Pasadena Issues First Rebuild Permits After Eaton Fire as Council Moves to Waive Fees

Pasadena has issued its first rebuilding permits and received 35 applications from homeowners seeking to reconstruct properties destroyed in January’s Eaton Fire.

A total of five rebuild permits have been OK’d by the city since June 9, according to state tracking data.

The blaze leveled 185 structures, mostly in Upper Hastings Ranch, Victory Rose, Dundee Heights and NATHA neighborhoods. In March, the City Council adopted a “like-for-like” rebuild ordinance to ease zoning restrictions. Tuesday’s action would ease the financial burden of permitting costs, with total fee waivers estimated at $4.25 million if all eligible sites participate.

On Monday, the City Council voted to waive millions in permit and service fees.

The proposal, advanced by the city’s Economic Development and Technology Committee, would reduce or eliminate plan check, building permit, refuse, inspection and utility service fees for eligible single-family homes and condominiums lost in the Jan. 7 fire and windstorm.

Under the recommendation, the city would waive plan check and building permit fees, an estimated $3.2 million across all rebuild sites, waive refuse collection administrative fees and reduce construction and demolition waste deposits from $12,000 to $1,000 per site, lowering costs from $1.5 million to about $125,000.

The City Council also voted to waive sidewalk inspection and repair fees, valued at $239,250 and waive fire sprinkler and landscape review fees, saving $303,625.

Electric service fees would also be waived, worth about $504,000.

The waivers only apply to homes that were owner-occupied on Jan. 7, rebuilt by the same owner or family member, and reconstructed under “like-for-like” standards. Eligibility also extends to four condominium units and prefabricated or modular replacements.

According to city staff, 125 properties could qualify, though about one-third of owners may not rebuild. Officials have also launched a support program with dedicated staff, online tracking tools, and partnerships with local architects to speed reviews.