Fire Rebuilds · Pacific Palisades
Fire Rebuilds in Pacific Palisades, CA
A steady, well-organized rebuild for Palisades families, from choosing the right permit path to final inspection, with coastal, utility and wildfire code requirements planned in from the start.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Permits with LADBS
- Written, line-item estimates
- Design, engineering & construction
Pacific Palisades, CA
Fire Rebuilds for Pacific Palisades Homeowners
We manage fire rebuilds in Pacific Palisades for families who lost homes in the January 2025 fire and are ready, or nearly ready, to build again. The decision to rebuild arrives alongside insurance claims, temporary housing and a long list of agency steps. Our job is to make the construction side clear: which permit path fits your lot, what the City and state require, what it will take to build, and who is responsible for each step until you hold a certificate of occupancy.
Local Knowledge
The Rebuild Path in Pacific Palisades
Within days of the fire, Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-4-25 suspended CEQA review and Coastal Act permitting for qualifying reconstruction, and Mayor Bass's Emergency Executive Order 1 directed City departments to streamline reviews through a One-Stop Rebuilding Center. A like-for-like rebuild, meaning the same type of structure in the same location at up to 110 percent of the original footprint and height, is the simplest lane.
Because much of the burn area lies in the City's Coastal Zone, eligible projects apply for a Coastal Exemption, and projects growing by more than 10 percent may apply for a Categorical Exclusion if the parcel falls within the eligible map. Parcels in the dual permit area closer to the sea request the exemption from the Coastal Commission's South Coast District office instead of the City.
Progress has been uneven. By early January 2026, more than 2,600 residential permits had been issued across the Palisades and Altadena combined, roughly one for every five homes lost. The City has also approved designs under a standard plan pilot program, which can shorten review for owners willing to build a pre-reviewed plan.
What's Included
What a Palisades Fire Rebuild With Us Covers
- A permit path review comparing like-for-like, Categorical Exclusion and Emergency Executive Order 8 options for your lot
- Recovery of prior permit records and as-built information to document the original home's footprint, height and floor area
- Coordination with your architect or a standard plan, plus structural, soils and energy consultants
- LADBS submittals, correction responses and coastal exemption paperwork, including Coastal Commission filings in dual permit areas
- Wildfire construction throughout: Class A roof, ember-resistant vents, noncombustible or ignition-resistant exterior and tempered glazing
- Scheduling around LADWP undergrounding and temporary power so the site is not idle waiting on utilities
- Construction records organized for insurance releases and lender inspections
For the full scope, process and options, see our main fire rebuilds page, or browse everything we build on our Pacific Palisades service area page.
Planning Considerations
Decisions That Shape a Palisades Rebuild
Staying within 110 percent
The like-for-like limit is measured against the home that burned, so documentation matters. We gather permit history, survey data and photographs to establish the original footprint and height. Staying inside that envelope keeps the fee suspension and the simplest coastal exemption, and it still allows real improvements: a better floor plan, updated systems and current fire-resistant construction. For many families it is the most direct route home.
Building larger or different
If you want more space than 110 percent allows, Emergency Executive Order 8 gives zoning-compliant single-family homes in the Coastal Zone a streamlined review in place of the full local coastal process. The home must still fit City zoning, including the floor area caps in the baseline ordinances. We price and schedule both versions of the house so you can compare scope and timing before committing.
Utilities and site readiness
Rebuilding here involves more than the house. LADWP is moving the Palisades electrical system underground, and some residents have said trench requirements delayed power to their rebuilt homes. We ask about the timing on your street early, plan the service trench and panel location, and arrange temporary power so framing and inspections keep moving in the meantime.
Why Choose Us
Why Pacific Palisades Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Contracts Written the Way California Law Requires
California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and after that a contractor may only bill for work completed or materials delivered. Our contracts follow that structure: a line-item scope, a payment schedule tied to finished milestones, and written change orders before any extra work begins. You always know what you are paying for and why.
Straight Answers on Feasibility
Some lots cannot fit the project an owner has in mind. We check zoning, setbacks, height limits, easements, slope and utility capacity early, and we tell you plainly what is achievable before you spend money on full drawings. When state law opens a path that the local code seems to block, as ADU and SB 9 rules often do, we explain how it applies to your property.
Written, Line-Item Estimates
Before you commit, you receive a written estimate that breaks the project into its real parts: design and engineering, permit and utility fees, foundation, framing, systems, finishes and site work. Allowances are named and priced, so you can see where your selections move the budget. If the scope changes, the numbers change on paper first, never as a surprise on the final invoice.
More in Pacific Palisades
Other Services in Pacific Palisades
Nearby
Fire Rebuilds Near Pacific Palisades
FAQ
Fire Rebuilds in Pacific Palisades: Common Questions
What counts as a like-for-like rebuild in Pacific Palisades?
It is a rebuild of the same type of structure in the same location, up to 110 percent of the original footprint and height. Projects in that range receive streamlined City review, can apply for a coastal exemption, and fall under the City's suspension of permit and plan check fees. Changes to the interior layout and finishes are generally fine within those limits.
Does the new home have to meet today's building codes?
Yes. Even a like-for-like rebuild is built to current codes, including the California Building Code's Chapter 7A wildfire standards and the energy code in effect when you apply. The 2025 Energy Code applies to permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, and new single-family homes generally need solar PV.
Where do we start once our lot is cleared?
Start by gathering what you have: insurance documents, any old plans or permits, a survey if one exists and photos of the house. We use those to confirm the original size, check coastal and hillside status and recommend a permit path. From there we help assemble the design team, or review the one you have, and prepare a construction budget.
Start Your Project
Planning a Fire Rebuild in Pacific Palisades?
Tell us about your property and goals. We will walk the site, flag anything LADBS will care about, and give you a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]