Fire Rebuilds · Altadena
Fire Rebuilds in Altadena, CA
Careful, organized rebuilding for Altadena families after the Eaton Fire, from choosing the County permit path to the last inspection, with plain answers along the way.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with LA County Public Works
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Altadena, CA
Fire Rebuilds for Altadena Homeowners
Our fire rebuilds in Altadena serve families whose homes were lost in the January 2025 Eaton Fire and who are ready to plan what comes next. Every household is at a different point: some are still working through insurance, some already have plans, and some are deciding whether to rebuild at all. We meet you where you are, explain the County's rebuild options plainly, and when you are ready, manage permits and construction through to the day you move back in.
Local Knowledge
How Rebuilding Works in Altadena
Altadena rebuilds are permitted by Los Angeles County, not a city. The County defines a like-for-like rebuild as a structure of generally the same size, in the same location and for the same purpose as the one destroyed. In the Eaton Fire area it may grow by 10 percent or 200 square feet, whichever is greater, a rule adopted because a majority of the destroyed homes were smaller than 2,000 square feet.
Like-for-like projects skip current zoning review but must still meet current building, fire, and health and safety codes. Once a complete application is accepted, the County reviews it within 10 business days the first time and 5 business days for each later round. Applications route to Planning, Building and Safety, Fire and Public Health, and site clearance must be complete before a permit is issued.
The County has also started a self-certification pilot for certain simple projects. CalMatters counted more than 2,600 residential permits issued in the two burn areas by early January 2026, against nearly 13,000 homes lost, which shows both real progress and how much rebuilding remains.
What's Included
What an Altadena Fire Rebuild With Us Includes
- A review of your lot, prior permits and insurance scope to confirm whether the like-for-like path fits
- Floor plan options that use the Eaton Fire allowance of 10 percent or 200 square feet, whichever is greater
- Complete County submittals routed to Planning, Building and Safety, Fire and Public Health, with correction responses
- Wildfire-code detailing for roofing, attic and foundation vents, exterior walls, windows, gutters and any attached deck
- Energy code compliance and solar PV for the new home, coordinated with your energy consultant
- Progress documentation organized for insurance releases and lender or assistance program inspections
For the full scope, process and options, see our main fire rebuilds page, or browse everything we build on our Altadena service area page.
Planning Considerations
What to Weigh Before an Altadena Rebuild
Like-for-like versus a full redesign
Staying within the like-for-like allowance keeps the County's expedited review and avoids current zoning requirements such as today's setbacks, which may be stricter than what your original house had. A full redesign opens more options but brings the whole project under current zoning. For a house that sat close to a property line, that difference can decide the footprint, so we check it before design begins.
Building to the wildfire code
Even a like-for-like home is built to today's fire code. On an Altadena rebuild that usually shows up as rated roofing, ember-screened attic and crawlspace vents, ignition-resistant siding, tempered dual-pane windows and code-listed deck boards. These details change material choices and cost, so we price them from the start rather than discovering them at plan check.
Keeping the project moving
A rebuild depends on outside steps: a survey, sometimes a soils report, utility service and insurance releases. We keep a single schedule that tracks those items alongside construction, follow up with each party, and tell you plainly what is holding up the next step and what it will take to clear it. You should never have to guess where your project stands.
Why Choose Us
Why Altadena Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Licensed, Bonded and Easy to Verify
Simply Construction inc. is a licensed California general contractor, CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]. State law requires a license for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and anyone can check a contractor's license, bond and workers' compensation status on the CSLB website in about a minute. We encourage every Altadena homeowner to do exactly that before signing with anyone, including us.
One Team From Plans to Final Inspection
Design, engineering, permitting and construction sit under one contract and one project lead, so nobody points fingers between the designer, the engineer and the builder when a detail changes. You get one schedule, one point of contact and regular progress updates from the first site visit through the final inspection and sign-off on your Altadena project.
Care for Your Street and Your Neighbors
Large projects happen next door to people who live there. We plan staging, dumpster placement, deliveries and working hours around Altadena rules, keep the site secured at the end of each day, and give you notice before loud or disruptive phases such as demolition, concrete pours or crane lifts, so you can give your neighbors a heads-up too.
More in Altadena
Other Services in Altadena
FAQ
Fire Rebuilds in Altadena: Common Questions
What is the 200 square foot rule for Altadena rebuilds?
For the Eaton Fire area, LA County lets a like-for-like rebuild increase floor area, size, height or footprint by 10 percent or 200 square feet, whichever is greater. On a smaller home, 200 square feet is the larger number, which can make room for a bathroom, a laundry area or code-required upgrades without leaving the expedited path.
Does our rebuild have to meet current zoning?
Not if it qualifies as like-for-like. Those rebuilds do not need to comply with current Zoning Code requirements, though they must meet current Building, Fire, and Health and Safety codes. A rebuild that exceeds the allowance, or changes location or use, is reviewed against current County zoning like any new project.
What has to happen before the County issues a rebuild permit?
Site clearance has to be complete first. After that, a complete application is routed to Planning, Building and Safety, Fire and Public Health. The overall timeline also depends on how quickly corrections are answered and whether consultant reports, such as a survey or soils study, are ready when the County asks for them.
Start Your Project
Planning a Fire Rebuild in Altadena?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything LA County Public Works will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]