Pasadena is its own city, with its own rules
Pasadena has its own Permit Center within the Planning and Community Development Department, its own zoning code, and its own utility, Pasadena Water and Power. The 2025 California codes, with Pasadena's amendments, apply to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026. Pasadena also adopted the new state Wildland-Urban Interface Code for homes in fire zones.
Gross Design + Build designs and builds here as one team, under our California general contractor license, CSL 1079184. We prepare the plans, take them through Pasadena's reviews, coordinate the utility work with Pasadena Water and Power, and build the project.
Historic districts and landmarks
Much of Pasadena's appeal is its architecture, and the city protects it. In a landmark district, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required before a building permit for demolition, new construction, or exterior changes visible from the street. Work that is not visible from the street, interior work, paint, landscaping, and solar are generally exempt. We design additions that respect the original house, which is what these reviews are looking for.
Hillside lots
In Pasadena's Hillside Overlay District, a new house requires a Hillside Development Permit. Floor area is tied to lot size and slope, and Pasadena also compares a new home's size with the homes around it, generally limiting floor area to no more than 35 percent above the median of homes within 500 feet. We run those numbers before design so the house is sized to be approved.
ADUs in Pasadena
Pasadena allows a detached ADU of up to 1,200 square feet (smaller in some hillside areas), an attached ADU of 850 square feet, or 1,000 square feet with more bedrooms, and a JADU of up to 500 square feet, with 4 foot side and rear setbacks for new construction. Height limits for detached ADUs are lower in the Hillside Overlay and in historic districts where the unit is visible from the street. In January 2026 the city adopted amendments to bring its ADU rules in line with state law, including allowing a converted ADU, a new detached ADU, and a JADU on the same single-family lot.
Pasadena also offers pre-approved standard ADU plans with a 50 percent plan check fee discount, and ADUs of 900 square feet or less are exempt from the city's Residential Impact Fee. See our ADU guides for how state law sets the baseline.
Fire zones and Eaton fire rebuilds
Pasadena adopted the State Fire Marshal's 2025 fire hazard map in July 2025, which expanded the Very High zones. Pasadena's fire zones are generally along the Arroyo Seco, west and north of the 210, and in upper Hastings Ranch. For homes lost in the January 2025 Eaton fire, Pasadena's interim rebuild ordinance, extended to March 23, 2027, lets a single-family rebuild add 200 square feet or 10 percent, whichever is greater, without a land use entitlement. City plan check and permit fees are waived for owner-occupied homes rebuilt like-for-like. Homes in unincorporated Altadena follow LA County rules instead; see rebuilding in Altadena.
Common questions
Do you build in Pasadena?
Yes. We design and build custom homes, additions, and ADUs in Pasadena under our California general contractor license, CSL 1079184, and manage Pasadena's historic, hillside, and permit reviews for you.
Do I need approval to add on to a house in a Pasadena historic district?
In a landmark district, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required before a building permit for demolition, new construction, or exterior changes visible from the street. Work not visible from the street is generally exempt.
Can I rebuild a bigger home after the Eaton fire in Pasadena?
Under Pasadena's interim rebuild ordinance, extended to March 23, 2027, a single-family rebuild can add 200 square feet or 10 percent, whichever is greater, without a land use entitlement.
Related: Design-build in Glendale, Home additions, ADU design and construction.