After the fire (Photo – Melissa Michelson)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors advanced a proposal Tuesday, May 27, aimed at reducing the financial burden of rebuilding.
By News Desk
Chair Kathryn Barger introduced a motion directing County departments to craft a plan that defers, and ultimately waives, permitting and inspection fees for like-for-like home rebuilds in unincorporated areas.
“The survivors of the Eaton Fire have already lost so much and now they face enormous costs in their rebuilding journey,” said Supervisor Barger. “I’m committed to doing everything possible to ease that burden. Waiving these fees is not just about cutting red tape. It’s about restoring hope, stability, and dignity to families who are still reeling from the devastation.”
The motion not only focuses on immediate relief for fire survivors but also calls for a framework enabling County departments to receive direct insurance reimbursements for eligible permitting costs. This would provide both financial relief to affected residents and ensure the County recovers essential service costs.
According to parcel-level data submitted through right-of-entry permits for federal debris removal efforts, nearly 94% of impacted property owners held some form of home insurance. However, given the variance in policies across insurers, the County stressed the importance of working with the insurance industry to ensure appropriate coverage and reimbursements are honored.
The proposal aligns with broader County efforts to modernize and streamline the post-disaster permitting process. These initiatives include a self-certification option for licensed architects and engineers, the use of AI-powered tools for faster compliance reviews, and the creation of a Unified Permitting Authority at the Altadena One-Stop Permitting Center to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
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