Pasadena landlord startup checklist: 46.56¢ city rate, $1,213 rents, licence fees per unit

Q: What is the median rent in Pasadena?

$1,213 median gross rent for 2020–2024 ( Census QuickFacts ); voucher standards are ZIP-level in the Houston area ( HUD ).

Pasadena’s starting numbers, read in September 2026: the city’s taxpayer impact statement for the September 15, 2026 council meeting shows a current tax rate of $0.465586 per $100 for tax year 2025 and an estimated no-new-revenue rate of $0.451989 for 2026, on a median single-family value of $171,674 rising to $173,732 (FY2027 taxpayer impact statement); the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 estimate gives a median gross rent of $1,213, owner-occupancy of 54.5% and a median home value of $209,600 (Census QuickFacts); HUD applies Small Area Fair Market Rents by ZIP in the Houston metro area (HUD FY2026); and the city’s own Housing Office administers vouchers with a closed waiting list (Pasadena Housing Office). For a duplex or larger, add the occupancy licence fees before anything else.

Step 1 — The HCAD record

The Harris Central Appraisal District record gives the owner, the value and the taxing units — Harris County and its flood control, hospital and college districts, the school district (Pasadena ISD for most addresses, Deer Park or La Porte ISD by record), and the city. Print it; the occupancy-licence application asks for the owner exactly as the deed shows.

Step 2 — Budget 46.56¢ and watch the 2026 vote

The impact statement models the 2025 rate on the median home at $799.29 a year of city tax and the 2026 no-new-revenue rate at $785.25 (City of Pasadena); a rental pays on its full value with no homestead exemption. The 2026 rate was not adopted when this was written — the statement was prepared for the September 15, 2026 meeting — so confirm the figure on the city’s budget pages before finalising the year’s budget.

Step 3 — Licence fees for a duplex or larger

PASADENA STARTUP FACTS (SEPTEMBER 2026)
Item	Value	Source
City tax rate, tax year 2025	$0.465586 per $100; 2026 NNR estimate $0.451989	City of Pasadena
Median gross rent	$1,213 (ACS 2020–2024)	Census
Owner-occupied share / median value	54.5% / $209,600	Census
Occupancy licence, duplex or triplex	$50 per unit per year, inspection included	Fee schedule
Occupancy licence, 4+ units	$250 per complex + $3.25 per unit (min. $25) per year	Fee schedule
City water deposit	$125 owner / $150 renter (single-family); none at 65+	Code §37-37
Voucher rent standard	Small Area FMR by ZIP (Houston HMFA)	HUD FY2026

The licence requires a pest treatment within the preceding six months by a licensed operator, a designated resident manager if the owner lives outside Harris County, and a repair log for work over $200 — budget the treatment and the manager as recurring costs (§16½-6). The Pasadena registration guide sets out the application.

Step 4 — Price with the Census and the ZIP

$1,213 is the city-wide median across all sizes; the voucher standard for a Pasadena ZIP is on HUD’s Houston Small Area FMR table and can differ from the metro figure of $1,529 for two bedrooms (HUD FY2026). Look the ZIP up rather than pricing to the metro number.

Step 5 — Vouchers: the city’s own office

The City of Pasadena Housing Office tells owners: “Do not allow a tenant to move into the unit until there is an approved inspection, approved rent, signed lease and signed HAP contract,” to “return lease agreement within 24-48 hours to prevent a delay in HAP,” and that continued occupancy depends on “passing all required inspections” (Note to applicants, tenants and owners). The waiting list is closed, so voucher tenants come with vouchers already issued. Under Local Government Code §250.007 the decision to accept them is the landlord’s apart from veteran protections; write it in the criteria.

Step 6 — Wind, flood and the industrial line

Harris County is only partly in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s area — “parts of Harris County east of Highway 146” (TWIA eligibility) — so ask a licensed agent whether the address qualifies and whether the private market will write wind. Flood cover is a separate policy; the city’s ordinance requires any property in the 100-year zone to be disclosed as “flood prone” on sale (Chapter 9, Article IX). And before the first tenant, read the city’s siren page: Pasadena’s neighbours include refineries with their own alarms (Warning sirens).

What changes in Pasadena

City tax rate of 46.5586¢ per $100 for 2025, with a 2026 rate pending as of September 2026.
Occupancy licence fees from the first duplex: $50 a unit, or $250 plus $3.25 a unit for complexes.
A six-monthly pest treatment and an out-of-county resident manager are licence conditions.
A city-run voucher office that pays only after inspection, rent approval and a signed HAP contract.
TWIA eligibility depends on the Highway 146 line.

Frequently asked questions

What is the City of Pasadena property tax rate?

$0.465586 per $100 for tax year 2025; the city’s September 2026 impact statement estimated a 2026 no-new-revenue rate of $0.451989 ahead of adoption (City of Pasadena).

What is the median rent in Pasadena?

$1,213 median gross rent for 2020–2024 (Census QuickFacts); voucher standards are ZIP-level in the Houston area (HUD).

How much is Pasadena’s occupancy licence?

$50 per unit per year for a duplex or triplex including the inspection; $250 per complex plus $3.25 per unit (minimum $25) for four or more units (City of Pasadena).

Who runs the voucher program in Pasadena?

The City of Pasadena Housing Office, which requires an approved inspection, approved rent, a signed lease and a signed HAP contract before move-in (City of Pasadena).

Sources

Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.

General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.