Just over six months after the January wildfires, the City of Los Angeles has announced two new executive actions aimed at expediting the rebuilding process in Pacific Palisades.
Emergency Executive Order 8 expands the streamlined permitting process to include single-family home projects that exceed 110% of their original size, in line with California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent directive. This includes a broader range of projects that qualify for emergency suspension of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act.
Executive Directive 13 introduces a pilot program for a pre-approved standard plan system for single-family homes. This includes the creation of a virtual library featuring code-compliant, pre-approved home designs to help fast-track rebuilding efforts.
The City will also invite architects and building professionals to submit their designs for consideration and possible inclusion in this virtual library, which will be updated on an ongoing basis.
According to the Mayor’s office, more than 85% of the residential properties in Los Angeles destroyed by the Palisades Fire have already completed debris removal and received final sign-off, a necessary step before reconstruction. Close to 300 project plans have been approved, and the first permit was issued within 57 days of the fire, significantly faster than in previous major wildfire recovery efforts.
Emergency Executive Order 8 also waives certain local Coastal Act review requirements, provided environmental protections are maintained. This measure aims to simplify the rebuilding of single-family homes in coastal areas of Pacific Palisades that do not qualify as like-for-like replacements but still meet zoning requirements.
City officials say the goal of these actions is to continue accelerating recovery and support families in returning to their homes as quickly as possible.
