The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved recovery fee waivers to help property owners repair and rebuild following intense storms over the winter holidays.
The storms that began Dec. 23 dropped over 17 inches of rain in some areas, causing flooding, mudslides and debris flows in mountain and high desert communities such as Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, Phelan, Piñon Hills and Hesperia. Multiple roads were blocked, including in areas near Mt. Baldy, and the county is taking steps to support residents while coordinating response and recovery operations as communities navigate the storm impacts and start long-term recovery efforts, officials said.
“Recovering from a disaster is hard enough without additional costs standing in the way,” Board of Supervisors Chairman and 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Rowe said in a statement. “Waiving recovery fees removes barriers and helps families and property owners move forward safely and legally, so our communities can rebuild as quickly as possible.”
District 1 Supervisor Paul Cook said in a statement, “From the mountains to the high desert, residents have been dealing with damage, debris and disrupted access. By reducing their out-of-pocket costs to rebuild, we’re helping residents and business owners get repairs started. We’ll keep coordinating across departments and with our partners to support a steady recovery.”
After the storm subsided, the San Bernardino County Fire Department sent inspection teams to survey homes and businesses. A damage assessment by the Fire Marshal’s Office found two buildings were destroyed and 31 sustained major damage. Another 23 buildings sustained moderate damage, 37 sustained minor damage and 93 buildings were deemed “affected” by the storm.
Plan review and permit fee waivers
The Board of Supervisors approved waivers of plan review and permit fees totaling up to $5,000 per property, both fees combined, with an aggregate countywide limit of $200,000. The fee waivers are available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 30, 2027, for post-disaster recovery and repairs to properties in communities damaged by the December 2025 storms.
The move expedites the Land Use Services Department’s plan review and permit process for impacted residents, officials said.
Debris disposal fee waivers
The board also OK’d San Bernardino County Public Works – Solid Waste Management to waive Standard Gate Rate Disposal fees for impacted property owners.
“This allows qualifying residents to dispose of acceptable debris at county landfills at no cost,” according to the county.
The waiver is for properties identified by the county Office of Emergency Services in the Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Phelan and Hesperia, according to the county. The maximum total waiver amount is $16,800.
The program is limited to an estimated 48 residential properties, with a maximum of 5 tons per property, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 30, 2026.
Debris must be acceptable for disposal and cannot contain asbestos, hazardous materials or other unacceptable waste. A detailed list of acceptable and prohibited materials at county landfills is online at the county’s “Can I take it to the landfill” webpage.
Local emergency
In response to the storms, county CEO Luther Snoke declared a local emergency Dec. 25. The Board of Supervisors approved the emergency proclamation on Dec. 29 that mobilized resources and initiated coordination with state and local agencies.
Earlier this month, emergency crews were in Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, Hesperia, Phelan and Piñon Hills accompanying the U.S. Small Business Administration and personnel from state and county agencies to do preliminary damage assessments. The assessments help officials evaluate storm impacts and identify possible recovery resources.
The county Office of Emergency Services hosted a Local Assistance Center at the Rick Novack Community Center in Hesperia Jan. 8-10.
County officials provided these additional resources:
- The San Bernardino County Land Use Services’ website is lus.sbcounty.gov.
- San Bernardino County Public Works – Solid Waste Management Division’s website is dpw.sbcounty.gov/solid-waste-management.
- San Bernardino County Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters, or VOAD, in coordination with the Office of Emergency Services, is supporting recovery and cleanup efforts for storm-impacted communities that experienced flooding and mudslides. For help with debris cleanup, call the California Floods Home Cleanup Hotline at 800-451-1954 through Jan. 23 or visit bit.ly/4bumkgu.
- For insurance-related assistance after flood and mudslide impacts, the multilingual California Department of Insurance consumer hotline is 800-927-4357.
- The county’s emergency preparation website is prepare.sbcounty.gov.
- Sign up for San Bernardino County’s Telephone Emergency Notification System, or TENS to receive emergency alerts such as evacuation warnings and orders for your area.
- Download the Ready SB County app to receive emergency alerts and safety information.
