Proposed Eviction Defense Ordinance for Fire-Affected Renters Goes Before Pasadena Council Today

On Monday, the Pasadena City Council will receive a formal request to consider emergency eviction protection for renters financially affected by January’s devastating Eaton Fire. The recommendation, submitted by Pasadena Rental Housing Board Chair Ryan Bell on February 27, seeks to establish a one-year temporary defense against eviction for affected tenants.

“This defense should be available to tenants who self-certify their financial hardship under penalty of perjury,” wrote Bell in his memo to Mayor and Council members.

The proposal comes after the Rental Housing Board voted unanimously on February 6 to advance the recommendation.

The recommendation specifically targets nonpayment evictions, allowing tenants who can demonstrate they were financially impacted specifically by the fire to have a legal defense if facing eviction proceedings.

During the Rental Board’s discussion early last month, Chair Bell emphasized that tenants would need evidence showing direct financial impact from the fire, such as job loss or medical expenses resulting from the disaster.

The proposed protection would not prevent other forms of eviction, such as those related to criminal activity.

During the February board meeting, PHRB members heard from numerous residents describing displacement, landlords refusing remediation of ash and soot damage, and the financial strain of paying rent for uninhabitable apartments while also covering temporary housing costs.

“I had to get home, had to get home. I exhausted my options,” shared one Board Member during the discussion, describing her own experience with ash contamination following the fire.

Councilmembers will need to determine specifics of implementation if they approve the measure, including verification requirements and exactly how long the protection should remain in effect. While the formal recommendation seeks a one-year duration, the original board discussion considered timeframes ranging from six months to the length of the emergency declaration.

Monday’s Council meeting represents the next step in advancing these proposed renter protections as the community continues to recover from the January disaster.