Homeowners begin long process of permitting and rebuilding homes lost to the fires.
By Ben Marcus / Special to The Malibu Times
City and county departments responsible for housing permits, fire inspections, health and sewage inspections, and other facets of the rebuilding process are braced for an onslaught of hurry-up needs from Malibu residents displaced by the Canyon Fire of October and the Corral Fire of November.
In the Corral Canyon fire, there were nine houses within the City of Malibu listed as destroyed and 13 listed as damaged. Within the County of Los Angeles, there were 53 destroyed single-family dwellings and 34 that were damaged. In addition, there were 27 destroyed outbuildings and 11 damaged, along with 14 destroyed vehicles.
Dozens of Malibu residents have been displaced and are facing the same hurdles and hassles: the shock and awe of losing everything, inventorying and fixing values to lost belongings, finding new housing, dealing with insurance agents, architects and contractors. Many of the homeowners who have been burned out of their houses are wondering what to expect from the permitting and planning departments of the city of Malibu and the county of Los Angeles.
Gail Sumpter, permit services director of Malibu, said, “If a homeowner wants to put back exactly what they had before, the process is fairly streamlined. The review is administrative and no Coastal Development Permit is needed. Barring any complications caused by unusual circumstances with the property and assuming adequate information is provided by the owner, the administrative planning review can be accomplished in a few months.”
In some cases, homes can be rebuilt with additional square footage of up to 10 percent. If rebuilt beyond that, a coastal development permit would be needed. Other changes such as location or height might trigger a need for a CDP.
Homeowners will be subject to any new building rules and codes that may be implemented before they start to rebuild, such as the controversial point of sale ordinance that would require inspection of onsite wastewater treatment systems and may require upgrades or new systems, Sumpter said.
For those who want to live in a mobile home while the rebuilding process takes place, the home cannot exceed 24 feet in width and only one per property is allowed, according to the city’s Web site. Approval from the City Planning Division must also be obtained.
While most of the homes damaged or destroyed were not located within city boundaries, the applications headed their way will put a strain on a system that is already not fast enough for most. There is a perception in Malibu that getting a permit for a home is a nightmarish, five-year odyssey.
“Without agreeing with [that] statement (there are many nuances to and misunderstandings about building in Malibu), let me just say that we are prioritizing all fire damage projects,” Sumpter said. “We are doing the same thing for the homes destroyed and/or damaged in the Malibu Road Fire [Jan. 8] and the Canyon Fire.
“Although city staff is definitely taxed by the existing workload, we understand the need to get people back into their homes and we are prepared to focus on that,” Sumpter continued. “City staff has a ‘fire team’ in place and all affected property owners are being provided with prompt and personalized service. The other homes are in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County and permitting will be handled by the county. “
The L.A. County machinery for dealing with the permitting process is handling not just fires in Malibu, but in other areas of the county from the October fires. County officials are expecting to assist approximately 80 homeowners through the building permit process.
“County staff is dedicated to providing expedited plan review and permit processing for those constituents seeking to rebuild,” said Gary Boze of the Department of Public Works. “The building permitting process involves the coordination of several agencies such as the Regional Planning, Fire Department, Public Health, and Building and Safety. To assist victims of the Corral Fire the county has streamlined the building permit process.” Representatives from each of the county agencies will collectively meet with each individual homeowner to explain rebuilding requirements, Boze said. Homeowners are encouraged to set appointments with the county team by calling 818.880.4150. Meetings will take place at County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s “One-Stop Center” at 26600 Agoura Road, Suite 110.
Steps in rebuilding:
€ The fire rebuilding/repair process will be handled by the city’s Environmental & Community Development Department. The first thing the city recommends is obtaining a permit (no charge) for fire debris cleanup on their property. Permits can be obtained at the city 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by making an appointment by calling 310.456.2489 ext. 241.
Los Angeles County contact information:
* For inquiries regarding insurance recovery, contact the California Department of Insurance at 800.927.4357 or online at www.insurance.ca.gov. The Department of Insurance has announced an Insurance Recovery Forum will take place Dec. 13, 7 p.m., at Pepperdine University, George Elkins Auditorium.
* When hiring a contractor, make sure the contractor is licensed by the Contractors State License Board. Call 800.321.2752 to verify if a contractor’s license number is valid or check their status online at www.cslb.ca.gov
* For questions related to obtaining building permits for rebuilding or repairing, contact the Zev Yaroslavsky One-Stop Center at 818.880.4150. For efficient processing, identify yourself as a victim of the Corral Fire.
* For property owners seeking engineering advice for control of storm water, debris flow and erosion created by the burned watershed, contact the Department of Public Works at 626.458.6145, or obtain online information at dpw.lacounty.gov