Explaining the Road to Recovery
 If you're rebuilding in Altadena or any unincorporated wildfire area in LA County, get the information you need from this website.
There are ways to speed up the process of rebuilding. We call it the Express Lane on the Road to Recovery. ⬇
 Additional details and links are in the Rebuilding section below.
Extreme Heat is Here!
 Take precautions for extreme heat. To find a cooling center or get more information about what you can do to protect yourself and others, visit our Excessive Heat page.
Opt-In to Alert LA County
Alert LA County is an opt-in mass notification program utilized by the County of Los Angeles that allows individuals to receive emergency alerts by text, email, and/or phone call.
Alert LA County has accessibility features for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
Weekly Online Altadena Community Meeting on Monday, August 25
 These online meetings provide recorded updates from Supervisor Kathryn Barger and agencies involved in recovery and rebuilding.
📅 This Monday, August 25. 2025 🕓 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To watch the meeting:
📺 YouTube
📺 Zoom
Southern California Edison Compensation Program for Eaton Fire
 Southern California Edison's Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program will offer a way to quickly compensate those impacted by the Eaton Fire. The program will launch this fall. There will be no application fees, administrative costs or legal fees. It will cover both renters and homeowners for a variety of losses.
More details will be available on this page.
Friday Deadline! - Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund
 The Malibu-Topanga Business Interruption Fund (BIF) is a grant program to help small businesses in Malibu and Topanga recover from economic losses caused by extended road closures following the Palisades Fire.
Eligible businesses can receive financial relief to help offset revenue losses stemming from decreased customer access during prolonged closures of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
Applications are being accepted until this Friday, August 22, 2025, at 5 p.m.
To qualify, businesses must:
• Be located in Malibu (90265) or Topanga (90290) • Employ 100 or fewer workers • Earn no more than $6 million in annual gross revenue • Be a storefront business where customers physically come to transact business (some qualifying home-based businesses that require in-person clients, such as daycares, may also apply) • Have been operating in California before January 1, 2025 • Be active and in good standing with all required tax and business licenses
Apply and learn more here.
CalAssist Mortgage Fund for California Disaster Survivors is Taking Applications
 The CalAssist Mortgage Fund is a state program that provides much-needed relief from mortgage payments for displaced families whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable by a California disaster such as the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire.
You may eligible if your primary residence was destroyed or is uninhabitable due to a qualified disaster from 1/1/2023 through 1/8/2025, you meet program income limits, you have a mortgage or reverse mortgage, and you own a single-family home, condo or permanently affixed manufactured home (may include up to 4 units). If you qualify and are selected, the Fund will pay three months of mortgage payments, up to a maximum of $20,000. Funds never have to be repaid and it’s free to apply. Grants will be paid directly to your mortgage servicer.
Funds are limited and applications will be reviewed in the order received.
Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program
 The Fire Recovery and Resilience Workforce Program provides immediate hiring and training support for impacted and dislocated workers from the January 2025 windstorms and wildfires in partnership with LA County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the region’s America’s Job Centers of California.
Check eligibility and fill out an interest form here.
Regional “Shop Local. Dine Local. Recover Local.” Campaign Supports Economic Recovery for Fire Impacted Small Businesses
 Local businesses in or near impacted areas can sign up at shoplocal.la to be included in the Recover Local Business Directory, an online list of highly-impacted businesses.
Emergency Protections In Place Until October 1, 2025 for Short-Term Rentals, Hotels, and Motels
To support wildfire survivors and ensure access to emergency housing, Executive Order N-28-25 extends tenancy and occupancy protections to October 1, 2025 for people displaced by the wildfires.
The Order allows wildfire evacuees to continue to be considered short-term occupants rather than tenants when they stay beyond 30 days in short-term rentals, hotels and motels.
📞 Contact the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer & Business Affairs' Housing and Tenant Protections team at 800-593-8222 if you have questions.
See here for more information.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans Deadline: October 8, 2025
Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations located in a declared disaster area and which have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for a Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Visit the SBA website for details.
 Join host David Sommers as he digs in and discovers how the Army Corps of Engineers is using science to remove debris created by the Eaton Fire in Altadena.
Watch here.
For Property Owners Who Have Opted In to the Government Debris Removal Program
If you have opted in to the government debris removal program, and have questions or need assistance, help is available:
📝 recovery.lacounty.gov
📞 (844) 347-3332 - Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
📧 [email protected] | [email protected]
Did You Know...?
