How to Opt-In:

• Step 1: Complete and submit the Right of Entry (ROE) form and authorize the government to manage debris removal on your property.

ROE Form Availability:

• Closure Date: April 15, 2025
• Where to Get It:
  • Complete the opt-in form online: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/ca0e6e24c8db4598b5c49642b2ff4615
  • Download and complete a form: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1176418_Opt-InForm.pdf
  • In Person: Right of Entry forms are available at Disaster Recovery Centers.

What Opting In Entails: By opting in, you authorize the government to perform the following activities on your property:

1. Property Assessment: Identify site hazards, hazardous trees, environmental resources, and asbestos-containing materials.
2. Asbestos Removal: Safely remove asbestos-containing materials if required.
3. Tree Removal: Remove fire or wind-damaged trees assessed as hazardous and other trees that impact public areas or debris removal access.
4. Ash and Soil Removal: Remove surface ash, including up to 6 inches of incidental soil.
5. Burned Debris Removal: Remove burned home remains, furniture, personal belongings, appliances, and patio furniture.
6. Structural Demolition: Demolish clearly destroyed structures.
7. Vehicle Removal: Remove damaged and destroyed vehicles, vessels, and other titled property.
8. Erosion Control: Install erosion control measures such as straw wattles, compost socks, and hydromulch.
9. Environmental Monitoring: Conduct tribal, archaeological, and biological monitoring for environmental and historical preservation.
10. Potential Foundation Removal:
    • Your Choice: When you opt into the debris removal program, you will need to decide whether you want the government to remove your property’s foundation or leave it in place.

Step 1:

Fill out an opt-out form:

• Complete the opt-out form online: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0195ab713483794292e94ff443e897b8
• Download and complete an opt-out form: https://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1176419_Opt-OutForm.pdf

Step 2:

Apply for a Fire Debris Removal Permit from the County in EPIC-LA (https://epicla.lacounty.gov/energov_prod/SelfService/#/home) to handle debris removal on your own after you receive EPA certification of phase 1 completion for your property or if your property was deferred to phase 2 by the EPA for household hazardous waste removal (HHW).

For the Fire Debris Removal Permit Application, you will need the following:

Proof of Phase 1 Completion by EPA. Acceptable forms of verification include EPA Completion Certificate or screenshot of EPA’s Parcel Lookup Map.

• Example of EPA Completion Certificate
• Example of EPA’s Parcel Lookup Map

If Deferred to Phase 2 for HHW removal: Proof of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completion of Phase I (https://jecop-public.usace.army.mil/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id=efbee5617ffa4d17b572d5f312004806).

Both the owner and contractor must have an account registered in EPIC-LA.

Note: To ensure proper handling and disposal procedures are followed, the Prime Contractor on the permit must have a Class-A or Class-B license with Hazardous Substance Removal Certification (HAZ) or the specific combination of C-21, C-12 with a HAZ certificate.  The required HAZ Certification is different from a HAZWOPER training/certification. Please visit the Contractors State License Board Disaster Help Center at (https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Media_Room/Disaster_Help_Center/) to find an appropriately licensed contractor.

Completion of Opt-Out Application signed by owner. Acceptable forms of verification include a PDF copy of the application or confirmation receipt email from opt-out@dpw.lacounty.gov. Please note, you don’t need to have a “Los Angeles County Acknowledgement” signed copy of your Opt-Out form to proceed with applying for the Fire Debris Removal Permit.

• Example of Opt-Out Application Page 1 and Page 2
• Example of confirmation receipt email

Certified Asbestos Consultant Report (CAC) confirming no asbestos present.

Note: If asbestos is present, it must be abated by a registered asbestos abatement contractor. Once abatement has been completed, an Asbestos Abatement Clearance letter prepared by the registered asbestos abatement contractor is to be provided certifying the work performed and that all asbestos identified in the CAC report has been removed from the property. For further information about asbestos abatement, please visit AQMD’s Asbestos Demolition & Removal: Addressing Wildfire Debris (https://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/compliance/asbestos-demolition-removal).

Step 3: 

Upon completion of the Fire Debris Removal Permit in EPIC-LA, your permit will be issued by the County.

• Provide notification 48 hours prior to the start of debris removal activities by using the online notification system: https://forms.office.com/g/NyFNDyQAXX
• Please provide property owner name, email, phone number, address of work, permit number, contractor name, and contractor phone number.
• The County will review all required documents uploaded with your application to ensure compliance with all safety and environmental standards.
• If any documents are missing or if clarification of information is necessary, the Owner and Contractor will receive an automated email requesting to contact the County. Failure to do so may result in significant delays of debris removal activities and/or issuance of Final Fire Debris Removal Permit Closure.

