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Building and Safety reports permit workload, abatement hearing set Oct. 8; mobile‑home parks remain major concern
Summary
The Department of Building and Safety reported 1,415 post‑fire permit applications for the Pacific Palisades, 524 permits issued, 137 approved and ready to be pulled, and 220 projects started; DBS also set an Oct. 8 public nuisance hearing for 19 parcels that may require city abatement.
The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (DBS) briefed a City Council ad hoc committee on permitting progress and abatement status for properties affected by the Palisades fire, and confirmed a public nuisance hearing on Oct. 8 that could trigger city‑led abatement work if owners do not clear remaining debris.
Key permitting figures and programs DBS Assistant Bureau Chief Alan Manalanssen reported the department has received 1,415 permit applications since the fires, issued 524 permits and has 137 permits that have been approved and are ready to be picked up. In addition, 220 projects in the Palisades have started construction. DBS also launched a self‑certification program for certain plans; four architects have been approved so far and the standard‑plan program is live on the DBS website.
Abatement, mobile home parks and next steps DBS said 19 locations remain on the abatement schedule for an Oct. 8 public nuisance hearing. The department is coordinating with City Attorney staff on options such as receivership and other funding if the city must carry out abatement work. Committee members pressed DBS to clarify who will lead post‑hearing contracting and to ensure funding will be in place so abatement work can proceed promptly after the hearing.
Mobile home parks were repeatedly raised as a priority. Council members said the Palisades Bowl mobile home park and others continue to face environmental and debris challenges. DBS said the Oct. 8 hearing is the next procedural step to secure authority for abatement and that subsequent contracting and funding decisions will follow; the department noted it lacks sufficient demolition/abatement fund resources to pay for extensive removal without additional funding decisions.
Standard plans, self‑certification and on‑the‑ground assistance DBS said its self‑certification program and standard‑plan offerings are meant to speed the permitting and rebuild process. City staff told committee members the department has undertaken outreach to architects and engineers to populate the standard‑plan catalog and is discussing running a community webinar to explain permitting steps and common pitfalls. The committee also discussed moving an in‑person “one‑stop” permitting operation nearer to the Palisades to ease access for contractors and homeowners; DBS said this possibility is under discussion.
Quote "We've received 1,415 permit applications. Of those, 524 have been issued, and 137 permits are approved," Alan Manalanssen said, providing the department's most recent counts.
What the committee asked for next Council members requested a follow‑up on how many self‑certification applications are pending, the timeline for approving additional self‑certifying architects, and clarification about grading‑permit procedures that have been flagged by residents as a recurring bottleneck. DBS said it is evaluating options such as allowing certain compaction reports or pre‑inspection steps to be standardized in order to avoid unnecessary delays for hillside grading projects.
Ending Council members thanked DBS for outreach and asked staff to provide follow‑up numbers and to coordinate with AECOM and other recovery partners to align permitting priorities with infrastructure work.
