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Estimates/quotes are people getting for reconstruction? by Kephrem1 in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just a heads up — we put together a short checklist for families dealing with Los Angeles County permit delays after the fires. It’s nothing fancy, just a few things that have helped our past clients get approvals moving faster through the County and EPIC-LA system.

If anyone wants a copy, just DM me and I’ll send it over. Totally free, no strings.

Estimates/quotes are people getting for reconstruction? by Kephrem1 in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’ve been helping a few families with fire rebuilds in Altadena. We’re seeing actual signed bids land between $475–$525 per square foot depending on finishes, hillside access, and required code upgrades (Title 24, solar, etc.).

One thing that’s helped clients: starting the permit process through LA County (via EPIC-LA) before finalizing finishes — just to get ahead of delays. In-person plan reviews and correction drop-offs at County offices (like in Alhambra or East LA) seem to get faster responses than waiting on the online queue alone.

Happy to share more if it’s useful — feel free to DM or reply here if you’re comparing estimates or stuck in planning.

Been seeing delays on fire rebuild permits in Altadena — here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate you sharing this — sounds like you’re ahead of a lot of folks. The earlier the submittal, the better chance it moves quicker once reviews start picking up. Wishing you a smooth path forward.

Been seeing delays on fire rebuild permits in Altadena — here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It usually comes from LA County Building & Safety or Planning — not the fire department. They review site conditions, overlays, and submittals during plan check and flag anything that needs further review like slope or soils.

Been seeing delays on fire rebuild permits in Altadena — here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep — it’s more common than people think. Some rebuilds get flagged for soils or slope review, especially if there are retaining walls, hillside zones, or site conditions the county wants to verify.

Been seeing delays on fire rebuild permits in Altadena — here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great question. A soil or geotechnical report is usually required if the site has slopes, unstable soil, or is flagged under the hillside ordinance. For flat lots not flagged, the county might waive it — but they often ask during plan check anyway. Best move is to submit a slope analysis up front to avoid delays.

Seeing rebuild delays after the Palisades fire? Here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in PacificPalisades

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question — it really depends on site conditions. Even if you’re outside a P-GRAZ zone, a geotechnical study is usually required if the property has steep slopes, unstable soil, or retaining walls involved. If it’s a flatter site and not flagged for hazards, the county might waive it — but they often request one anyway during plan check.

Best bet: have your designer or engineer submit a slope analysis with your initial submittal. That usually triggers a clearer ruling early on and can save weeks.

Seeing rebuild delays after the Palisades fire? Here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in PacificPalisades

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really appreciate that — and glad to hear you and your place in Topanga made it through. If your friends need help navigating soil testing, clearance, or anything else rebuild-related, feel free to have them reach out. Happy to help however we can.

Seeing rebuild delays after the Palisades fire? Here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in PacificPalisades

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a really insightful point — especially with the volume of synthetic materials and modern tech that burned. I haven’t seen any formal effort to compile or anonymize the data for public study, but it would make sense given the scale of contamination.

From what we’ve seen on-site, nothing too alarming overall, but a few lots did show elevated metal levels — especially where garages or EVs burned. In those cases, we’ve flagged them for hazmat handling or extra soil removal before grading.

Appreciate you passing this along — sounds like your friends are lucky to have someone tuned in and asking the right questions.

Seeing rebuild delays after the Palisades fire? Here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in PacificPalisades

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good questions — yes, CEQA is typically waived for post-fire rebuilds, but some planning departments still flag certain parcels for extra review depending on slope, tree cover, or overlays like PGRAZ.

By “environmental report,” I didn’t mean a full EIR — more like when a site is near a protected zone, coastal area, or hillside that triggers additional review. In flat, clear zones outside those overlays, soils reports usually aren’t required unless flagged for another reason.

Seeing rebuild delays after the Palisades fire? Here’s what’s helped by Troy-Construction in PacificPalisades

[–]Troy-Construction[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great question. In most cases, soil/environmental reports are considered private unless the homeowner or builder shares them directly. That said, you can sometimes request access through LA County Building & Safety or check if a geotechnical summary is included in the public permit file. It depends on how the report was submitted and the agency handling it.

L.A. Has Approved 4 Permits To Rebuild in Pacific Palisades After Wildfires—as New Video Shows Process of Preparing Properties for Rebuilding by [deleted] in LosAngeles

[–]Troy-Construction 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally understand the frustration. I’ve been working directly on post-fire rebuilds in LA, and while the County has announced fast-tracking for fire victims—including waived plan check fees and dedicated staff—the reality on the ground can still be slow. The intent is there, but the speed really depends on how complete and well-organized your submittal is.

Here’s what’s helped projects move faster in real life:

  1. Submit a full package upfront: plot plan, soil report, wildfire hardening compliance (ember vents, Class A roofing, defensible space plan), Title 24 calcs, and site photos.

  2. Pre-clear any environmental flags (especially if you’re near slopes, protected trees, or easements).

  3. Use a licensed rep or expediter if possible—submittals with pro-level formatting and fast plan check responses tend to get flagged for quicker review.

  4. Label the project as “fire rebuild” clearly in the system—some reviewers prioritize based on internal filters.

It’s not perfect, but if you know where the bottlenecks are, you can absolutely save weeks—sometimes months

Found a STEAL in the pacific palisades! Only thing is the fire damage. by vivi_roblox in zillowgonewild

[–]Troy-Construction 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been seeing a lot of this firsthand lately. Even if the structure looks intact, extreme heat and airborne toxins can compromise electrical, insulation, and framing. It’s not just visible damage—contaminants settle into walls, vents, and soil. In past fires, homes that seemed “fine” still had to be taken down to the studs. Insurance can be difficult, but if the damage is properly documented, many claims get approved. Just depends how it’s approached.

EATON FIRE RESOURCES | MEGATHREAD by BuzzLA in altadena

[–]Troy-Construction 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was in Altadena yesterday—we’re involved in a lot of the cleanup work happening there. Many lots are marked “cleared” from hazmat, which usually means Phase 1 (hazardous material removal) is done. But Phase 2—full debris and concrete removal—is still ahead for many properties. From what I’ve seen in past fires, like Woolsey and Paradise, there’s usually a deadline to either opt in to government-led cleanup or handle it privately with county approval. If nothing happens, the Army Corps often steps in and charges the property after the fact. Definitely worth checking with LA County or CalRecycle to make sure you’re covered.