L.A. County: Recovery Is the Hard Part
next when they try to rebuild. That is where you can offer the most assistance from the County. The task of rebuilding is daunting, and most of these folks have little or no experience dealing with the bureaucracy for permits and approvals. For most, their insurance probably doesn’t cover the cost of fees and permits, which could easily total $100,000. Nor does it cover the increased cost of compli - ance with new Title 24 building codes since their homes were originally built. Today’s requirements will simply not allow someone to replace what they had. Frankly, the Planning Department, Building and Safety and Public Works are not prepared to expedite the thousands of applications that will be submitted over the next two years either.
Below are excerpts from a letter to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors from Mike Lewis, Senior Vice President of the Construction Industry Air Quality Coalition and a former Chief Deputy to a past L.A.County Supervisor. I understand the immediate crises from the fires is time-con - suming and frustrating when all you are able to offer is words for those who have lost their homes. Comfort is not always the “action’ public officials are looking to perform. The real disaster for these homeowners is what will happen
Suggested Action I think you need to establish a special office to handle rebuilding applications. It should have dedicated staffing with designated county staff from the relevant departments, engi -
Helping Homeowners The removal of debris will become a major issue. Much of it will be designated as toxic. It will become a public health issue if it is not removed immediately. Demolition fees and
neering, fire, parks, planning, inspectors etc., along with spe - cialty private permit contractors to help manage the workload. Applicants should not have to wait months for approvals or for inspections once construction commences. There should be a 30-day deadline set for plan-checking turnaround. The County should waive all the fees—demolition, plan check, application, hook-up, school, park, etc. You may have to muscle the other public agencies including utilities (gas, water, electricity, cable) into agreeing to waive their fees as well.
permits should be waived. … FEMA money should pay for all of this and the County should contract the work out, get home- owner permission, and expedite it quickly. The special office should include specialists in all the funding opportunities such as grants and FEMA reimbursements etc. For example, AQMD should be offering these property owners grants to upgrade their appliances to zero emission as they
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