Column: Malibu marks new milestones in rebuilding after the Palisades Fire

By Yolanda Bundy, Community Development Director, City of Malibu · Sun Sep 27 2026

Malibu has reached two meaningful milestones in our recovery from the Palisades Fire: the issuance of our 100th rebuilding permit and the first certificate of occupancy for a rebuilt home. To some, these may sound like numbers or steps in a permitting process. To me, they represent something much more meaningful: hope. Behind that 100th permit is a family who has taken another important step toward rebuilding their home. Behind the first certificate of occupancy is a family who can finally open the door, walk inside, and come home.

After what our community has been through, that means everything. The Palisades Fire was the most devastating disaster in Malibu’s history. Hundreds of families lost their homes, more than 320 beachfront properties experienced unprecedented destruction, and five lives were lost. For many, the loss was not simply a structure. It was the loss of a place where children grew up, where holidays were celebrated, where memories were made, and where families felt at home.

We understand that rebuilding is about much more than construction.

It is about putting your life back together.

For some families, the rebuilding process is moving forward. For others, it may feel like the finish line still feels far away. Some are just beginning to understand what is required. Others are navigating insurance, financing, design, engineering, coastal requirements, geotechnical conditions, wastewater, utilities, or access issues.

Every family has a different story. Every property has its own challenges. And every family moves through this process at its own pace.

Wherever you are on that journey, please know that you are not alone.

As a city, we understand that the rebuilding process can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already carrying the emotional weight of losing your home. Our responsibility is to make the process as clear and manageable as we can and to be there to help you navigate each step.

That is why the city established the Rebuild Center and created additional resources and support for fire survivors. We have worked to bring information and staff together, improve communication, provide clearer guidance, expand online services, and streamline our review processes. We have also created programs to provide fee relief for eligible rebuilding projects and continued looking for ways to reduce unnecessary delays.

These efforts are all intended to serve one purpose: to help you move forward.

But we also know that a permit is not the end of the journey. There are still inspections, utility connections, and other important steps before a family can safely return home. The first certificate of occupancy is therefore especially meaningful because it represents the moment when a family can finally take that next step and begin living in the home they worked so hard to rebuild.

There is still a great deal of work ahead of us.

We know that.

The 100th permit does not mean that 100 families have all had the same experience, or that the challenges facing our community are behind us. It simply means that 100 families have taken a significant step forward.

And I hope that gives every family that is still waiting a reason to believe that your turn will come, too.

Our city organization, City Council, city manager, and staff remain committed to helping Malibu families rebuild. We are working together with our agency partners and the many architects, engineers, contractors, and professionals helping families navigate this process.

But at the heart of all this work are our residents.

You are the reason we are doing this.

I want every homeowner who is rebuilding to know that when you come to the city, you are not just an application number or a file on a desk. You are a family trying to rebuild your home and your life. We understand that.

We may not be able to remove every challenge, and we cannot promise that every part of the process will be easy. But we can promise that we will continue to listen, help you understand what is needed, work through challenges with you, and do everything within our ability to help you move forward.

Serving Malibu through this recovery is a responsibility I take very seriously and very personally. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community during such a difficult time, and I am deeply proud of the resilience I see in Malibu families every day.

To the families who have received their permits: Congratulations. You have taken an important step toward home.

To the family who has received the first certificate of occupancy: Welcome home.

And to every family still waiting: Please keep going.

We see you. We hear you. We understand that this journey is not easy.

There will be difficult days and more challenges ahead. But there will also be moments like these — moments that remind us that progress is happening, that homes can be rebuilt, and that families can come home.

Malibu has always been a community that comes together when times are hard. We saw it after the fire, and we continue to see it every day.

There is still a long road ahead, but you do not have to walk it alone.

We are here. We are committed to you. And we will continue walking alongside you, one step at a time, until more Malibu families can open their doors and come home.