The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to defer and refund permitting and inspection fees for survivors of the January wildfires that devastated Altadena, Pacific Palisades and nearby areas.
The county will immediately defer permitting and inspection fees for eligible homeowners rebuilding single-family homes in fire-affected unincorporated areas, according to the OK’d motion authored by Board Chair and District 3 Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Residents who have already paid such fees for qualifying rebuild projects will receive refunds.
To qualify for deferral or refund, homeowners must have owned and lived in the property before the Eaton and Palisades fires, which collectively burned over 27,000 acres, destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of properties and caused the deaths of 30 people.
“Families who lost everything in these devastating wildfires deserve every opportunity to rebuild without being burdened by county fees,” Barger said in a statement. “Today’s unanimous vote is a clear statement that our Board stands with these residents. This action gives them the relief they urgently need while we identify the sources of funding that will permanently eliminate these costs.”
With more than 7,400 residential and commercial structures destroyed, the Eaton and Palisades Fires displaced thousands. As the rebuilding and recovery process progresses, many county residents face the daunting challenges of navigating insurance claims and securing adequate financial assistance.
County permit fees often exceed $20,000 and represent a significant obstacle for wildfire survivors as they work to rebuild their lives and homes, according to the motion.
Prior to the board’s Tuesday vote, a report prepared by county’s Chief Executive Office at Supervisor Barger’s request evaluated options to reduce or waive rebuilding fees. The report estimated a $140 million loss in revenue from waiving all rebuilding and inspection fees in impacted unincorporated areas.
The board also directed several departments to complete an updated fee study within 60 days, “taking into account potential cost savings from new technologies and systems now being deployed — such as the Archistar permitting software, the county’s One Stop Centers and a Unified Permitting Authority,” according to Barger’s office.
Beyond immediate relief and to try to make permanent fee cancellations financially sustainable, the board instructed county agencies to explore long-term funding strategies, such as budget adjustments, federal disaster aid and philanthropy
“As you drive through Altadena, you still see the signs that read ‘Altadena Not For Sale,’” Barger said. “Today, this board backed up that message with real action. By removing these fees, we’re giving wildfire survivors a better chance to stay in their communities, rebuild their homes, and hold on to hope for the future.”
Barger added that she was “confident that we’ll identify long-term funding solutions to permanently waive these costs–but finding that funding is the County’s responsibility. It shouldn’t be an added burden for families who are already working so hard to rebuild their lives.”
The county’s website on fire recovery efforts is recovery.lacounty.gov.