Rebuild Policies, Interpretations and Exemptions

This page serves as a resource for the latest updates and information related to rebuilding policies and procedures per County and state regulations. Use this page as a central hub for finding County department memos and documents – and learn how they affect your home rebuilding process.

Southern California Edison (SCE) is planning to underground power lines in parts of Los Angeles County. Whether you are rebuilding, replacing the electrical panel on your existing home, or adding a service panel, if your home is in an area where undergrounding is planned, there are steps you need to take now to prepare.  Preparing now can save you significant time and expense once SCE begins undergrounding in your area.

This executive order suspends rooftop solar and battery storage installation requirements and the 2025 California Building Standards Code for rebuilding of structures impacted by the January 2025 Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire.

California has a diversity of climates not seen in other states, and the statewide provisions adopted into the California Energy Code account for these variations using a set of sixteen climate zones. Several efficiency standards, such as those for envelope and fenestration (window and door) materials, depend on the specific climate zone that the building is located. It’s important for builders to know which climate zones apply to their projects. For unincorporated Los Angeles County, the Altadena zip codes 91001 and 91003 have been designated as Climate Zone 9 for the purpose of rebuilding. To learn more about Climate Zone and search by location, visit California Energy Commission.

An accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, is a unit with a full kitchen and bathroom that is accessory to a primary residence. Also called a granny flat or second unit, it can be located on a property with a home or apartment building. It can also be detached or attached. ADUs usually cost less than building a new home and homeowners can offer them as rental housing. They also provide living space for family members or caregivers on the same property. A junior ADU, or JADU, is like an ADU but its maximum size is 500 square feet. The JADU also has to be within the main home and have its own exterior access. Learn about the requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs).

Learn about the common errors and omissions on rebuilding applications for different County departments.

Learn about the required clearances for your project during the permitting process. This document is specific to those rebuilding after the Eaton Fire.

This guideline helps determine when it is appropriate to use the existing septic system and when it is required to connect to the public sewer. Sewer pipe cannot cross a neighboring property line when connecting to a public sewer.

Property owners rebuilding after a fire on properties served by cesspools and increasing potential wastewater flow by adding a bedroom or increasing the size of the house are required to upgrade their onsite wastewater systems, as identified by the State Water Resources Control Board. To support homeowners through this process, LA DPH-EH (Public Health) has developed a Covenant and Agreement that is intended for properties that anticipate the installation of a public sewer. This document outlines the conditions for installing a Conventional Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) that includes a septic tank connected to existing cesspools converted into seepage pits, if determined to be structurally sound and in good repair.

This approval is granted without the requirement for a tested 100% future expansion area, provided the system is properly operated and maintained in full compliance with all applicable County and State regulations. Using this Covenant and Agreement ensures public health protection, regulatory compliance, and a clear path for property owners to rebuild, upgrade, and eventually connect to a public sewer while maintaining legal transparency and enforceability. Failure to execute or comply with the covenant may result in project delays, regulatory violations, and costly system upgrades.

Property owners must:

• Complete and notarize the Covenant and Agreement.
• Record it with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.
• Provide a recorded copy to the Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division, before final project approval.

For questions or assistance, please contact Public Health at (626) 430-5380 or dlanduse@ph.lacounty.gov.

Under South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) Rule 445, properties that were damaged or destroyed by a state-declared natural disaster may replace their previously installed wood-burning fireplaces or devices on a one-to-one basis. This exemption ensures that homeowners rebuilding a wildfire can restore their original wood-burning features while still meeting air quality regulations.

• Temporary Housing Units, Temporary Mobilehome Parks, and Temporary Special Occupancy Parks (June 16, 2025)
• Certificate of Compliance Requirement for Temporary Housing and Rebuild Projects (April 22, 2025)
• Housing Options for Eaton Fire survivors
• Eaton Fire Disaster Interim Ordinance