Pasadena Council Greenlights County-Aligned Eviction Protections for Tenants Who Are Fire Victims

The Pasadena City Council voted unanimously Monday night to direct City staff to draft an ordinance that will mirror Los Angeles County’s six-month eviction protections for renters impacted by the Eaton Fire. The action comes after a recommendation from the city’s Rental Housing Board, which had suggested a longer, one-year protection period.

“We can dream up among the seven of us the perfect ordinance that has bells and whistles and all kinds of unique aspects, but there are 88 cities in the county,” said Councilmember Rick Cole, who made the motion. “I think we should either defer to the County or pass our own that completely mirrors the County.”

The Council also directed staff to return within 30 days with options for providing rental assistance to affected residents. The motion included exploring ways to provide funds, whether privately raised or from public money, to help those in need who’ve been affected by the fire.

The Los Angeles County protections, approved on February 25 by a 4-0 vote with one abstention of the Board of Supervisors, provide an affirmative defense against eviction for non-payment of rent for tenants who can demonstrate they were financially impacted by the fire. The County’s ordinance requires that tenants must have lost 10% of their income, be at or below 150% of area median income, and be actively seeking income replacement through programs like FEMA, SBA loans, unemployment, or the County’s relief fund.

Residents interested in applying for the Los Angeles County Relief Fund, which contains approximately $8.7 million, must do so by March 12. The fund offers grants of up to $6,000, $12,000, or $18,000, though there’s no guarantee applicants will receive the maximum amounts.

Pasadena’s Rental Housing Board Chair Ryan Bell noted that the County ordinance also requires tenants to notify their landlord within seven days of being unable to pay rent, similar to declarations required during the COVID pandemic.

In addition to recommending eviction protections, the Rental Housing Board has taken other actions to assist those affected by the fire. The Board passed resolutions allowing landlords to voluntarily lower rent without affecting their base rent, extended protections for unauthorized occupants who are fire victims, and issued prorated refunds of rental housing fees to landlords whose units burned down.

City Attorney Michelle Bagneris clarified that as a charter city, Pasadena is not subject to the County’s ordinance.

“Our position is that that ordinance does not apply to the City of Pasadena as a charter city. We are independent of the County’s ordinances under the California Constitution and Municipal Authority,” Bagneris said.

The Council heard from numerous speakers during public comment, with tenants expressing concerns about displacement and landlords worried about financial impacts.

“We are supporting other local businesses… and then hear the hammer being slammed down on landlords,” said Deborah Lutz, a housing provider who urged the Council to consider the burden on property owners. “We cannot keep treading water. We are sinking.”

Others like Marley, a renter who has been displaced due to smoke and ash damage, advocated for the protections: “If I was not so scared of being evicted, I would not continue paying for a place that I can’t live because my landlord’s being irresponsible.”

Councilmembers spoke about the need for a balanced approach.

Councilmember Tyron Hampton supported the motion with a requirement that City staff return in 30 days with options for rental assistance, noting that one of his concerns was tenants accumulating debt they couldn’t repay.

The ordinance is expected to include a repayment period for any missed rent, with tenants given 12 months after the protection period ends to repay any accumulated rental debt, in accordance with the County’s framework.

To further assist with negotiations between landlords and tenants, the City is launching a mediation program next week in partnership with Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution. Helen Morales from the City’s Rent Stabilization Department explained this would offer “an opportunity for them to come together and work out their agreements,” potentially allowing for partial rent payments rather than a binary pay-or-don’t-pay outcomes.

Earlier in the meeting, Small Business Administration representatives presented information about low-interest disaster loans available to homeowners, businesses, and landlords affected by the fire, with rates as low as 2.5% for home loans and 4% for business loans.

The City Attorney noted that the ordinance could be brought back for first reading on March 17, with a second reading on March 24, making it effective shortly thereafter.