LA Strong – Return and Rebuild
Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
EPA Phase 1 Hazardous Materials
Army Corps Phase 2 Debris Removal
Independent Cleanup (Properties Opting Out)
Homes with Minimal/No Structural Damage
Eviction Protections for Tenants Impacted by Wildfires
EPA Phase 1 was completed on February 26, 2025. More information about the Phase 1 Debris Removal can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/ca/2025-california-wildfires
The Private Property Debris Removal Program is executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) on behalf of FEMA. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW) is coordinating debris removal, including processing Right-Of-Entry forms for property owners who opt-in to government debris removal, as well as opt-out forms and permitting for residents who wish to contract privately for debris removal.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has established a Debris Call Center to help answer questions regarding Private Property Debris Removal. Hours of operation are from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM; call 213-308-8305 for assistance. You can also visit the Army Corps’ Los Angeles County Wildfire Debris Removal Mission page for more information or go right to their Key Facts & Frequently Requested Info page.
The majority of questions about Phase 2 Debris Removal can be answered at the LA County’s Phase 2 Debris Removal site.
For other questions about fire debris removal, please contact the LA County Public Works Fire Debris Removal Hotline at (844) FIRE DEBRIS / (844) 347-3332.
Q: How do we verify that County Public Works has received our Opt In?
You can track your ROE form with this County tool. The deadline to opt in or out of the program was April 15, 2025.
Q: How long will debris removal take?
The Army Corps of Engineers aims for debris to be safely removed in 2-3 days PER PROPERTY. This timeline can change depending on the size of the lot or parcel, the amount of debris, inclement weather, the size of the lot, the amount of hardscape, the degree of damage, the condition of the foundation and/or whether you want to remove or try to maintain the foundation. It will not be possible to estimate how long it will take to clean up your property until the contractor assesses the site. And for the same reasons, we cannot accurately predict at this time how long the overall cleanup effort will take. You can view the Army Corps’ progress with this online tool for tracking debris removal. You’ll need to zoom in using the + tool in the bottom right to view actual parcels and their status.
Debris management teams will remove trees that:
Generally, landscaping and non-hazardous trees outside of the ash footprint will NOT be removed under the private property debris removal program. However, each property will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and there may be exceptions.
The City’s Urban Forestry Division has created this storymap with a thorough guide to tree marking and signage as well as options for retaining, replacing, or removing trees based on their status and location.
A hazardous tree removal waiver has been established for property owners participating in the federally funded Private Property Debris Removal (PPDR) Program who wish to retain specific trees on their property. This waiver allows owners to retain certain trees identified by a certified arborist to be hazardous.
Those opting out of hazardous tree removal should be aware that:
Property owners interested in retaining a tree must:
For more information, visit the County’s Phase 2 removal site at https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/phase-2/
If you opt out, you will be responsible for hiring appropriately licensed and certified contractors to remove debris. Property owners were required to submit a “Los Angeles County Local Debris Removal Program (Opt-out) Application” to the County for approval before April 15, 2025, and at least two weeks prior to commencing debris removal. Debris Removal Permits are issued by the EPIC-LA online permit system. Both the owner and contractor must have an EPIC-LA account to complete the permit.
If you missed the April 15th deadline, please contact the County Department of Public Works ASAP at their Fire Debris Hotline 844-347-3332, PalisadesFire@dpw.lacounty.gov.
As part of the permit process, the owner must provide a report performed by a Certified Asbestos Consultant indicating no asbestos onsite. All asbestos and asbestos-containing materials must be removed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor and abated before debris removal can begin. Upon permit issuance, the work must be completed pursuant to standards set forth by the County and State.
The full process for opting out and required forms are available at the County’s Public Works recovery site: https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/roe.
Property owners who opt out were required to submit a “Los Angeles County Local Debris Removal Program (Opt-out) Application” to the County for approval before April 15, 2025, and at least two weeks prior to beginning debris removal.
Due to the public health danger to the community, owners who choose not to participate in the Government-Run Debris Removal Program and who do not accomplish an adequate clean-up through the Local Debris Removal Program may be subject to remedial action with full cost recovery from the owner.
Per LA County, the government will pay all upfront costs. However, property owners with insurance covering debris removal must indicate that on their ROE form and not clear debris until Phase 2 is complete on your property; this may affect eligibility. For more info, visit https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/insurance/
LA County has advised that whether you are insured, uninsured, or underinsured, the USACE Phase 2 debris removal program comes at no direct cost to eligible homeowners. More information about insurance and debris removal is available here:
https://recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/insurance/
For more information regarding insurance claims, coverage, or understanding your policy, please visit the California Department of Insurance website’s Wildfire Resources or call the Insurance Consumer Hotline at (800) 927-4357.
