News, Information, and Resources for the Public from the Los Angeles County Coordinated Joint Information Center

Ensuring Habitable Rental Housing in Unincorporated Areas

The Rental Housing Habitability Program (RHHP) aims to ensure rental units meet habitability standards, support property values, and provide safe living conditions. It is important for landlords and renters in unincorporated Los Angeles County communities to be aware this program, especially in areas where wildfires have impacted the conditions of rental properties.

RHHP is authorized to respond to tenant complaints.

To meet state housing health and safety standards, landlords and/or rental property owners are required to maintain rental housing units in a safe and habitable condition. The likelihood of smoke damage from the Eaton Fire, including fire-related ash and soot in and around a rental housing property and/or a lingering smell of smoke, may present a health and safety risk to tenants and requires professional evaluation.

First Quarterly Economic Briefing

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), in partnership with the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), held the first in a series of four quarterly briefings to assess the impact of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades wildfires on residents, businesses and the overall economy.

Together, they are advancing a coordinated, data-driven approach to support recovery and long-term resilience for the communities, workers, and businesses affected by these recent wildfires.

This Saturday: LGBTQ Community Town Hall Regarding Fires Impact

If you are a member of the LGBTQ community or a parent, family member, or ally, join the County of Los Angeles and community partners for a community town hall to learn more about how the LA Fires impacted LGBTQ people and to share your feedback on how recovery efforts can be improved to be more inclusive.

🥗 Lunch will be provided, and the first 60 attendees will receive a free air purifier.

Spanish interpretation and discussion groups will be available.

When:
📅 This Saturday, September 27, 2025
🕑 2 p.m. - doors open for lunch / 2:30 – 4 p.m. discussion and community input

Where:
📍 Altadena Main Library
600 E. Mariposa Street, Altadena, California 91001

Register here.

Note: If you attended the earlier town hall on May 7, you are still encouraged you to join this town hall as well. It will build off of the earlier discussion. You are also encouraged to participate if you did not join the May 7 event. Your input is appreciated!

If you have questions, please contact:
Brad Sears — Co-Principal Investigator
Distinguished Scholar, the Williams Institute
UCLA School of Law
📞 310-794-5279
📧 [email protected]

Hosted By:
Altadena Pride
San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center
Transgender Latin@ Coalition
The Williams Institute
LA County LGBTQ Commission
LA County Department of Public Health

Rebuilding with Licensed Contractors Webinar
Recording Now Available

LA County, the Contractors State License Board, the County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, and Neighborhood Housing Services presented a virtual workshop September 13, 2025 on the importance of using a licensed contractor for your rebuilding project.

Learn about how the licensing process helps keep you, your families and your contractors safe, while getting an in-depth overview of how to search for, select, and work with a licensed contractor as you rebuild.

Previously recorded Rebuilding Together Virtual Workshops can be reviewed by clicking here.

The Disaster Case Management Program is There to Help

The Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) is FEMA-funded and provides supplemental Disaster Case Management services to vulnerable populations.

The January 2025 wildfires are an active DCMP under the name:

DR-4856 - 2025 Wildfires Straight-line Winds (January)

To see if you qualify, please call 833-775-3267 or click here for more information from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Disaster Services Branch (DSB).

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.

SBA Relief Still Available to Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Wildfires and Straight-line Winds

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in California of the October 8, 2025 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by wildfires and straight-line winds occurring January 7-31, 2025.

The disaster declaration covers the California counties of Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs including faith-based organizations with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than October 8.

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.

Malibu Fee Waiver Program

The City of Malibu has a Fee Waiver Program to help property owners affected by the recent fires. The program eliminates City planning and building permit fees for like-for-like, owner-occupied homes and duplexes.

The fee waiver applies to City of Malibu-issued permits for:

🔵 Planning approvals and building permits
🔵 Temporary housing
🔵 Wastewater treatment system upgrades
🔵 Required infrastructure (seawalls, water tanks, suppression systems)
🔵 Accessory structures, hardscaping, and landscaping

📅 Key Deadlines:
June 30, 2028: Fee Waiver Application Due
June 30, 2028: Planning Applications Must Be Complete
December 30, 2030: All Building Permits Must Be Pulled

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. ⬇

eCheck AI Pilot is Part of “Express Lane” for Faster Rebuilding

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)

-or-

➡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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Post-Fire Air, Soil, and Water Assessment Dashboard is updated continually as new assessment results are made available. Residents are encouraged to check the dashboard regularly for updates.

Residents can refer to Public Health’s Frequently Asked Questions for best practices to minimize exposure to these potential hazards.

Weekly Online Altadena Community Meetings

This series has been scheduled to run each Monday until the end of the year.

All attendees (even if they have attended in the past) can register for the series at https://bit.ly/altadenacommunitymeeting

These online meetings provide recorded updates from Supervisor Kathryn Barger and agencies involved in recovery and rebuilding.

📅 This Monday, September 29. 2025
🕓 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To watch the meeting:

📺 YouTube

📺 Zoom

Pool Season at Loma Alta Park Extended Through October 31

The pool at Loma Alta Park will remain open through October 31, 2025, enabled by funding from County Supervisor Kathryn Barger's office. The extension gives Altadena area residents additional opportunities to enjoy low-cost lap swim, water exercise classes, swim lessons, and free swim hours into the fall season, thereby providing additional opportunities for recreation, exercise, and stress relief for the community recovering from the Eaton Wildfire.

The Loma Alta Pool is located at 3330 North Lincoln Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001.

Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday 8am to 10am and 2pm to 7pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm

Program flyers and schedules are available here. Additional program information can be found at linktr.ee/lacountyaquatics.

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.

Location: Pasadena Seventh-Day Adventist Church (1280 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104)
More information: 951-595-7032 or click here

News, Information, and Resources for the Public