Design and Construction Report staff writer
Just over six months after January’s wildfires, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced two new executive actions Wednesday aimed at accelerating the rebuilding process in Pacific Palisades.
Emergency Executive Order 8 expands the scope of single-family home projects eligible for a streamlined permitting process, aligning with Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent order. The order allows homeowners seeking to rebuild beyond 110% of their previous home’s size, including expansions or redesigns, to benefit from the state’s emergency suspension of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and California Coastal Act requirements.
Executive Directive 13 launches a pilot program creating a virtual library of pre-approved, code-compliant single-family home designs to fast-track rebuild projects. The city will invite architects and building professionals to submit their plans for pre-approval and inclusion in the growing public database.
“While our recovery is on track to be the fastest in modern California history, I know that nothing will erase the unimaginable pain and loss that the Palisades community has endured,” Bass said. “With debris removal months ahead of expectations, construction underway, and new action taken today to further streamline the rebuilding process, we continue to push forward in our all out effort to get families home.”
Emergency Executive Order 8 also waives local Coastal Act review processes for eligible projects, as long as basic environmental protections remain in place. This will simplify the review of rebuilding in the Coastal Zone, particularly for single-family homes that do not meet “like-for-like” criteria but comply with zoning laws.
The city’s rebuilding efforts are progressing faster than anticipated. More than 85% of residential properties destroyed by the Palisades Fire have been cleared of debris and have received final sign-offs — a critical step before reconstruction. Nearly 300 rebuilding plans have been approved, and the first permit was issued just 57 days after the wildfires, more than twice as fast as similar efforts following the 2018 Camp and Woolsey Fires.
The new executive actions are designed to maintain this momentum and help Pacific Palisades families return to their homes as quickly as possible.