Step 4:

Upload the following Post Debris Removal Documentation to EPIC-LA:

For the Post Debris Removal Documentation, you will need the following:

• Weight tickets or Disposal Documents from a certified landfill or recycling facility
• Hazardous Waste Manifest(s) (if applicable)
• Site photos of the completed site
• Photos must be taken of the frontage (from the street towards the property).
• Photos of the building footprint, foundations (as applicable), property lines, any remaining structures, and sewer cap.

All areas of the property will be verified to be clear of debris. If needed, additional photos are to be provided upon County’s request.

Note: If foundations remain in place, an approval from the Los Angeles County Building and Safety or the City Building Official will be required prior to reusing the foundation as part of the building permit process for new structures. If appropriate strengths cannot be determined by testing and analysis by the property owner’s engineer, the Building Official may require foundations to be removed at the property owners’ expense prior to issuing a building permit.

For properties in the County of Los Angeles Building and Safety jurisdiction, please refer to the following:  https://dpw.lacounty.gov/bsd/lib/fp/Building/Structural%20and%20Technical/Reuse%20of%20Existing%20Foundation%20Systems%20in%20a%20Fire%20Damaged%20Structure%20(Rev%2002-2025).pdf

For properties in City jurisdictions, please refer to their respective City requirements.

Note, failure to provide adequate post debris removal documentation may result in significant delays in issuance of Final Fire Debris Removal Permit Closure.

Step 5:

For County Jurisdiction Only: Upon completion of all debris removal activities and post debris removal documentation upload, request a final inspection by contacting the County at FireDebrisPermit@dpw.lacounty.gov.

County staff will review all documentation to verify proper disposal of all fire debris and that the property has been cleared according to the requirements of the Fire Debris Removal Permit.

The County will contact the contractor for final inspection as necessary.

Step 6: 

Final Fire Debris Removal Permit Closure will be provided.

Costs: You will be responsible for any costs of the removal that exceed your insurance settlement amount for debris removal.

This guidance may be updated in the future based on field conditions and additional directives or policies.

Properties with destroyed structures should fill out and submit an ROE.

A right of entry form authorizes the government to access eligible properties to clear burned debris, destroyed structures, damaged vehicles, vessels, and chimneys, also referred to as Phase 2.

No, a ROE form is not required for the Phase 1 hazardous debris removal by the US EPA. Phase 1 is already underway as of the week of 1/27/25, and you cannot opt out. The ROE form is only required for Phase 2. For more information about Phase 1 vs. Phase 2, visit recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal.

The ROE forms are available online at recovery.lacounty.gov/debris-removal/. ROE forms are also available at Disaster Recovery Centers.

Yes, the ROE form will be available in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Russian, Armenian, and Farsi.

A checklist is included with the ROE that provides the information needed to complete the form. If you don’t know all the information needed, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will work with you to complete the form and verify your ownership of the property.

Yes, please call the LA County Public Works Debris Removal Hotline (844) 347-3332 for assistance with your ROE form.

The deadline to opt into the government sponsored debris removal program is April 15, 2025.

You should fill out the form as soon as possible, unless you are opting out of free debris removal by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Debris removal by Army Corps cannot proceed until you submit your form, and you may hold up work in your neighborhood by not filing.

No, the debris removal process is not a first come, first served process. But getting your forms in early, and encouraging your neighbors to do so as well, will speed the work in your neighborhood.

If you have a destroyed structure on your property, please fill out and submit the form.

If you opt in, this work will be performed for you by the Army Corps, with no cost to you. Your insurance payment for debris removal will be assigned to the government to help pay for the work; even if the insurance payment does not fully cover the work, the work will be performed at no charge to you. You do not need insurance to participate in the program.

If you opt out of the program, you must receive approval from the County and a permit from the applicable local city authority to proceed with debris removal. Then you will be responsible for hiring the appropriately licensed and certified contractors. You will be responsible for all costs of debris removal and asbestos abatement.

If you opt out of the program, once the US Environmental Protection Agency has completed its Phase 1 work, you will be responsible for hiring the appropriately licensed and certified contractors to remove the debris. This will include retaining a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC) to conduct a survey to identify asbestos in debris. If the CAC finds asbestos, you will need to hire an abatement contractor; and the CAC and abatement contractor will work together to submit an asbestos cleanup plan to South Coast AQMD for review and approval. More information on this process can be found here.

Your contractors will need to be approved by the County and your city, and you will be responsible for all costs of debris removal. The work must be completed in compliance with all local rules and regulations related to debris removal. Private contractors must also adhere to the same haul routes and safety standards being used by the Army Corps to minimize neighborhood disruption. Please check in regularly for additional information and updates on specific regulations at recovery.lacounty.gov or call the LA County Public Works Fire Debris Hotline at 844-347-3332.

Yes, if you submit the ROE form and then decide to opt out, you are able to do so. However, it may cause delays.