Passes are no longer required to enter Pacific Palisades. The most up to date information regarding Palisades re-entry can be found at https://recovery.lacity.gov/reentry
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) are currently enforcing the law in the Palisades. LAPD has also contracted multiple private security firms to patrol all Palisades neighborhoods and work in close collaboration with law enforcement.
In case of a life-threatening emergency, call or text 911. For non-emergencies call 877-ASK-LAPD (1-877-275-5273). Pacific Palisades residents can go in person to the LAPD West Los Angeles Community Police Station located at 1663 Butler Avenue or call them at (310) 444-0701.
Additionally, residents can report certain crimes online by utilizing the LAPD Community Online Reporting System by going to www.lapdonline.org. Community members can also send an email to Palisades@lapd.online to submit tips and other non-emergency information to the officers working in the Palisades.
For the most up to date information about LADWP’s Palisades Fire and Windstorm response, please visit http://www.ladwpnews.com/.
LADWP has restored power to the Pacific Palisades and made temporary repairs, which includes setting poles, stringing wires, and installing transformers above ground in an effort to get as many customers capable of having power reenergized. As we look to the future, LADWP is working on designing a power system for the Pacific Palisades that includes alternative materials and construction methods as well as expanding the underground system.
The “Do Not Drink” notice in the Palisades was lifted on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Residents returning to their homes are advised to flush all the water fixtures in their homes to clear residual water from pipes. See the below tips from LADWP on flushing your water before use:
For detailed instructions to flush your pipes please visit: https://www.ladwp.com/publications/newsletters/articles/guide-flushing-water-pipes
Residents whose homes were not damaged but have ash can carefully sweep the material, double-bag it in plastic, and place it in the black bin.
LA Sanitation (LASAN) provides unlimited pickup of large household items, including mattresses, couches, doors, carpets, toilets, electronic waste, and other furniture. This service is typically available on your regular collection day. Schedule a pickup by calling LASAN at 1-800-773-2489.
Residents needing additional trash pickup can contact LASAN at 1-800-773-2489 to schedule the additional pickups. There is no cost for this service for residents in the fire area.
Q: What should I do with my swimming pool after the fire?
The City’s Bureau of Sanitation has created a helpful guide to properly draining pools affected by fire ash and debris. For more assistance with any LASAN-related questions and concerns, their 24-hour Customer Care Center is available at 1-800-773-2489.
The County Department of Public Health recommends two preventive measures:
For mosquito fish, treatment, and further assistance, please contact (310) 915-7370 or visit lawestvector.org.
Per the County Department of Public Health (DPH), swimming pools and spas must be enclosed with a protective fence to prevent drowning, injuries, or other risks:
For more information, please contact the County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Division, Recreational Waters Program at (626) 430-5360 or rhealth@ph.lacounty.gov.
Per the County Department of Public Health (DPH), do not hose down the deck or use a leaf blower because debris can go into the storm drains and the air. First, lightly spray the deck with water to minimize the amount of dust and ash that goes into the air. Second, use a stiff brush or broom to sweep and put the debris in a trash bag. A mop and bucket can also be used to clean the deck. Throw away the debris with the solid waste.
For more information, please contact the DPH Environmental Health Division, Recreational Waters Program at (626) 430-5360 or rhealth@ph.lacounty.gov.
Click here for comprehensive guidance from L.A. County Public Health.
If it is necessary for you to clean up ash that is impacting living or work spaces in areas not damaged by fire, please use the following general precautions:
For More Wildfire Smoke, Ash and Safety Tips, visit: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/wildfire/ and https://www.aqmd.gov/wildfiretips
If you are living near areas with significant fire debris or burned buildings nearby, it is prudent to avoid being outdoors near these properties while hazardous materials are being removed, even though this process should not result in significant disturbance of ash and other fire debris.
If you’re returning to a home in an area with significant fire debris or burned buildings nearby, it may be advisable to wait until all the remaining fire debris has been removed from nearby burned properties before moving back in. More information is available from the County Department of Public Health site..
The County Department of Public Health suggests you first assess the extent of smoke, soot, and ash contamination to determine appropriate cleaning measures:
More information can be found here.
If you’re filing an insurance claim, check if your insurer recommends or contracts with any firms for this type of work. If you look for a contractor yourself, confirm that they are properly licensed by the State or County and have the required bonding and liability insurance coverage. You may also want to check references, check with the Better Business Bureau, and/or follow up with past customers to ask about their experiences before signing a contract.
