For Immediate Release: July 16, 2025
Malibu Moves on to an Important New Phase of Fire Rebuild, With City Council Taking Action to Waive Rebuild Fees and Support Local Businesses
(Malibu, CA) — The City of Malibu has entered a critical new phase in its recovery from the recent Broad, Franklin and Palisades Fires, as the City Council takes action to waive rebuild fees for homeowners and streamline permits to support local businesses following the completion of fire debris removal.
“We are deeply grateful to the Army Corps of Engineers and to all the private contractors who have worked tirelessly to help us reach this important milestone,” said Mayor Marianne Riggins. “The City thanks all property owners who met the deadline and contributed to the safety and well-being of our community. Now that debris removal is nearly complete, our homeowners can move forward with the next steps in their rebuild process, and we are here to guide and assist them every step of the way.”
As property owners move from debris removal to rebuilding, the Malibu City Council continues to take steps to support residents and businesses affected by the fires. The Council approved fee waivers on July 14 that cover planning and building permit fees for “like-for-like” rebuilds.
In addition, at its meeting on July 14, the Council acted to support recovering local businesses, adopting a new ordinance for Temporary Use Permit (TUP) and Sign Permit regulations, streamlining approvals for small business events with fewer than 99 attendees. Larger events, up to 250 attendees, can also benefit from reduced application requirements. The simplified process — effective through May 31, 2026 — aims to boost economic recovery for local businesses by removing lengthy requirements and increasing flexibility.
“We’re taking thoughtful, proactive steps to provide relief for our impacted community members. Our goal is to minimize financial burdens while streamlining regulatory processes,” said Community Development Director Yolanda Bundy.
The City will continue to prioritize public health and safety by contacting property owners who have not yet cleared debris in compliance with the June 30 deadline. Staff is working closely with Los Angeles County and the City’s Attorney’s Office to enforce compliance to protect the community and the environment and maintain momentum on the communitywide recovery efforts.
The City is also working with property owners to ensure their onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are in compliance with the pumping and capping requirements following the June 30 OWTS inspection deadline.
Malibu will continue supporting owners making good-faith progress, however, all noncompliant properties may be subject to abatement warrants issued by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County.
The July 14 Council meeting is available to watch on the City’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/CityofMalibu. On Tuesday, July 22, the Malibu City Council will review proposed Planning Interpretation Policies that provide clearer guidance for “like-for-like” rebuilds, legal structure definitions, and converting multifamily units.
For additional information and support resources for local businesses and residents, please visit MalibuRebuilds.org.
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