Pasadena neighborhoods we cover
- Bungalow Heaven
- Madison Heights
- Linda Vista
- San Rafael Hills
- Upper Hastings Ranch
- Lower Hastings Ranch
- Northwest Pasadena
- Old Pasadena
- South Lake Avenue
- Orange Grove Boulevard
What’s hard on roofs around Pasadena
Fire zones along the Arroyo and foothills
Pasadena’s fire hazard severity zones are mainly in the Arroyo Seco, west and north of the 210 Freeway, and in Upper Hastings Ranch. The city’s fire code bars wood roof coverings in its very high, high and moderate fire hazard areas. In January 2025, the Eaton Fire destroyed parts of Pasadena.
Santa Ana winds
Santa Ana winds bring heat, high winds, fallen trees and power outages to Pasadena. The windstorm of late 2011 tore the roof off a gas station. Strong gusts lift shingles, crack tiles and drop branches, so a roof check after a big wind event finds damage before the next rain.
Landmark districts
Bungalow Heaven and Pasadena’s other landmark districts follow city design guidelines. In Bungalow Heaven, the neighborhood association lists a re-roof as needing a building permit, while other exterior changes, such as porches, siding and windows, need a Certificate of Appropriateness. Any change in roofing material is worth confirming with the city first.
Hillside streets and mature trees
Linda Vista and the San Rafael Hills have winding roads, cul-de-sacs, no sidewalks on most streets and dense, mature trees. Pasadena’s own fire code notes that narrow, winding hillside roads slow large fire trucks. Branches over the roof drop leaves into gutters and valleys, which matters for both drainage and embers.
Apartment and commercial buildings here often have flat or low-slope roofs, where ponding water and worn seams are the usual trouble.
