The City of Pasadena has implemented an expedited inspection program that will require landlords to professionally assess and remediate wildfire debris in rental units, a year after the Eaton Fire left properties across the area coated in potentially toxic ash.
The Fast-Track Remediation Program, announced February 2 and running through April 11, 2026, targets rental properties north of the I-210 Freeway and west of Sierra Madre Boulevard—the areas most likely affected by smoke, ash, and soot from the January 2025 fire that destroyed more than 9,000 structures.
When city inspectors find wildfire debris, they will issue Orders to Comply requiring landlords to hire an Environmental Consultant or Certified Industrial Hygienist to assess the contamination and complete needed remediation.
The program represents a marked shift from the city’s earlier position. For months after the Eaton Fire ignited on January 7, 2025, Pasadena officials told tenants who complained about ash-covered apartments that the city could not force landlords to clean up because the word “ash” was not specifically mentioned in local building codes. Tenants were advised to hire attorneys and pursue civil cases against their landlords.
That changed after State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democrat whose 25th District includes both Pasadena and Altadena, authored Senate Bill 610 specifically to clarify landlord responsibilities.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on October 10, 2025, and it took effect January 1, 2026.
Under SB 610, the presence of debris from a disaster—regardless of volume—constitutes a substandard condition until a determination is made that the debris does not contain toxic substances. The law requires landlords to mitigate hazards including mold, smoke, smoke residue, smoke odor, ash, asbestos, or water damage.
“Our commitment to help our communities recover and rebuild from the January fires is unwavering,” Senator Pérez said in a statement when the legislation passed. “I have no greater duty than to be there for my constituents as our communities recover from the Eaton Fire.”
The city’s new program also follows legal pressure. Tenants and the Pasadena Tenants Union sued the city in May 2025, alleging officials had failed to enforce habitability standards. The city agreed to settle those claims in late January, according to a report from Law360.
Lisa Derderian, a Pasadena spokesperson, told LAist after the governor signed SB 610 that the law “makes important changes in the obligations of a landlord to the tenant that will play out in messaging.”
Katie Clark, an organizer with the Altadena Tenants Union, said of the new state law: “This closes that gap. There is no nuance. There is no room for misunderstanding. Ash is absolutely now included in habitability questions.”
Public health officials have cautioned that ash from the Eaton Fire contains toxic materials including remnants of lead paint, plastics, and electric vehicle batteries. The fire, which burned 14,021 acres before being fully contained on January 31, 2025, killed at least 19 people and ranks as the second most destructive wildfire in California history.
Tenants citywide—not just those in the Fast-Track geographic zone—can request inspections for wildfire-related smoke, ash, or soot damage. The city will conduct inspections in response to all complaints and issue Orders to Comply as needed. Code Compliance will schedule reinspections to confirm remediation is complete.
Tenants who believe their rental unit may be affected by wildfire debris may request an inspection by calling the City’s Code Compliance Division at (626) 744-8633 or submitting a request online at cityofpasadena.net/city-
The Fast-Track program runs through April 11, 2026. The city has not said whether it will be extended.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
