La Mayor Issues Order To Expedite Home Construction Amid Wildfires

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive order late on Monday that aims to speed up the rebuilding process in areas destroyed by the wildfires that have burned thousands of homes in Southern California.

The order directs city agencies to expedite the building permitting process in affected areas by having discretionary review procedures waived, with a goal of getting permit approvals within 30 days.

To execute this, Bass calls for the creation of a task force to handle the approval process on permits in burn areas, with representation from relevant agencies. The order also includes provisions on debris removal and it allows affected residents to use mobile homes and recreational vehicles on site during reconstruction.

“This unprecedented natural disaster warrants an unprecedented response that will expedite the rebuilding of homes, businesses and communities,” Bass said in a statement. “This order clears away red tape and bureaucracy to organize around urgency, common sense and compassion. We will do everything we can to get Angelenos back home.”

Bass’s announcement comes a day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order with many of the same goals in mind. His goal is also to have permits approved within 30 days, and the order directs agencies to waive regulations related to state environmental laws.

That will help residents of the coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, which along with Altadena has been the most affected by the fires.

The two orders come with restrictions. Eligible rebuilds cannot exceed 110% of the destroyed home’s previous size. They both emphasize the need to rebuild in a way that increases resilience to future wildfires, with Newsom’s order stating that rebuilding “should include measures to increase community resilience, harden homes, and ensure defensible space to build resilience to future wildfires, to the greatest extent practicable.”

However, there are no specific mandates in Newsom’s order related to resilience in rebuilding homes that have burned down.

The mayor and governor’s executive orders are certainly the first of many actions taken by state and local governments, particularly given the fires continue to rage.

As of Tuesday evening, the Palisades Fire that ravaged Pacific Palisades has burned almost 24,000 acres and is only 17% contained, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Eaton Fire that tore through Altadena has burned just over 14,000 acres and is 35% contained.

Both fires continue to threaten residential areas, and dangerous Santa Ana winds remain in weather forecasts.

While the two executive orders were met mostly with approval, significant uncertainty remains around the situation. If things play out the way they did in other areas hit with natural disasters, there may be a whiplash effect in the housing market where activity pauses, followed by a rush of pent-up demand.

There’s also the question of whether residents who lost their homes will want to come back. As many insurance companies have pulled back on issuing policies in the area, some residents may not be able to get home insurance. Rep. Maxine Waters (D) has called for an investigation into the effects of wildfires on the insurance market. 

Other residents may be decide to take advantage of mortgage forbearance while they look for temporary housing.

Find all our coverage of the LA fires here.