Once your opt out application is approved, your permit issued, and any work is begun on your property, you cannot opt back in. You will bear the full cost of debris removal and disposal.

No, if no work has been done on your property by the Army Corps of Engineers, then the County will not ask for insurance proceeds.  If you opted-in you must submit a Withdrawal form to formally opt-out of the program.

No.

If you don’t have insurance, you can opt in to the Army Corps debris removal program (Phase 2) at no out-of-pocket cost to you. If you opt out, you will be responsible for the cost of clearing the debris from your property.

Debris removal by the Army Corps is at no out-of-pocket cost to you regardless of your insurance coverage or whether you have any insurance at all. If you do have insurance that covers this work, the government will ask your insurance company, not you, for reimbursement of costs up to the limits of that specific coverage.

First, the County will review your ROE and ensure it has been filled out correctly. Property records will be used to verify property ownership. Afterwards, the ROE will be transferred to the contracted debris management teams for processing and scheduling.

Properties cannot begin Phase 2 until they have received a Phase 1 clearance from the EPA. As ROEs are collected and ownership is verified, the Army Corps will batch properties together for clearing with the objective of moving as quickly as possible and addressing health and safety issues as a top priority.

No, Phase 1 and Phase 2 will run concurrently. Once each cluster of properties is cleared under Phase 1, the US Army Corps of Engineers can begin Phase 2 cleanup on properties where ROEs have been submitted and ownership has been verified.

Generally, yes, but the recommendation is that each owner of a destroyed unit submit a ROE form as well as the HOA.

If the land under the trailer(s) is owned by an individual or entity beside the trailer owner, then the landowner must request removal.

The Local Fire Debris Removal (opt-out) Program is private property debris removal performed by the property owner (or hired contractor) at the property owner’s expense and must meet or exceed the program standards set by local, state, and federal agencies.  An approved Opt-out Application and Eaton & Palisades Fire Debris Removal Permit are required prior to commencing debris removal. The work must be done to the standards of all applicable ordinances and other regulations so that community and environmental health and safety risks are adequately addressed. Documentation on adequate clean-up and proper disposal will be required.

Property owners who elect to opt-out of the Government-run Debris Removal Program must submit a “Los Angeles County Local Fire Debris Removal Program Application” (available at the following website: (recovery.lacounty.gov). Once the opt-out application is submitted, you will need to apply for a  “Eaton & Palisades Fire Debris Removal” permit through the County’s EPIC-LA system (epicla.lacounty.gov).  A copy of the completed opt-out application and supporting documentation is required for the County to issue approval to proceed with debris removal.

An Eaton & Palisades Fire Debris Removal Permit will be required before clearing a fire damaged structure from a property. You will need to apply for an Eaton & Palisades Fire Debris Removal permit through the County’s EPIC-LA system (epicla.lacounty.gov). A separate demolition permit will not be required. Los Angeles County Public Works is coordinating with each affected jurisdiction to review and issue permits for the Eaton & Palisades Fire Local Fire Debris Removal Program. There will be no permit application fees required for an Eaton & Palisades Fire Debris Removal Permit.

Once you have completed the application process through EPIC-LA, a permit will be issued; however, if there are elements of your application that are missing, you will have to provide the necessary information to proceed with the work.

No, property owners whose residential structure(s) and/or accessory structure(s) sustained partial damage as a result of the 2025 wildfires do not need to complete the Local Fire Debris Removal Program but are still subject to the Management of Los Angeles County Wildfire Debris.  All related demolition work and fire debris removal work must be performed according to the guidelines to protect public health and the environment.

A partially burned or damaged structure means the following:

Any structure with minimal fire damage where other portions of the structure have not been exposed to fire.

• • Where vertical and horizontal structural elements (i.e., stud walls, beams, joists, rafters, trusses, etc.) remain intact, and
  • When a demolition permit is not required to repair the non-structural damage.

Appropriately licensed contractors must remove, transport, and dispose of all fire ash and debris, hazard trees, metals, and concrete from the site properly in a manner that does not create a nuisance at the site or to the public.  Since this material is considered Hazardous under state regulations, only contractors with a HAZ endorsement may be utilized for fire debris removal. All waste must be disposed of at an approved Solid Waste Facility from the list provided by Public Works.

Property owners who opt-out will have to hire a private company to remove the vehicles along with other fire debris. Property owners are advised to contact their local California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office for steps to document vehicle status prior to disposal. A Statement of Facts form (REG 256) can be accessed from the DMV website

(https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/forms/) in order to document that the vehicle was burned/damaged by wildfire. Vehicle owners may submit the completed form to either 1) their local DMV office, 2) fax it to the Technical Compliance Section (TCS) directly at
916-657-6763 or 3) mail their completed form to:

• Department of Motor Vehicles, Technical Compliance Section
  P.O. Box 94869 MS C271
  Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

For additional assistance, please refer to the following list: https://fire.lacounty.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2024/01/Active-ER-Company-List-12.21.23.pdf.