Make sure any cleaning company is certified by organizations like the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (https://iicrc.org/) or Restoration Industry Association (https://www.restorationindustry.org/). Before starting or paying for any work, obtain a detailed, written estimate of the work to be done and the schedule from the contractor. It is best to avoid contractors who fail to provide specific cost and schedule details in the contract.
More information can be found here.
Q: What can homeowners do if their insurance company refuses to pay for smoke damage or denies coverage?
Anyone finding that their insurer is not paying for remediation, smoke damage, testing, etc. should contact the California Department of Insurance at (800) 927-4357, visit a Disaster Recovery Center to speak with staff in person, or file a complaint at https://www.insurance.ca.gov/consumerhelp so the Department can take a look at your policies and address them with the insurer.
Q: My home is intact. How can I test for toxins to ensure it is safe?
The County Department of Public Health has advised that while indoor testing can be helpful in some circumstances, there are no laboratory tests that can determine if your property is “safe” and all lab results must be evaluated in context with environmental conditions in and around your property. More information can be found here.
If entering before debris removal, wear a properly fitted N95 mask, safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves/pants, sturdy shoes, and ideally a disposable Tyvek suit and shoe covers. Avoid unstable structures, sharp objects, and hazardous debris. Inspect areas cautiously; hazards may not be visible. Carry a flashlight and be alert for slip-and-fall risks or overhead hazards. Move slowly and carefully to not disturb ash. Lightly spray debris with water before handling and use tools, not bare hands.
Try not to get ash and soot in your car. Disposable items can be taken off, put into a plastic bag, and disposed of in the regular trash. Afterward, wash hands, change clothes, and shower immediately. For salvageable personal items, clean them thoroughly with soap and water before bringing them indoors. If you’re unsure whether an item is contaminated, place it in a sealed bag or container until it can be properly cleaned. For more information, visit the County Department of Public Health website.
Helpful resources:
The State, County and City are all installing watershed protection measures to help control and minimize storm runoff impact to public and private property, minimize debris going into the storm drain system and reduce the chance of flooding. However, elevated debris flow risk will exist for at least a few years and those protective measures can only protect against light to moderate debris flows, so the area may be subject to evacuation warnings or evacuation orders in large storms.
Several measures have been implemented to contain debris and minimize the amount of burn debris that enters the ocean. This includes protection of storm drain catch basins, absorbent materials along property lines, concrete containment barriers to limit debris flow, and capturing mudflows and sediment in debris basins.
Mayor Bass and the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles launched the LA Disaster Relief Navigator to help you quickly create a personalized action plan that contains the critical recovery resources available to you. The LA Disaster Relief Navigator asks personalized questions to create individual Disaster Action Plans including government programs, insurance assistance, home damage remediation, temporary and permanent housing solutions, cash grants and valuable local community services. It can be found here.
Please note that tenants are protected from eviction between February 1, 2025, and July 31, 2025, if they lost actual wages due to one of the following:
Learn more about the criteria and actions that must be taken here.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (DBS) has created a page that provides important information and FAQ about permitting and rebuilding: https://dbs.lacity.gov/2025-los-angeles-wildfires-information
For additional and more detailed information, please see the Executive Order 1 Implementation Guidelines at this link
For project-specific questions, please visit the One-Stop Rebuilding Center at 1828 Sawtelle Blvd., or by calling the LADBS Fire rebuild call center at (213) 577-8441.
Q: Is there expedited permitting for Palisades residents?
Mayor Bass is committed to making rebuilding as quick and easy as possible. This includes issuing executive orders to streamline locally controlled processes and advocating for support from local, state, and federal partners.
Q: Do I qualify for expedited permit review?
All reconstruction projects that are on a site with a structure substantially damaged or destroyed by the Palisades fire will receive expedited initial permit review thanks to the Mayor’s Executive Order #1. These reviews will be completed by City departments within 30 days.
Q: What is an Eligible Project? (Like-for-Like, +10%)
Like-for-like +10% Eligible Projects are those where new structures and facilities are in substantially the same location as and do not exceed 110% of their previous footprint and height of the primary structures and facilities that existed immediately before the wildfires.
One of the main purposes and important benefits of like-for-like eligible projects is also to enable homes and businesses to be rebuilt as they were before the fire even if they did not comply with current zoning requirements (i.e. nonconforming setbacks, etc.).
