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LA FIRE RESOURCE GUIDE: Permits

On behalf of the entire Whitestone Team, we sincerely hope that you and all you know are well and safe during this unprecedented event and recovery effort across Los Angeles County.

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WHITESTONE
NEWSLETTERS

VOLUME 1 - 01/15
VOLUME 2 - 01/29
VOLUME 3 - 02/21

Executive Order Summaries

Governor’s Executive Order Summaries

LA Mayor’s Executive Order Summaries

LA County Order Summaries

City Of Malibu Order Summaries

Governor’s Executive Orders

  • Remove CEQA and Coastal Provisions for qualifying “rebuilds” which are projects that intend to build back 110% of what existed before. Not granted to builds greater than 110%.
  • Allows for ADUs to be built on rebuild properties and have C-of-O’s issued before the primary home.
  • Removes Coastal Appeals for rebuilds.
  • Removes requirements for obtaining archival blueprints from City Records databases.
  • Grants permit extensions for 3 years for rebuild projects.
  • Instructs Jurisdictions to process responses to applications in less than 30 days. Does not suggest approval in 30 days.
Executive Order

Helpful Links

LA Mayor's Executive Orders

  • Remove CEQA and Coastal Provisions for qualifying “rebuilds” which are projects that intend to build back 110% of what existed before. Not granted to builds greater than 110%.
  • Allows for non conforming buildings to be replaced in their non conforming locations, size, height, density.
  • Drops all discretionary reviews down to administrative review.
  • Removes all electric ordinance for rebuilds.
  • Removes demolition permits, GPIs and DPIs
  • Allows for Soils Reports up to 10 years old to be accepted for rebuilds.
  • Instructs Temp C-of-Os to be issued for multifamily city wide.
  • Instructs agencies to process responses to applications in less than 30 days, with sub agency clearances to issue review in less than 5 days. Does not suggest approval in 30 days.
  • Mentions the possibility of Self Certification in near future.
Mayor's Orders

Helpful Links

LA County's Disaster Recovery Info

  • LA County will reference their 2023 Disaster Recovery Ordinance for rebuilds.
  • LA County allows 110% rebuilds.
  • You can submit, but not have permits issued until Phase II Debris County is cleared.
  • Allows for Non Conforming Structures to be replaced.
  • Allows for Oak Tree Permit restrictions lifted for rebuild projects. 
  • Allows for temporary housing <1,500sf and temporary storage structures <450sf.
  • Does not allow for 10% increases in height to supersede the allowable per zone.
LA County Info

City of Malibu Rebuild Page

  • Malibu already has a rebuild code but is adopting a new ratified code in line with the Governors orders intended to be approved by April of 2025.
  • Do not submit a rebuild project until the code has been adopted by the City Council, so that you submit with new exceptions.
  • State code exemptions intend to be adopted, more information coming soon.
Malibu Rebuilds

What to Know About Rebuilding

While there are many resources available, we are focusing on our niche expertise; submitting to the local jurisdiction for new construction permits.

There are 3 paths available that we have identified so far:

Path 1 - Rebuild your home.Exemptions proposed allow for a Rebuild of 110% of what existed.

You can change your floorplan, you can update windows, but you must build within 110% of the size of the home both in floor area and height. Currently the governor’s order allows this option to add an ADU and still be exempted. You can build and get a certificate of occupancy for this ADU and live in it while your house is being built.

REBUILD 110% OF WHAT EXISTED BRAND NEW ADU OPTIONAL

Path 2 - Custom Home.You’ve decided to build greater than110% of what existed.</spa

If you exceed 100% you will be subject to the typical rebuild process. If you want to change the footprint, or add a duplex, or add something that did not exist before, you will be subject to the traditional building application process. Note that if legal building records did not exist for a structure on your parcel—you will be subject to this process.

NEW BUILD – MORE THAN 110% FULL REQUIREMENTS – NO EXEMPTIONS

Path 3 - Rebuild + New StructuresYou’d like to rebuild within 100% but want new structures that didn’t legally exist before.

We have utilized our expertise to design a path and workflow that will allow you to take advantage of the Option 1 exemptions, and
then… file a second application later on, for new work. We have timeline strategies to overlap some requirements reducing the overall
timeline of the approval, i.e. we can process a Coastal Development Permit simultaneously with Option 1 – so that by time we permit
option 1 – you will be halfway through your CDP.

