City of LA Lifts Gas Ban & Streamlines Rebuilds

Campbell Wellman Gas Ban Lifted Los Angeles Karen Bass

Big news for Pacific Palisades, Alta Dena, and other communities directly impacted by the devastating January fires: A pivotal shift has just occurred. The City of Los Angeles has enacted critical changes designed to significantly ease and expedite the rebuilding process, offering both financial relief and greater flexibility.

In a move welcomed by many, the LA City Council, on May 14, 2025, voted for an immediate stay on the All-Electric Building Ordinance. This is monumental for those planning to rebuild or undertake new construction. Now, the choice is yours: all new construction in the City of LA is no longer required to be All-Electric, and all property owners maintain their right to utilize Natural Gas for all project types across the city. This provides crucial flexibility in design and energy systems, allowing residents to rebuild with the options that best suit their needs and preferences.

But the good news extends further to directly support the rebuilding efforts:

  • Expedited Guidelines for Fire Rebuilds: The City of Los Angeles Planning Department and the Department of Building and Safety have re-released their official "Implementation Guidelines For Revised Emergency Executive Order No. 1: Expedited Community Rebuilding and Recovery" with updated directives as of May 12, 2025. These updates offer clearer pathways for design and permitting, particularly addressing nuances for basements, detached garages, and building footprint calculations, helping to streamline your rebuild plans.

  • Fee Waivers for Fire Rebuild Projects: Mayor Karen Bass has also directed the Los Angeles City Council to draft an Ordinance aimed at waiving all Plan Check and Permitting Fees for all Fire Rebuild Projects. Even while this official Ordinance is being prepared, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety staff have acted quickly: owners can now execute an Affidavit at the time of plan check submittal, acknowledging the deferred collection of fees and avoiding upfront costs for their fire rebuilds.

These combined updates demonstrate a powerful commitment from the City to support residents in Pacific Palisades, Alta Dena, and other affected areas. They are designed to remove obstacles, provide options, and speed up the vital process of recovery and rebuilding.

Key Takeaways for Our Fire-Affected Communities:

  • Freedom of Choice: Rebuild with either natural gas or all-electric systems, giving you more control over your new home's design and functionality.

  • Significant Financial Relief: Immediate options to defer and eventual waivers for costly Plan Check and Permitting Fees.

  • Faster, Clearer Path to Rebuilding: Updated guidelines and an expedited process specifically designed to help you reconstruct your home more efficiently.

 

These are incredibly positive developments for anyone navigating the rebuild process. We at Campbell Wellman are here to help you understand these changes and leverage them for your project. Reach out and we can offer guidance and a range of services in real estate and construction to move things forward for you.