Los Angeles approves just 4 permits to rebuild in Pacific Palisades after nearly 7,000 homes burned in wildfires

The city of Los Angeles has approved the first four permits to rebuild homes in the wealthy enclave of Pacific Palisades that were either fully destroyed or partially damaged by the devastating January wildfires.This comes as residents are beginning to prep their properties for rebuilding.The Instagram account, palisadeshq, walks viewers through this process.It starts with a contractor who will be responsible for clearing the lot.

At least 6 inches of topsoil within the ash boundary needs to be removed.The ash boundary is where the fire burned the structure itself.Palisadeshq explains this is necessary not just for cleanup, but “it’s the essential foundation for rebuilding.”Once this is all cleared, contractors can start grading the property to start building a house.Any home that is to be rebuilt needs to have a permit.

The first few permits issued have been touted as a major milestone in the city’s recovery by Mayor Karen Bass and the L.A.Department of Buildings and Safety, but local leaders and residents were quick to criticize the slow pace of the permitting process, with one city councilmember saying it was “concerning” that only four permits had been issued as of March 24, more than two months after the fires.The first permit was issued by the city on March 5, clearing the way for homeowners to fix up their wrecked properties in the star-studded Pacific Palisades neighborhood, where some 6,800 homes either burned to the ground or were seriously damaged by the Palisades fire.

 The owner of the split-level home near Rustic Canyon submitted blueprints to city inspectors back on Feb.17, reported the Los Angeles Times.“We want this to be happening on your lot, too,” Mayor Bass said at a news conference on Friday.Among the first three permits approved by the city, two were for complete rebuilds: one in the Palisades section and another overlooking the Pacific Coast Highway.Gary Lionelli, an Emmy-winning film and TV composer who owns th...