The City Council Could Expand Eaton Fire Fee Waivers to Damaged Standing Homes

Pasadena could expand its Eaton Fire permit fee waiver program to hundreds of standing homes that suffered smoke, soot, ash or water damage but escaped the structural destruction that made other properties eligible for assistance.

The City Council on Monday will consider waiving city plan check and permit fees for qualifying owner-occupied homes within mandatory evacuation order or warning areas during the Eaton Fire. The expansion would carry an estimated $100,000 cost funded by the city’s Building Fund.

The existing program, approved by the City Council in August 2025, generally covers eligible owner-occupied properties containing red-tagged structures damaged or destroyed by the fire. Standing homes that were not red-tagged have remained ineligible despite potentially suffering significant contamination.

City staff said residents have reported smoke and ash contamination in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, insulation, attics and interior surfaces. Those impacts were not captured by the city’s initial red, yellow and green tag assessments, and some homes were rendered unlivable until remediation or repairs could be completed.

Under the proposed expansion, properties must have been owner-occupied as of Jan. 7, 2025, and located within an official Eaton Fire evacuation order or warning area. Applicants also must provide documentation showing fire-related smoke or ash damage.

Acceptable documentation could include assessments from licensed contractors, industrial hygienists, HVAC specialists or insurance adjusters. In some cases, dated photographs showing conditions before and after the fire could also be accepted.

Eligible work could include replacing insulation and drywall, cleaning or replacing HVAC equipment and ductwork, repairing roofs damaged by ember or ash exposure, repairing siding or stucco, replacing damaged windows and doors, and removing contaminated interior materials.

Elective remodeling and expansions would not qualify. Repairs must be limited to restoring homes to their pre-fire condition.

Staff estimates the expanded program would waive approximately $150 to $2,000 in fees per property, depending on the repairs.

The Council would also direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance within 30 days exempting qualifying repairs from the city’s Construction Tax.

The Economic Development and Technology Committee recommended the expansion in June.