Q: Why is 110% used as the standard for determining a like-for-like rebuild?
110% is the standard set in existing state and local regulations for like-for-like rebuilding and is the most efficient way to expedite fire rebuild projects across City, County, and State jurisdictions.
Q: Does the Coastal Zone / Specific Plan impact my rebuild?
Eligible Projects both within and outside of the Coastal Zone and Specific Plan Area are eligible for streamlining, and are waived from CEQA, Specific Plan and Coastal Act requirements, thanks to local and state actions.
Non-Eligible Projects will need to comply with existing zoning. Processing timelines and procedures can vary depending on whether or not the site is within the State of California Coastal Zone and/or the Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhood Specific Plan area.
Non-Eligible Projects Inside the Coastal Zone and/or Specific Plan Area will have additional steps required by State and City regulations. The City is working to ensure local reviews are still conducted as quickly as possible within applicable State and local requirements. Please see the City Planning Department's website on fire rebuild for questions regarding the Coastal Zone and Specific Plan.
Non-Eligible Projects Outside the Coastal Zone and Specific Plan Area: If the non-Eligible Project complies with zoning, it will be filed directly with Building and Safety and will benefit from the same expedited permit review as all reconstruction projects. Processing timelines would be similar to those of Eligible Projects.
Q: How can I tell whether my property is within the State of California Coastal Zone or the City's Pacific Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhood Specific Plan area
To see whether your parcel is within the Coastal Zone, search for your parcel at http://zimas.lacity.org, and under the “Additional” tab look at the "Coastal Zone" field. There is also a viewable layer of the Coastal Zone in the City Planning Department's interactive map.
Maps showing the parcels within the Specific Plan area can be found here.
The LA One-Stop Rebuilding Center is a single place for Palisadians to go for anything they need from the City when rebuilding their homes or businesses under the expedited and streamlined process created by Mayor Bass’ emergency executive order.
While home and business owners may not need action from multiple City departments, Mayor Bass directed 10 City departments to come together at the Center so questions or needs can be addressed under one roof.
Participating agencies:
The Center is located at 1828 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles, CA 90025 and is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
Palisades residents can now obtain the original building plans for their lost homes at the LA One-Stop Rebuilding Center. At the request of the Mayor’s Office, Governor Gavin Newsom recently issued an Executive Order that suspended the state law that required City of Los Angeles officials to seek the consent of the person who designed a building, or their heirs, before releasing plans to the building owner. Additionally, Mayor Bass said, the City will make plans available electronically.
Homeowners can request their plans via email at records.ladbs@lacity.org and at the One-Stop Rebuilding Center in person. Government issued ID, a copy of the property’s recorded deed and completion of this form are required to obtain plans.
The structural integrity of concrete and masonry can be impacted in fire situations, especially when the structure is completely consumed by fire. The material’s properties may be irreversibly altered, deeming it unsatisfactory for reuse in supporting a rebuilt structure. Therefore, existing footings and slabs in fire-damaged buildings and structures are not typically permitted to be reused. Foundations may also be damaged during debris removal activities, which may require the use of heavy equipment.
If you would like a structural assessment of your foundation, you must work with your own private engineer to evaluate your foundation. If foundations remain in place, approval will be required prior to reusing the foundation as part of the building permit for new structures. The building official may require foundations to be removed at the property owners’ expense prior to issuing a building permit.
Q: How can I find a contractor or architect?
While the City does not endorse or recommend private contractors, the City’s Bureau of Contract Administration provides some guidance here.
The State of California’s Contractor State Licensing Board also provides valuable resources to help navigate the rebuilding process and ensure the contractor you hire is qualified and capable. https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Media_Room/Disaster_Help_Center/#Consumers
On February 26, 2025, a new city ordinance went into effect that prohibits excessive price increases and excessive accumulation of supplies and services for resale at inflated prices during a declared emergency to add protection for housing and lodging. For more information or to report price gouging, visit https://recovery.lacity.gov/fraud-scams-and-price-gouging
While Spectrum, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have reportedly restored cell service in the area, the Mayor’s Office has requested that all carriers help improve service for areas with limited to no cellular signal. Additional updates will be shared as they are available.
Our top priority is your safety. Teams are working diligently to address safety hazards and remove any hazardous material and debris from across the burn area to ensure that sites are safe and accessible. We have been in touch with banks in the area, who shared that it is a top priority to restore customers’ access to safe deposit boxes and they are developing protocols for safely doing so.
Banks will communicate further details with their customers as more information becomes available and we encourage you to remain in contact with your institutions for the latest updates.
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