Mayor Bass Releases Executive Order on Wildfire Recovery
Mayor Karen Bass issued Emergency Executive Order No. 1 to speed up wildfire recovery efforts. Currently, the fires have burned nearly 25,000 acres, damaged or destroyed over 5,000 structures, and forced more than 80,000 residents to evacuate.
Key Recovery Measures
The executive order introduces several critical provisions to streamline rebuilding efforts:
- Debris Removal: Establishes a Debris Removal Task Force to coordinate clean-up across government agencies.
- Disaster Recovery Permitting Center: Creates a special center staffed by multiple city departments to facilitate rapid rebuilding.
- Expedited Permit Reviews: Mandates initial building permit reviews be completed within 30 days.
- Rapid Inspections: Requires Building and Safety inspections within two business days of request.
How It Impacts You
As we understand it now, this order defines "Eligible Projects" as projects to repair, restore, demolish, or replace structures substantially damaged by the wildfires, which can include both residential and commercial properties.
Commercial properties with structures harmed by the wildfires can also benefit from the expedited permit reviews. All initial building permitting reviews are to be completed within 30 days of a complete application submission.
We all will be waiting to see how this executive order is implemented to see how commercial properties can recover from these disastrous fires.
Looking Ahead
By cutting through bureaucratic red tape, Mayor Bass aims to help Los Angeles residents and businesses recover quickly from this devastating wildfire event.
Our coalition is looking to the legislature to codify the streamlining and expeditated permitting process outlined in Mayor Bass’ executive order. As well as other legislative solutions that we will make sure to keep you updated with on BOMA on the Frontline.
