Post-Fire Rebuild Briefing 02-07-25: Pacific Crest Consultants

Fire Recovery //byline Pacific Crest Consultants February 7, 2025 What are the policies the City of Los Angeles has in place as of February 7, 2025 to guide post-fire rebuilding? Pacific Crest Consultants supplies this briefing, broken into the three phases of debris removal, permitting, and construction. It includes status updates, actions for property owners to take, updates to timelines for items such as debris removal, and a resource list for AIA California members and homeowners. EPA Speeds up Phase 1; Army Corp Starts Phase 2The estimated timeline for the toxic cleanup of neighborhoods decimated by the recent wildfires has improved thanks to an increased amount of state and federal assistance, officials announced this week. Originally, recovery experts had predicted that it would take 3-6 months for the Environmental Protection Agency to catalogue and remove the most egregious of the hazardous materials and then an additional 12-18 months for the US Army Corp of Engineers to complete a thorough removal of the debris. But after strong public outcry that the rebuild of the Pacific Palisades and Altadena communities couldn’t begin for 2 years, officials scrambled to tighten the timelines by bringing in additional resources. The EPA announced earlier this week that it would complete Phase 1 in 3 months. And the USACE said “80-90% of properties would be cleaned in a year or less.” In fact, the first Phase 2 cleanup by the USACE started at two schools in the Pasadena Unified School District, the county announced yesterday. For the Phase 2 cleanup, property owners have to file a Right of Entry form, either opting into the corps service or opting out. Those forms must be filled out by March 31. The sooner they are turned in to the county, the sooner the county hands them over to the Army Corps and the sooner the corps can begin planning. The following is a summary of the steps needed before construction can start in Los Angeles, Altadena, and Malibu: Step 1: Debris RemovalProperty owners in the wildfire burn areas can rebuild after both phases of the toxic debris cleanup is completed for their site. The EPA is required to complete the first phase cataloguing and removal of significant hazardous materials. Phase 2 to remove the remaining toxic materials can be done for free by the USACE or at owner’s expense by a private contractor. Step 2: PermittingOfficials with the cities of Los Angeles and Malibu and the County of Los Angeles have said that homeowners who propose an eligible replacement home will be given an expedited review of the building plans. Eligible projects are those that propose to replace the previous home and accessory structures “up to 110%” of the previously permitted floor area and height. The new homes are also expected to occupy roughly the same footprint as before. The cities of LA and Malibu and LA County are accepting permit applications for fire rebuild, but formal guidelines are expected to be released in the coming days on how the reviews will be expedited for eligible projects and what plans will be needed. LADBS announced yesterday that demolition permits won’t be needed for rebuild projects that meet certain criteria. For properties in the Coastal Zone, Gov. Newsom announced that eligible rebuilds won’t need Coastal Commission review. Step 3: ConstructionProperty owners can begin the permitting process before the debris process is complete but construction cannot begin until both phases of cleanup are completed. Community ResourcesDebris Removal Right of Entry FormPalisades Fire Damage MapLA City Emergency InfoLA County Emergency InfoSanta Monica Fire UpdatesSanta Monica Emergency OrderSanta Monica Office Emergency ManagementMalibu City Hall Status & OperationsReal Estate Records RequestEmergency HousingLAUSD Realtime UpdatesReport DWP OutagesWildfire Debris RemovalConsilodated Debris Removal ProgramLocal Air Quality Financial ResourcesWildfire Insurance ClaimsFEMA Assistance ProgramSmall Business Assoc. Disaster LoansLA County Economic Development CorporationCommunity Investment Resource Centers About: Pacific Crest ConsultantsPCC stands out as the premier residential permitting company in greater Los Angeles, backed by an unparalleled wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge in the realm of residential permitting. With a dedicated team of experts who have successfully navigated the intricate web of regulations, codes, and permitting procedures, PCC is your trusted partner in transforming your residential vision into reality. Our extensive track record demonstrates a profound understanding of the unique challenges and nuances of permitting projects in cities and counties around Southern California, ensuring that every project is seamlessly executed and compliant with all local regulations. When it comes to residential permitting, PCC is not just a service provider; we are your dependable source of expertise, efficiency, and excellence.

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