COMBO REBUILD 110% EXEMPT
NEW > 110% UNEXEMPT SCOPE

Where WHITESTONE can assist you right now

You need to have a comprehensive record of all legal documents that existed on the property. [text] This documents package can help you with insurance adjusters and will be critical to submitting drawings to the local jurisdiction. We have processed.

We have a fixed fee package that is discounted 50% for fire rebuild efforts which will gather and produce the following: 

  1. All Building Records
  2. All Planning Records
  3. All Assessor Records
  4. All Certificate of Occupancy
  5. All Archival Blueprint
  6. Title Report list of easements, and a map of easements on the property
  7. Grant Deed
  8. We catalogue, hyperlink all files, and build an excel sheet that is available to you to:a) Build
    B) Assess
    C) Or Sell
  9. In this excel sheet we also give a plan for your architect which illustrates:A) Exactly what existed legally and how much height and square footage you can build.
    B) What you can build maximum by right (if you want to do a new custom project)
Request Package
Request Records
Ask Fire Rebuild Questions

Resources for Rebuild Efforts

In Person Resource Centers

UCLA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER LOCATION:

UCLA Research Park West

10850 West Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90064

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday – Saturday
9:00am to 7:00pm

ALTADENA DISASTER RECOVERY CENTER:

540 W. Woodbury Road

Altadena, CA 91001

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday – Saturday
9:00am to 7:00pm

WEST LA ONE STOP PERMIT CENTER:

1828 W Sawtelle Blvd

West LA, 90025

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday – Friday
10:00am to 8:00pm 

Saturday & Sunday
10:00am – 4:00pm

ALTADENA ONE STOP PERMIT CENTER:

464 W. Woodbury Road, Suite #210

Altadena, CA 91001

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Monday – Friday
9:30am to 6:00pm

Saturday
8:00am to 1:00pm

LA County departments available on-site:

  • Assessor’s Office
  • Department of Aging and Disabilities
  • Department of Animal Care and Control
  • Department of Child Support Services
  • Department of Children and Family Services
  • Department of Consumer and Business Affairs
  • Department of Economic Opportunity
  • Fire Department
  • Department of Mental Health
  • Department of Military & Veterans Affairs
  • Department of Public Health
  • Environmental Services
  • Emergency Response Team
  • Department of Public Social Services
  • CalWorks
  • CalFresh
  • General Relief
  • Medical
  • Department of Public Works
  • Building & Safety
  • Environmental Programs/Municipal Services
  • Flood Control
  • Department of Regional Planning
  • Department of Registrar Recorder/County Clerk
  • Recorder Bureau Document Resources Division
  • Reorder Bureau-Public Resources Division
  • Department of Treasure Tax Collector
  • LA County Homeless Initiative & Affordable Housing
  • Medical Examiner

State agencies available on-site:

  • Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Employment Development Department (EDD)
  • California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
  • Franchise Tax Board (FTB)
  • California Department of Insurance (CDI)
  •  Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
  • CA Department of Tax & Fee Administration (CDTFA)
  • CA Dept of Public Health (CDPH) – Vital Records
  • California Department of Veterans Affairs (Cal Vet)
  • CA Dept of Housing & Community Development (HCD)

ONE STOP PERMIT AGENCIES

  • Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)
  • Department of City Planning (DCP)
  • Urban Forestry Street Services (UFD)
  • Department of Transportation (DOT)
  • Dept of Sanitation, Low Impact Development (LID)
  • CA Dept of Housing & Community Development (HCD)

Finding your property on GIS to assess damage

Include an image of the damage in submittals to expedite processing.

Link to Palisades Map
Link to Eaton Map (Altadena)

Debris Clearance

CLEANUP TRACKER

Include an image of the damage in submittals to expedite

Debris Removal Information

Utilities

You need to contact DWP to stop billing. Go to a recovery resource center or call 800-DWP. They will stop billing at last meter read (end of December) if you move quickly. They will continue to bill:

  • Power – $20 / month
  • Trash – $1.19 / day
  • Water – is based on Use

Property Taxes

You can file a disaster claim and offset property taxes and business taxes

Grants & Low Interest Loans

  • Business owners and Homeowners can apply for an SBA EIDL Disaster Loan – typically on a 30 year term at 4-8%.

  • FEMA offers small checks to those affected <$1,000.

  • La County offers business, and displacement relief grants, loans etc…
FEMA
SBA - EIDL

Other Resources

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