or $70.96 per unit
  • Jan. 30, 2027: 50% penalty, or $118.27 per unit

Those amounts are added on top of the base fee, according to PasadenaNow.

Beyond fees, landlords who miss the deadline face other consequences under the city's charter. Tenants may have the right to withhold rent until the owner complies. Owners of rent-stabilized units may not increase rent, and property owners may be blocked from evicting a tenant, according to the city's Rental Registry page.

How to register and pay

Registration can be completed online. Owners can pay by credit card or e-check through the portal, by check through the mail, or in person at Pasadena Municipal Services, 100 N. Garfield Ave., Room N106. The Rent Stabilization Department office does not accept payments.

Owners who believe their property qualifies for an exemption can apply through the online registry. The city recommends completing exemption applications first so staff can review eligibility before the deadline.

Compliance so far

The registry, established under Measure H, the Pasadena charter amendment that took effect in December 2022, is now in its third cycle. In coverage published in September, PasadenaNow reported that 583 properties had not registered as of June 30, and that the city had collected more than $6 million in fees for the 2025 cycle. Executive Director Helen Morales said the department planned to bring a holdout list to the City Council's Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee.

For questions, owners can call (626) 744-7999 or email [email protected].