Pre-Approved standard plans FOR FIRE REBUILDS
Homeowners looking to rebuild due to the Eaton and Palisades wildfires may be able to use a pre-approved standard plan. Pre-approved standard plans and streamlined permitting processes can help homeowners rebuild more efficiently, safely, and affordably.
The benefits of using pre-approved plans include:
- Shortened review timeframe
- Predictable review process
- Reduced design cost
Information For Designers
Design professionals can submit designs for single-family residential homes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) for review and inclusion in the pre-approved standard plan catalog. Property owners can use these designs for rebuild projects in the Foothills communities affected by the Eaton Fire or the Coastal communities affected by the Palisades Fire. Designs must comply with current zoning requirements and the Building, Residential, and Green Codes.
Designs in the Coastal communities are subject to the Santa Monica Mountains Local Implementation Program (LIP). Designs in the Foothills communities are subject to the Residential Design Standards, the General Site Regulations, and the Altadena Community Standards District (CSD). After your design is approved, homeowners will need to contract with you directly to use the pre-approved standard plan and complete the permitting process.
Note: Plans will require re-approval by LA County Building and Safety at the start of a new Building Code cycle. Plans will be removed from the catalog until they receive re-approval. A new Building Code cycle begins in 2026.
To learn more about the submittal process and requirements, please review the following checklist and instructions.
Information For Applicants
Property owners can use one of the pre-approved standard plans in the catalog below. These plans comply with current zoning requirements and the Building, Residential, and Green Codes. Some plans are only for the Foothills communities affected by the Eaton Fire and other plans are only for the Coastal communities affected by the Palisades Fire.
To use a pre-approved standard plan, you will need to enter into a contract with the design professional that created the plan. You will also need to submit an application, complete a site plan, and provide additional site-specific details. LA County staff will review the application to complete the permitting process.
Although pre-approved standard plans comply with current zoning requirements, in some cases, a plan may qualify as a like-for-like rebuild project. For more information, refer to the like-for-like rebuild project requirements on the LA County Recovers page.
To apply for a rebuild project using one of the pre-approved standard plans, please use the following checklist and instructions.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
- Every property is unique. A pre-approved design may not work for your property due to site-specific constraints. Verify with Planning and the Building and Safety Division the pre-approved design works for your property before you contract with a professional.
- All pre-approved standard plans require additional review by Planning and the Building and Safety Division before you can obtain building permits to begin construction.
- The pre-approval of a plan is not an endorsement by the County of the designer/firm or their ability to complete the work they contract to do. Applicants should do their own due diligence before entering into a contract with a professional.
- Designers own and are responsible for their design. You must contract with the design professional to use their pre-approved plans.
- Designs cannot be customized. If changes are made to a pre-approved plan, the submittal will be required to follow the general review process.
Resources
- Sample Pre-Approved Standard Plan (ADU)
- Summary: Pre-Approval Design Regulations (Foothills)
- Summary: Site Specific Design Regulations (Foothills)
- Summary: Pre-Approval Design Regulations (Coastal)
- Summary: Site Specific Design Regulations (Coastal)
- Eaton and Palisades Fire Rebuild Minimum Residential Submittal Requirements
- ADU Summary
Standard Plan Catalog
These designs have been pre-approved by Planning and the Building and Safety Division.