If property owners opt-in to the Government-run Debris Removal Program and have a structure eligible for debris removal, damaged vehicles on the property will be removed as part of the clean-up.

Household hazardous waste (HHW) is waste that poses a threat to public health, animals, or the environment.  HHW includes chemicals that are ignitable, toxic, corrosive, or reactive.   Examples include pool chemicals, car batteries, antifreeze, used oil and filters, solvents, fertilizers, pesticides, propane tanks, disinfectants, aerosols, paint, and bleach.

Properties deferred to Phase 2 by the EPA may not have had any HHW removed during Phase 1.  All HHW should be identified, segregated, and disposed of at an HHW disposal facility by a certified hazardous materials/waste contractor.  Confirmation of the proper disposal of HHW will be required to obtain a debris removal permit through EPIC-LA.

The County does not endorse any companies to provide household hazardous materials/waste removal services.  Owners are encouraged to visit the California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board for general information regarding contractors: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Media_Room/Disaster_Help_Center/.

All asbestos must be abated before debris removal can begin. Asbestos or asbestos-containing materials (ACM) require assessment by a Certified Asbestos Consultant (CAC).  Asbestos and ACM must be removed by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

A copy of the Asbestos Report from a CAC must be provided showing no asbestos onsite to obtain your debris removal permit through EPIC-LA.

Cal/OSHA Asbestos Consultant Database: Division of Occupational Safety and Health

Contractors State License Board: A Consumer’s Guide to Asbestos

Once the burn ash and debris are removed, the upper 6 inches of soil from the ash footprint is to be removed to a level of visibly clean.  Soil testing is not required, however, if adequate proof of cleanup is not provided, then confirmation of soil testing may be required prior to rebuild permits being issued.

For the purpose of Hazard Tree removal on private property, a “Hazard Tree” shall mean wildfire-damaged trees that have been so damaged by the fire that their structural integrity is compromised and pose an immediate threat of falling onto a public right-of-way or public improved property such as a road or government facility.

Removal of a Hazard Tree is the responsibility of the property owner.

Burned vegetation can be removed by property owners. If small enough, burned vegetation can typically be disposed of in your regular trash, call your local waste hauler to confirm requirements and/or schedule a bulky item pick up or excess green waste.  Larger items or volumes too large for regular trash service should be disposed of by taking the material to a certified waste disposal facility.

Existing footings and slabs in fire-damaged buildings and structures are not typically permitted to be reused due to the intense heat and fire that the foundation is exposed to. If foundations remain in place, approval from the Los Angeles County Building and Safety or the City Building Official will be required prior to reusing the foundation as part of the building permit for new structures.  The building official may require foundations to be removed at the property owners’ expense prior to issuing a building permit.

After permit issuance and implementation of the removal work, the property owner must submit a certification showing that all work has been completed as specified.  Upon the County’s review, the property owner and their contractor will receive a confirmation of completion through the EPIC-LA system.  The work must be completed in accordance with the program standards set forth by the County and State by June 30, 2025.

Yes, the Declaration of a Local Health Emergency and Order prohibits the removal of fire ash and debris unless it is part of the Government-run Debris Removal Program or the property owner obtains permission from the County to carry out a private cleanup of the property.  Clean-up of debris without prior authorization may impact your ability to obtain building permits to rebuild.

Yes, properties that do not have destroyed or damaged structures and no hazard trees are exempt from the Local Fire Debris Removal Program requirements.  Property owners who believe they are exempt are encouraged to submit an “Exemption from Local Program Requirements for Minor Burn Debris Removal and Clean-Up” form to the County for review and approval to ensure there is no hold on future building permits.

Property owners may begin clean-up, which includes removal of burned or damaged personal items and burned vegetation and landscape debris once their Exemption from Local Program Requirements form is approved by the County.  In addition, debris from burned fences and structures less than 120 square feet in size where a demolition permit is NOT required by the Local Building Official may be exempt from the Local Program Requirements.

The rebuilding process can start after confirmation of completion through the EPIC-LA system has been sent to the owner and contractor.  For properties within the Los Angeles County Unincorporated Areas, the rebuilding process will first require plan approval from the Department of Regional Planning.  Thereupon, a building and/or grading permit application can be made with the Department of Public Works (Building and Safety Division), and agency referrals will be provided.  Once the building and/or grading plan is approved and all agency referrals are satisfied, the building and/or grading permits can be obtained to start rebuilding.

For properties that are not within the Los Angeles County Unincorporated Areas, please contact your local building official for details.

The County maintains building permit records for properties located in the unincorporated area. You can download permit data from the Building Permit Viewer website at http://pw.lacounty.gov/bsd/bpv.  For more information, please contact your local building official for details.