Pasadena City Council
March 3, 2025

City Attorney’s/City Prosecutor’s Department
City Council
Informational Item on
Pasadena Price Gouging Complaints
City Prosecutor’s Office
Tim Wellman, Chief Assistant City Prosecutor
March 3, 2025
City Attorney’s/City Prosecutor’s Department
Crimes To Be Concerned About During/After An Emergency
• Price Gouging is when a seller, contractor, landlord, or individual raises the price of housing, goods, or services more than 10% after the declaration of a state of
emergency.
• The City Prosecutor’s Office is a member of the LA
County Price Gouging Joint Taskforce – Critical Fires.
2 City Attorney’s/City Prosecutor’s Department
Crimes To Be Concerned About During/After An Emergency
• Contracting without a license is always a crime, but doing so during a State of Emergency can be a felony. Please watch for anyone offering construction services and verify their contractor’s license with the State Contractor’s Licensing Board. • False Impersonation of Emergency or Utility Personnel is a crime. Verify someone’s identity, and when in doubt call the department to confirm this person is who they say they are.
• False representation while soliciting charitable donations • Insurance fraud
• Financial elder abuse
• If you suspect you have been the victim of, or attempted victim of, a crime in the City of Pasadena, please report it to the Pasadena Police Department (626-744-4241).3 City Attorney’s/City Prosecutor’s Department
• 43 Complaints of Price Gouging in Pasadena
> 38 referred from Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA)
> 4 referred from Rent Stabilization Department
> 1 City website contact request
• Complaints involve 33 rental units, 1 hotel, and 1 house for sale • Complaints have been referred to PPD for investigation 4 Price Gouging Complaints (2025)