Group homes and residential care in Pasadena

Each rule below links to the section of the Pasadena Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Pasadena's code says

Pasadena code What Pasadena's code adds
Homes for 6 or fewer	A reasonable accommodation permit is required. Applies: Applies to a group home for the disabled not licensed by the state, in RS, RM-12 or RM-16. § 8.19.040 · code text Any person who owns, manages, or operates a group home for the disabled which is not licensed by the state of California and seeks to operate such a group home in the RS, RM-12, or RM-16 zoning district pursuant to a "reasonable accommodation" shall obtain a reasonable accommodation permit from the city. No more than 6 boarders, tenants or renters. Applies: Applies to a group home for the disabled not licensed by the state, in RS, RM-12 or RM-16 with a reasonable accommodation permit. § 8.19.050 · code text It shall have no more than 6 boarders, tenants or renters.
Distance between homes	Homes must be at least 500 feet from any other boarding house or group home, licensed or not. Applies: Measured from property lines; unlicensed disabled group homes in RS, RM-12 or RM-16 with permit; state-licensed facilities with no separation rule not counted. § 8.19.050 · code text It shall not be located within 500 feet, measured from the property lines, of any other boarding house or group home facility, whether or not such facility is licensed by the state. The home is exempt from the 500-foot distance rule. Applies: Applies to a disabled group home already operating in a single family zone at adoption, if it gets the permit and meets other standards. § 8.19.050 · code text The home shall be exempt from the distance requirement set forth above provided the operator and the home are in full compliance with all other operational standards.
Where allowed	Allowed in RS, RM-12 or RM-16. Applies: Applies to an unlicensed group home for the disabled, with a reasonable accommodation permit. § 8.19.040 · code text Any person who owns, manages, or operates a group home for the disabled which is not licensed by the state of California and seeks to operate such a group home in the RS, RM-12, or RM-16 zoning district pursuant to a "reasonable accommodation" shall obtain a reasonable accommodation permit from the city.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

Where are group homes and residential care homes allowed in Pasadena?

Pasadena's code: A reasonable accommodation permit is required. (Applies to a group home for the disabled not licensed by the state, in RS, RM-12 or RM-16.) (§ 8.19.040); No more than 6 boarders, tenants or renters. (Applies to a group home for the disabled not licensed by the state, in RS, RM-12 or RM-16 with a reasonable accommodation permit.) (§ 8.19.050).

Group homes and residential care in Pasadena

What Pasadena's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Pasadena property

More on building on your lot in Pasadena