TENANTS SECURE ANOTHER LANDMARK AGREEMENT, THIS TIME WITH THE CITY OF PASADENA, TO PROTECT EATON FIRE SURVIVORS

Pasadena, CA —The Pasadena Tenants’ Union and individual tenant wildfire survivors have reached a Settlement Agreement with the City of Pasadena, resolving litigation filed over the City’s failure to conduct meaningful inspections and enforce habitability standards for tenants whose homes were contaminated by toxic smoke, ash, and soot from the Eaton Fire. The lawsuit, filed in May 2025 by Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) and Morrison Foerster LLP on behalf of their clients, sought to ensure that tenants living in Pasadena units impacted by post-fire contamination were not left to fend for themselves in the face of landlords refusing to conduct appropriate testing and remediation. The lawsuit and settlement in this case are similar to the companion lawsuit NLSLA and Morrison Foerster LLP filed on behalf of Altadena tenants against the County of Los Angeles, which was resolved favorably in
September 2025.

This agreement requires the City to implement an immediate, fast-track program for inspections by certified industrial hygienists and professional remediation for people living in rental housing north of the 210 Freeway and west of Sierra Madre Boulevard, located within the City of Pasadena. In addition, the City will implement a training program for inspectors and adopt comprehensive inspection and enforcement protocols for post-wildfire units to protect renters outside the fast-track zone and, if future fires arise.

“Tenants can’t be expected to diagnose toxic hazards on their own,” said Lena Silver, Director of Policy and Administrative Advocacy at NLSLA. “In this agreement, the City of Pasadena finally acknowledges the public health risks associated with wildfire contamination and creates clear paths to safe, habitable housing.”

“We are proud to stand with tenants and NLSLA in securing a detailed enforcement structure that recognizes the lasting dangers of wildfire contamination in rental housing,” added Whitney O’Byrne, partner at Morrison Foerster.

Terms of the Agreement Include:

Fast-Track Inspections

• The City will launch an immediate, fast-track program for inspections by certified industrial hygienists and professional remediation for people living in rental housing north of the 210 Freeway and west of Sierra Madre Boulevard, located within the City of Pasadena. Tenants in the fast-track zone must contact the City to arrange an inspection to initiate the fast-track process.

Public Notice

• Pasadena will publicize its inspection process—including the 75-day fast-track window—in multiple channels to ensure tenants understand their rights and timelines. Specifically, the City will:
  • Publish the inspection process and fast-track period and its geographical limits on both the Eaton Fire Recovery and Code Compliance Division pages of the City’s website for the duration of the fast-track period.
  • Include the inspection process and 75-day window in the City Manager’s Weekly Letter, which is widely distributed and reaches media outlets; and
  • Provide a formal update to the Rent Stabilization Department.

Other Protocols

• For people outside the fast-track zone, after the 75-day fast-track inspection period, the City will adopt more robust inspection and remediation procedures. The City will:
  • Hire a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) to train City inspectors on:
    • How to identify disaster debris
    • Where it is likely to be found
    • How to conduct a thorough inspection
  • Develop a standard inspection protocol in line with CIH guidance.
  • Train inspectors on safety procedures to protect all present during inspections—including inspectors and occupants.
  • Establish a list of habitable spaces requiring inspection, including visual inspections of ducts, attics, and crawlspaces. If any area cannot be safely inspected by the city inspector, the City will order the landlord to hire a CIH to conduct the inspection.

The settlement ensures that affected tenants can obtain meaningful inspections and remediation orders and finally close this difficult chapter in their lives. Tenants in affected areas who file complaints will receive structured, enforceable inspections under the new protocol rather than cursory walk-throughs or referrals.

The Eaton Fire exposed hundreds of households to toxic particulate matter, including dangerous heavy metals documented by wildfire researchers. The Pasadena settlement reflects growing recognition among local governments that wildfire contamination in residential housing requires professional inspection and remediation—not tenant self-advocacy.

If you are a tenant impacted by the Eaton Fire and need assistance, please contact NLSLA at 800-433-6251.

Submit a Request to the City of Pasadena:

Code Compliance: 626-744-8633

Residents may also call CSC at 626-744-7311 and may submit a request or be routed to Code Compliance.

You can submit a request on their website. Tenants must enter “Code Enforcement” and then a drop-down menu will offer “Housing Inspections”. The tenant may then enter their address information, inspection type (Housing), and description of their complaint.