California Fire Rebuild — Palisades, Altadena, Malibu & LA County

Before anything else

Rebuilding a home after a fire is not a normal construction engagement. Owners have lost belongings, neighbors, routines, and certainty. Our first responsibility is to slow the early decisions down, not speed them up. The first deliverable is a written assessment, not a contract.

Site recovery and rebuild planning

The rebuild starts before any drawings: debris removal and certification (state-managed in the Palisades and Eaton fires under Cal OES / Army Corps), utility disconnect verification, lot survey, photographic documentation of pre-fire conditions where possible, and a written lot assessment.

Insurance scope coordination

Most fire-rebuild budgets are set by insurance: dwelling coverage limits, extended replacement cost endorsements, code-upgrade coverage (Ordinance & Law), and additional living expense (ALE) timing. We review the insurance scope alongside the owner and the public adjuster (if engaged) so the rebuild plan matches the recovery, not the dream.

This is also where like-for-like vs revised-design decisions live. Like-for-like rebuilds typically move through recovery permit tracks faster; revised designs may unlock better outcomes but step out of the streamlined path.

Permit path — recovery tracks and standard permits

LADBS operates a Recovery Permitting Center for Palisades-area parcels, and LA County operates a Unified Permit Center for Altadena/Eaton-area parcels — both offer streamlined paths when the rebuild stays within defined parameters (like-for-like footprint and height, ministerial review only). Bay Area and Sonoma fire rebuilds run through the relevant city or county building department's recovery process.

We confirm which track a specific project qualifies for in writing before promising a schedule.

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and fire-resistant assemblies

Rebuilt homes inside Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ) — or the broader State Responsibility Area — must meet California Building Code Chapter 7A: ignition-resistant exterior wall coverings, ember-resistant venting, Class A roofs, tempered or multi-pane glazing on hazard exposures, and defensible-space landscaping at the property line. The rebuilt home is held to current code, not the code in force when the original was built.

• Roof

  Class A roofing assemblies; no exposed combustible deck or rake.

• Walls

  Ignition-resistant exterior wall coverings or non-combustible cladding.

• Vents

  Ember-resistant attic and crawl-space vents (1/16-inch mesh equivalent or listed ember-resistant).

• Windows

  Tempered glass or dual-pane assemblies on hazard exposures.

• Decks

  Heavy-timber, non-combustible, or ignition-resistant deck assemblies near the structure.

Utility reconnection

Electrical, gas, water, and sewer reconnections all run on their own timelines and can sit on the critical path. We start utility coordination at feasibility, not at construction — the difference is months, not weeks.

Budget and timeline — honest ranges

Fire rebuilds typically run 18–36 months from contract to keys, with the schedule driven by recovery-permit path, insurance scope finalization, and material/labor lead times. Budgets are insurance-anchored and almost always require reconciling between the dwelling-coverage limit, current rebuild cost, and the owner's tolerance for an out-of-pocket gap.

Frequently asked questions

Where do we start if our home burned in the Palisades or Eaton/Altadena fires?

Start with a written rebuild feasibility note: insurance scope review, lot survey, debris status, like-for-like vs revised design analysis, and the realistic recovery-permit path. We do this before drawings, not after.

Can you guarantee an expedited approval?

No — and we will not claim special approval access we do not have. We use the published recovery permit tracks, we sequence the package to qualify for them when possible, and we tell you in writing what the realistic timeline looks like.

Like-for-like or revised design — what is the trade-off?

Like-for-like (same footprint and height) typically qualifies for the fastest recovery permit path. Revised designs may unlock better outcomes (more space, better layout, accessibility, energy) but step out of the streamlined track and add planning review time.

Will the rebuilt home have to meet WUI / Chapter 7A?

Yes — if your parcel is inside a Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or the State Responsibility Area. Ignition-resistant exterior, ember-resistant venting, Class A roof, and hazard-exposure glazing are typical requirements.

Do you coordinate with our insurance company?

Yes. We review the insurance scope alongside you (and your public adjuster if engaged) and we build the rebuild plan to match coverage.

How long will the rebuild take?

Honest range: 18–36 months from contract to keys depending on recovery-permit track, design decisions, insurance reconciliation, and utility coordination. We name the realistic range for your specific lot in the feasibility note.

Can we live on the property during construction?

Usually no — most rebuilds require utilities to be reconfigured and the lot to be a construction site. Additional living expense (ALE) coverage typically funds temporary housing during the rebuild period.

Official sources

• LADBS — Disaster Recovery ↗

  City of Los Angeles

  City of LA Recovery Permitting Center for Palisades-area rebuilds.

• LA County Recovery ↗

  Los Angeles County

  Unincorporated LA County recovery permitting, including Altadena and Eaton fire context.

• California Office of the State Fire Marshal — Chapter 7A / WUI ↗

  CAL FIRE / OSFM

  Wildland-Urban Interface ignition-resistant construction requirements.

• CAL FIRE — Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps ↗

  CAL FIRE / OSFM

  Confirm whether a parcel is in a Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

• California Department of Insurance — Wildfire Resources ↗

  California Department of Insurance

  Insurance claim, ALE, and code-upgrade coverage guidance.

• Cal OES — Wildfire Recovery ↗

  California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

  State-level recovery program coordination, including debris removal.

Related pages

• California New Construction hub →

  Statewide overview of ground-up residential design-build.

• LA New Construction →

  LA-specific recovery permit context and contract-city overview.

• Teardown Rebuild →

  Demo + replacement context for revised-design rebuilds.

• Hillside Construction →

  Slope, drainage, and WUI fire access for hillside rebuilds.

• Custom Homes →

  When a fire rebuild becomes a revised-design custom home.

• Permit Timeline →

  Streamlined recovery permit tracks and timing context.