The ambitious plans to swiftly rebuild fire-damaged areas of Los Angeles were initially heralded as potentially the fastest recovery in California’s history, according to promises from both state and city officials.
However, a new report released Monday paints a different picture, highlighting what some are calling an embarrassing situation for public officials.
The report reveals that only 34 homes have been constructed in Pacific Palisades and Altadena over the 15 months since the wildfires, a pace that significantly lags behind recovery efforts following previous major fires in the state.
Even more concerning is the fact that fewer than half of the approximately 10,000 destroyed properties have submitted applications for rebuilding permits.
Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass had initially promised a rapid recovery post-fires, envisioning a turnaround “faster than ever before.” This goal now seems unattainable.
Disaster recovery expert Andrew Rumbach remarked to Politico, “There’s certainly no chance of them being this outlier of fast recovery. It’s not physically possible at this point.”
The January 2025 fires — which erupted within 24 hours of each other — killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, flattening the wealthy coastal enclave of Pacific Palisades and hammering middle-class Altadena in the foothills.
Most residents want to return. A survey found 9 in 10 plan to rebuild. But sky-high construction costs — anywhere from $450 to $1,500 per square foot — combined with insurance headaches and bureaucratic confusion have turned that dream into a nightmare.
“It’s like being stuck in a spider web,” said Altadena resident Angela Giacchetti. “All these interlocking issues.”
Permit applications are picking up, with more than 300 filed in March alone. Officials have approved about 2,100 rebuilding requests so far.
Still, that hasn’t translated into homes on the ground.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger insists the pace is steady — even if it’s not fast.
“I want to see Altadena rebuilt tomorrow,” Barger told Politico. “But I have to respect that what I want and what can be done are two different things.”
Meanwhile, comparisons to past disasters sting. Cities like Santa Rosa and Paradise — with fewer resources than Los Angeles — rebuilt faster after their own catastrophic fires.
“The fact that we only have 10 certificates of occupancy and that pales in comparison to almost every other fire, that would have come as a surprise if you had told people 15 months ago,” said Maryam Zar, founder and president of Palisades Recovery Coalition.
Even within LA, the recovery is uneven. More Altadena homeowners are applying to rebuild, but Palisades permits are getting approved faster according to the report.
A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor has rolled out a flurry of executive orders aimed at speeding up the painfully slow recovery, still, she made clear that the final call on permits rests with local officials.
“Each disaster and recovery is unique, but the state will continue to support local communities to recover and rebuild as quickly as possible,” Tara Gallegos said.
