Permit Relief & Expediting Plan Approval:
The City of Los Angeles has issued orders to bring relief to those rebuilding after the fires:
The city is dedicating a department solely focused on rebuilding, permitting, and construction. This applies to anyone affected by the disaster who wants to rebuild within 110% of their original footprint. For example, if you had a 1,000-square-foot home, you would be allowed to use this expedited process for a home up to 1,100 square feet.
No separate demolition permit required: As long as your demolition is part of the permit submission, you will not need a separate demo permit. This likely means homeowners can allow FEMA to clear the lot of major debris and hazardous materials without being burdened with additional permitting.
Rebuilding non-conforming structures: You can rebuild any section of a non-conforming structure (e.g., if your house was built in a setback or otherwise non-compliant with today’s codes). However, the house must be substantially in the same location.
No change of use allowed: For example, you cannot convert a house into a gym.
No change in unit density: This includes ADUs.
All-electric requirements waived: The requirements for all-electric houses are temporarily waived.
Expedited review timeline:
The Department of Building and Safety must respond with comments on plans within three weeks of submission.
Other departments must respond within five weeks.
This is significant because many overlay planning zones, specific plans, and historic districts can otherwise delay permits for years.
Relief from environmental regulations: The Governor has issued an executive order providing relief from CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) and CCC (California Coastal Commission) regulations, which typically apply to commercial projects.
Extended permit timelines:
Up to seven years to obtain a permit for rebuilding.
Three years to complete construction once permits are issued.
Temporary housing: Property owners can have one RV or similar temporary shelter on-site during permitting and construction.
Temporary storage: Property owners can have a temporary storage shed on-site for up to three years.
Similar orders are expected from other LA County municipalities in the coming days.
There will be no exemptions from seismic, hillside, or fire ordinances.
Hire a local firm: The codes and zoning ordinances in Los Angeles County are complex. Hiring a local firm with a proven track record in the area can help ensure a stress-free and successful project.
Non-Disaster-Related Permitting and Construction:
The recent wildfires have prompted municipalities in our area to shift current staff to disaster relief roles. Departments such as Building, Planning, Fire, Public Works, and Utilities are reallocating personnel to critical disaster response efforts. This includes:
Field inspectors being reassigned to red-tagging and assessing structures.
Utility workers focusing on reducing further risks and restoring power.
While these responses are necessary, they are compounded by existing cutbacks in city staffing in some communities and an inability to replace staff in others. Significant bottlenecks are likely ahead.
We are committed to:
Moving current projects forward.
Assisting with permit applications in plan check.
Supporting those affected by the disaster, whether assessing smoke damage, rebuilding, or designing replacement homes.
Although cities are expediting disaster relief, the limited staff available means normal business processes will likely face delays. It’s a challenging time, but we appreciate your understanding as we navigate this unique situation together.
