Eaton Fire Rebuild Fees Waived by Council Vote

Pasadena homeowners rebuilding after January’s devastating Eaton Fire will get a break on permit and service fees.

The City Council unanimously voted to waive the fees on Monday night based on a recommendation out of the city’s Economic Development and Technology Committee (EDTECH), which called for reducing or eliminating a wide range of plan check, building permit, refuse, inspection, and utility service fees for eligible single-family and condominium properties destroyed in the blaze.

EDTECH Chair Tyron Hampton was not at Monday’s meeting, but via correspondence, the District 1 Councilmember called on his colleagues to unanimously accept the recommendation.

The council’s move follows a vote by the LA County Board of Supervisors to waive fees in nearby Altadena, which suffered the brunt of the damage caused by the Eaton fire.

The City Council also approved a contract for year-round brush abatement in the Arroyo on Monday.

The Jan. 7 fire and horrific windstorm leveled 185 Pasadena structures, mostly homes in Upper Hastings Ranch, Victory Rose, Dundee Heights, and NATHA neighborhoods. The City Council in March adopted a “like-for-like” rebuild ordinance to ease zoning restrictions, and Tuesday’s vote would address the financial burden of permitting costs.

The City Council agreed to waive plan check and building permit fees, an estimated $3.2 million across all rebuild sites. The vote also waived refuse collection administrative fees and reduced the construction and demolition waste deposit from $12,000 to $1,000 per site, cutting costs from about $1.5 million to $125,000.

Sidewalk inspection and repair fees, worth about $239,250, will also be waived along with fire sprinkler and landscape review fees, estimated at $303,625.

Electric service fees, saving homeowners another $504,000, will also be waived.

The reductions only apply to homes that were owner-occupied on Jan. 7, rebuilt by the same owner or family member, and reconstructed under the city’s “like-for-like” standards.

Newly added eligibility includes four lost condominium units and prefabricated or modular replacements.

According to the report, 125 properties could qualify, though officials expect about one-third of owners may not rebuild.

The total cost of the waivers is estimated at $4.25 million if all eligible sites participate, with accrued interest and other funds covering most of the loss.

The city issued its first rebuilding permit June 9, and 35 applications have been submitted. Officials have also launched a rebuild support program with dedicated staff, online tracking tools, and partnerships with local architects to speed reviews.