Steve Gibson has been waiting four months for Los Angeles County to approve his rebuild permit. The 24-year Altadena resident selected a prefab housing contractor and finalized his home design, but bureaucratic delays have left him and hundreds of neighbors in limbo as the six-month anniversary of the devastating wildfires approaches.
Six months after the January 7 fires that killed at least 30 people and destroyed more than 11,500 homes, thousands of survivors remain displaced as permit backlogs and funding issues slow recovery efforts across the region.
About 25% of the nearly 400 rebuild permits applied for in Pacific Palisades have been approved, while only 5% of more than 900 permits submitted in Altadena have received county approval1. The disparity stems from Los Angeles city waiving fees and streamlining processes for Palisades residents, while unincorporated Altadena must work with county departments that are already stretched thin1.
"The permit fees to rebuild a house are a huge amount of money and a huge process," Gibson said. "We're not getting responsiveness to our urgent needs in Altadena"1.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger acknowledged the challenge, telling LAist, "I want to see our planning department move with a sense of urgency, not be bureaucratic, something that I continue to struggle with"1. The county's average turnaround time is 50 business days, down from the normal 158 days, with a goal of reaching 30 days1.
Despite streamlining efforts, only three full rebuild permits had been issued as of late March, according to the Los Angeles Times2.
Insurance complications compound the delays. According to Spectrum News, 70% of LA wildfire survivors report insurance delays and denials1. The state has launched a probe into State Farm's fire response amid mounting frustrations from homeowners2.
Financial assistance programs launched by Los Angeles County and the city offer grants between $2,000 and $25,000 for small businesses and $2,000 for displaced workers3. The American Red Cross began a second phase of financial assistance in April for residents in the burn zones4.
The psychological impact remains fresh for many survivors. "It is ever present, so it does feel like it just happened yesterday," said Robin Hughes, who lost her Altadena home. "The passage of time is so muddled"1.
Gibson struggles with social interactions. "I have a hard time talking to people about it," he said. "What should I say? Should I express how angry I am about things or should I just say everything's fine?"1