If you have concerns over how private contractors are hauling debris, you can file formal complaints on The Works app or through the Opt-Out Fire Debris Removal Permits Hotline:1-888-479-7328. The hotline is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
You can follow the County-wide debris removal progress via the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Phase 2 Debris Removal Public Viewer.
eCheck AI Pilot is Part of “Express Lane” for Faster Rebuilding
 LA County and the City of Los Angeles are partnering with Archistar for the eCheck AI Pilot, a cutting-edge tool that reviews building plans for compliance with zoning rules using artificial intelligence.
Property owners whose single-family homes were impacted by the Eaton Fire or the Palisades Fire and are located in a single-family residential zone are invited to join as Early Adopters.
The eCheck AI Pilot is one way residents can accelerate the approval process, along with opting for a pre-approved plans and a Like-for-Like Rebuild.
Here’s how residents can participate in the eCheck AI Pilot:
• Sign up for a free account:
➡LA County (Altadena and other unincorporated areas)
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➡City of LA
• Look up your property address. • Upload your architectural drawings in PDF format. • Residents can choose between Like-for-Like and Non-Like-for-Like rebuild projects.
During the pilot, results may take up to 10 business days, but may be delivered faster.
When results are ready, participants can review them on the eCheck platform and include the downloadable report in their permit application.
This is a completely voluntary pilot; it is not required as part of the existing Plan Check application process.
The Road to Rebuilding: Overview
 This animated video provides an overview of some of the steps on the Road to Rebuilding.
Fee Waivers & Refunds for Rebuilding
On June 17, 2025, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to waive and refund fees for qualifying property owners rebuilding single-family homes in unincorporated Los Angeles County following the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
Residents can check their eligibility on this Fee Waivers & Refunds page.
The Road to Rebuilding guide to help residents navigate the complex rebuilding process after a wildfire, Los Angeles County has created this guide to help identify the steps necessary for rebuilding on your property.
The guide will take residents step-by-step through the rebuilding process.
Recorded Rebuilding Together Virtual Workshops Can Be Reviewed by Clicking Below
📺 April 26, 2025 Workshop on how to solicit, select, and work with a design professional.
📺 May 3, 2025 Workshop on how preapproved plans and streamlined permitting processes can help homeowners rebuild more efficiently, safely, and affordably – while preserving the historic character of our neighborhoods and meeting modern codes.
📺 May 17, 2025 Workshop on What Like-for-Like is and why it matters for unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County - how to take advantage of this process, which can help homeowners rebuild efficiently, safely, and affordably.
📺 June 26, 2025 Workshop on Resilient Rebuilding Resource Guide - for communities in unincorporated LA County recovering from the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, an overview of the resource guide and the information and resources for planning, designing, and constructing a high-performance building more resilient to fire risks.
📺 July 12, 2025 Workshop on Navigating Manufactured and Factory-Built Home Submittals - an overview of both Housing and Community Development and LA County requirements for submittals of Manufactured and Factory-Built Homes in unincorporated areas.
Pre-Approved Plans
To learn about the benefits of using pre-approved plans visit the Pre-Approved Plans page.
To see the library with latest pre-approved designs visit the Standard Plan Catalog page.
Rebuilding Permit Centers: Get Help with Rebuilding
Rebuilding Permit Centers are open for guidance through the rebuilding process for residents affected by the Palisades and Eaton fires. These permit centers connect you with the departments responsible for rebuilding in your area.
LA County One-Stop Permit Center 464 West Woodbury Road, Suite 210, Altadena, CA 91001 Walk-In Hours: Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Rebuild Consultation Appointments Available: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. - 12 Noon.
SCE Planner Appointments Available: Monday and Wednesday: 8 a.m. - Noon.
Click here for more information.
LA County One-Stop Permit Center 26600 Agoura Road, #110, Calabasas, CA 91302 Walk-In Hours: Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Rebuild Consultation Appointments Available: Monday and Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. – Noon.
SCE Appointments Available: Monday and Wednesday: 8 a.m. - Noon.
Click here for more information.
City of LA - One Stop Permit Center 1828 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025 Open Monday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: Closed Click here for more information.
City of Malibu Rebuild Center 23805 Stuart Ranch Road, Suite 240, Malibu, CA 90265 Open Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Click here for more information.
