LA. Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference at the one home under construction in the bluffs area of Pacific Palisades. The home owners and the build were on her right.
At the May 19 L.A. Mayoral press conference held at 15256 DePauw Street in Pacific Palisades, Mayor Karen Bass said, “Rebuilding is underway – crews are working everyday to remove debris in the Palisades and expedite the timeline to get families home. Thanks to their work, the City is issuing new permits every week, rebuilding is underway across the Palisades, and our recovery effort is on track to be the fastest in modern California history.”
When reporters were allowed to ask questions, this editor asked, with all the empty lots that surround this home, why is this the only one that is being rebuilt?
Bass did not have an answer but introduced this editor to LADBS General Manager Osama Younan.
There were nearly 7,000 homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire and according to Realtor.com, as of May 16, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety had only issued 30 permits.
CTN sent questions and letters received from readers to Younan at the Department of Building and Safety.
Devin Myrick Public Information Officer for LADBS reminded CTN that Bass, through Executive Order No. 1 had established a One-stop Rebuilding Center which was supposed to provide residents access to information and to file city permits. “Nearly 2,000 people have been served here so far,” said
If 2,000 people had been served, why only 30 permits? CTN had been told by architects/builders that guidelines keep changing and wonder if the city can get on the same page for rebuilding and have it written down.
Myrick said the guidelines for the executive order are on the website and that changes have been made to the implementation guidelines to make them more lenient for rebuilding. https://dbs.lacity.gov/2025-los-angeles-wildfires-information.
An architect suggested to CTN that “property owners should also be allowed to rebuild their home as a two-story residence if it is no larger than 110% of the previous size and meets all current legal height and setback limitations. This would alleviate so much of the subjectivity when reviewing the applications. As written in the current design guidelines, there is too much detail that is not necessary.”
Myrick replied “Property owners are absolutely able to rebuild their home as a two-story residence, and they may exceed 110% of the previous size provided the project complies with all current legal height and setback limitations. In such cases, projects are permitted to meet or exceed the 110% threshold. A key factor for Executive Order eligibility is footprint, not square footage.
He clarified that the Mayor’s executive order aligns with the allowances granted in the Governor’s Executive Order N-4-25.
“Projects that exceed 110% of the prior structure’s footprint or height are not considered Eligible Projects under the executive order or the Governor’s Order,” Myrick said, and added “LADBS continues to expedite all plan reviews, and any project that complies with applicable LAMC requirements can still be permitted through the standard review process.”
Initially, people who had detached garages and wanted to bring them to the front of the property were told that the garage square footage had to be counted as residential square footage.
An architect wrote to CTN, “The design guideline language for the fire rebuilds should be revised to say that as long as a property owner is rebuilding their home and garage to be no larger than 110% of their previous respective sizes, they would be able to place them anywhere within the legal setbacks of the property and still be considered an ‘Eligible Project.’ I am willing to accept this technicality even in a single car garage scenario, where the property owner would only be allowed to rebuild 110% of that previous size.”
Myrick pointed out “There have been amendments to these eligibility requirements to make rebuilding easier.”
The new amendment reads, “Attached and Detached Garages. Relocating an existing detached garage and incorporating it to be part of the main dwelling as an attached garage is allowed and considered as an Eligible Project. The attached garage will not count towards the 110% footprint expansion provided the garage area is limited to a maximum of 400 square feet and is one story in height.”
Another person emailed CTN “I’m one of the people who haven’t been able to get plan permits. We entered plan check a month ago and still don’t have permits–we have hired an expeditor.”
LADBS responded, “If an address can be provided, LADBS management will look into it and provide details on where the project is in the process.” CTN provided the address.
In the past, the turn-around timing for plan check submissions, first comments and follow-up comments for construction has lasted months and even longer.
Myrick said, “LADBS has been completing the initial plan review in 6 days or less for all Palisades plan submissions. While follow-up comments are not formally tracked, the Department maintains an internal goal of a 5-day turnaround for normal projects. Palisades projects are consistently being turned around within that timeframe or faster.”
CTN also had several questions that Building and Safety sent to Planning.
Will the Coastal Categorical Exclusion approval process remain as it is or will that be expedited? Currently, it’s a matter of weeks. City Planning responded that processing timelines have not changed regarding Categorical Exclusion cases.
Will there be a limitation on SB-9 projects in the Palisades not only to protect density as the area rebuilds, but also an acknowledgement that evacuation with added density will be nearly impossible.
LADBS acknowledged that it does not have the authority to limit the number of parcels that are SB-9 eligible. Planning responded that SB 9 is a state program that has not been suspended and is therefore still applicable in the Palisades. Please note that any subdivision in the Coastal Zone requires a Coastal Development Permit.
