Committee forwards plan to expand Pasadena permit-fee waivers to "standing homes" after Eaton Fire

The Pasadena Economic & Development Technology Committee on Tuesday voted unanimously to forward a staff recommendation to City Council to expand the citys existing permit-fee waiver program so that "standing homes" damaged by the Eaton Fire can qualify for waived building permit and plan-check fees.

Planning staff told the committee that standing homes—houses that remained structurally intact but sustained smoke, ash or water damage—were not included in the citys initial damage assessment and that jurisdictions should use evacuation-order and evacuation-warning boundaries to identify eligible properties. "Staff recommends expanding the program to include standing homes that meet all of the eligibility criteria listed below," a planning staff member said, reading the recommendation to the committee.

Why it matters: staff estimated the potential total program cost at about $4,150,000 if approximately two-thirds of 125 previously red-tagged properties pursue waivers; as of early June staff reported roughly $2,100,000 already waived or refunded. The recommendation would limit waivers to owner-occupied single-family homes or condominiums within evacuation order or warning zones that provide documentation of fire-related smoke, ash or water damage (for example, an insurance claim number or a remediation report). Repairs covered would be limited to restoring pre-fire conditions, with eligible items including HVAC cleaning or replacement, limited roof repairs, stucco or siding repair, window replacement, and some interior material remediation.

Council member Madison pressed staff on implementation timelines and recovery of costs when insurers or other third parties pay claims. "I would hope that the fee waiver ... is not resulting in delay on the rebuilds," Madison said, asking whether the city can maintain inspection and permit-processing capacity. Planning staff replied that the city has prioritized permit review and inspections and that local capacity can keep up with the number of affected homes.

On whether the city can reclaim waived fees if an insurer ultimately pays, a staff member explained that the waiver application requires applicants to provide insurance information and that the form grants the city the right to pursue recovery. A staff member with responsibility for legal matters said the city has conferred with outside counsel and "we will aggressively recover any amount" that is legally recoverable.

Public testimony reflected ongoing frustration from residents about claim handling. Aurora Blossom Wright, a resident who spoke during the items public-comment period, said, "standing home claims are not being settled. They're not being paid." Wright asked whether fees related to required code upgrades would be included; planning staff said code-upgrade fees are handled on a case-by-case basis and that there are some state and local concessions that may apply, and offered to connect the resident with the building official for more detail.

The motion to forward the staff recommendation was made by Council member Madison and seconded; the committee voted in favor and the chair said the item will be scheduled for a City Council meeting this summer. The staff presentation and committee debate covered the recommended eligibility criteria, the types of repairs the waiver would cover, and the citys plan for pursuing recovery from insurers when appropriate.

The committee did not adopt an ordinance or resolution at the meeting; rather, it agreed to present reduced-fee recommendations and the required fee-waiver resolution to the full City Council for a future vote. The staff report and the committees recommendation will become part of the public record when the item is calendared for Council consideration.