City of Pasadena Planning Recovery Virtual Consultations Appointments are available Monday through Thursday here Questions: Email or visit the Pasadena Permit Center
 The County of Los Angeles has an introductory resource guide for planning, designing, and constructing healthy, fire resilient, and efficient buildings and properties. The resource guide is for property owners—and design and building professionals supporting property owners—faced with post-fire rebuilding. The resource guide also supports those considering retrofitting existing structures and/or building new structures regardless of fire impacts.
The guide includes currently available incentives & rebates, and links to other trusted information with fact sheets and checklists for property owners.
Click here to explore the guide.
Self-Certification Pilot Program for Rebuilding in Unincorporated Areas
The Building Plan Self-Certification Pilot Program is designed to streamline plan review and help homeowners rebuild faster following the Eaton and Palisades Fires.
Under this program, California licensed architects and engineers can self-certify that their building plans comply with the Los Angeles County Building Code, eliminating the need for a full plan check review. Architects and engineers interested in participating in the program must register at recovery.lacounty.gov/rebuilding/self-certification.
A list of professionals registered to self-certify will be available at recovery.lacounty.gov/rebuilding. Only architects and engineers who register in advance will be able to self-certify plans.
Eligible projects include the replacement of single-family homes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and appurtenant structures that were damaged by the Eaton or Palisades Fire and are located in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.
All required approvals from other L.A. County departments – including Regional Planning, Public Health, and Fire – must still be obtained prior to the issuance of a building permit.
L.A. County Public Works will continue to offer traditional plan checks and other rebuilding tools, including preapproved standard plans that have already been reviewed for code compliance.
For more information on the Self-Certification Pilot Program, eligibility requirements, or to find a registered professional, visit recovery.lacounty.gov/rebuilding/self-certification/.
Charting the Path Forward for Unincorporated Burn Areas
 LA County Foward: Blueprint for Rebuilding is now available here (PDF).
See a summary of what this means for wildfire survivors (PDF).
The Blueprint is a comprehensive roadmap focused on unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The Blueprint fully details a coordinated roadmap to accelerate recovery, create conditions for an equitable reconstruction, and give residents greater clarity, certainty, and support on the path to returning home.
The County’s plan is centered on actions that reflect current needs and help pave the path to reconstruction, including lowering building costs, speeding permitting and inspections, and protecting communities from future fire danger.
The Blueprint’s key initiatives include:
- Supporting a feasible financial path to return.
- Accelerating permitting and inspections.
- Growing the pool of builders and materials to achieve scale and lower costs.
- Ensuring critical infrastructure is in place.
- Mobilizing the workforce and coordinating delivery.
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Bringing back everyday services and public assets.
Additional In-Person Services Are Available to Assist in Wildfire Recovery
 In-person County services continue to be available at two locations for those impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires:
One-Stop Rebuilding Center 📍 1828 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 🕘 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Altadena Community Center 📍 730 E. Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001 🕘 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To contact FEMA, visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
To speak with a FEMA specialist directly call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service. Lines are open daily from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.
Altadena’s Village Post Office
A Village Post Office has opened at Webster’s Pharmacy in Altadena. The postal counter at Webster's accepts mail and package drop-offs, has pre-paid box services, flat-rate mailing supplies, and sells forever stamps.
📍 Location: Webster’s Community Pharmacy at Chase Plaza 2333 Lake Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001
Free Testing for Lead
Residents who were near wildfires or burn areas are able to receive free blood lead testing through December 2025 by the following two options:
1. Visit Your Medical Provider. Ask your doctor for a blood lead test. Testing is covered by most insurance plans, including Medi-Cal.
- or -
2. Schedule a Free Blood Lead Test at a Quest Lab. Call 1-800-LA-4-LEAD (1-800-524-5323) to request a free appointment. Testing is simple, confidential, and convenient.
The Department of Public Health also has a FREE soil lead testing program for residents living downwind of the Eaton Fire burn area.
For more information, including instructions on how to participate, please visit: ph.lacounty.gov/eaton-soil-testing
For more post-fire information from County of Los Angeles Public Health, click here.
Free Medical and Mental Health Clinic in Pasadena
Mondays and Wednesdays, from Noon to 5 p.m.
In person, hosted by the Eaton Health Village, in partnership with the Department of Mental Health
For free medical and mental health care, including medical consultations, medical refills, mental health services and case management, vision care, and dental care.
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Location: Pasadena Seventh-Day Adventist Church (1280 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104)
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More information: 951-595-7032 or click here
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