This page provides key regulations, policies and resources for rebuilding properties damaged or destroyed by the Palisades Fire, Franklin Fire and Broad Fire. Find links to relevant ordinances, policy interpretations, special provisions for fire-affected areas and more.
The City of Malibu is serviced by various agencies at various levels of government including at the city, county, state and federal levels. Please refer to our Multi-Agency Contact Sheet for various helpful contacts.
Rebuild Policies and Guidelines
At the Special City Council Meeting on Wednesday, October 15, the City Council adopted the final version of the Rebuild Policies aimed at facilitating the expedited rebuild of structures destroyed in recent wildfires. These policies are about providing certainty, eliminating challenges within the typical development process, and empowering families to get back into their homes as quickly and safely as possible.
Policies discussed
- What is a “Like-for-Like” Rebuild
- What is “substantially the same location”
- How to Calculate Bulk
- What is a “Lawfully Erected Structure”
- Application of New Basements and Subterranean Garages
- Application of New Water Tanks and Pools
- Combining Square Footage Between Structures
- No Net Loss (Compliance with State Law)
- What is Allowed Under the 10 percent
- Wave Action Report for Beachfront Rebuilds and Sea Level Rise
- Application of Rooftop Decks
- Survey Requirements
Additional Policies Only Applicable to 2025 Palisades Fire Rebuilds
- Deemed Complete Projects Prior to the Fire
- Seaward Projections on Beachfront Rebuilds
- Interior Access Improvements Meeting Building Code
- Application of California’s SB 9 within the Rebuild Area
View Official Policies | Watch Meeting Video
Geologic/Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering Guidelines
If your property is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA), please contact Public Works early in your design process to confirm your FEMA Base Flood Elevation (BFE). Knowing your BFE at the beginning of the design process will help expedite your project review. You can also check your BFE directly using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
BETA Landslide and Deep Landslide Susceptibility Map. Landslides are shown as colored areas when data about them are available, gray when little or no data are available. The background yellow-red colors indicate areas of weak rocks and/or steep slopes leading to susceptablility to deep landslides. Darker red indicates higher susceptibility. Greater detail will be visible when zoomed in further.
The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act (1972) and the Seismic Hazards Mapping Act (1990) directs the State Geologist to delineate regulatory “zones of required investigation” to assist cities, counties and state agencies (lead agencies) in fulfilling their responsibilities for protecting the public safety from the effects of earthquake-triggered ground failure. Lead agencies affected by the zones must regulate certain development “projects” within them. These Acts also require sellers of real property (and their agents) within a mapped hazard zone to disclose that the property lies within such a zone. View a full resolution digital representation of the Official Zone Maps for fault rupture, liquefaction and seismic landslide hazards in California.
The City of Malibu ESD Geology Department has prepared these guidelines to assist property owners in safely and expeditiously rebuilding their fire-damaged properties. Emphasis is placed on allowing the use of existing geologic and geotechnical information for eligible properties to reduce time and costs typically associated with the preparation of a comprehensive engineering geologic and geotechnical engineering report. These guidelines may be modified in the future as required by the Building Official.
Local Ordinances
The Malibu Municipal Code — the City’s comprehensive collection of local ordinances and regulations — contains development standards, permit requirements, temporary housing provisions, fire safety landscaping rules and nonconforming structure regulations that govern disaster rebuilding
- Disaster rebuild standards for Malibu Municipal Code and Local Coastal Program
- Allows “like-for-like” rebuilding plus 10% additional square footage, height, and bulk
- Certified by California Coastal Commission (April 10, 2025)
Since Malibu is entirely within the California coastal zone, the LCP (certified by the California Coastal Commission) supersedes city zoning when there are conflicts, in order to protect sensitive coastal resources and public access. For rebuilding, it defines coastal development permit exemptions for disaster replacement structures and “like-for-like” criteria allowing up to 110% of original size.
Interactive maps show the City’s zoning designations and Local Coastal Program (LCP) boundaries for planning and regulatory reference. Includes: Access maps, Park lands map, ESHA and Marine Resources maps, Land Use Map, and Overlay Areas. These maps allow anyone to note where their property is in relation to those areas.
These maps identify the areas in Malibu where the California Coastal Commission (CCC) maintains authority to receive appeals of coastal development permits issued by the City. The maps outline jurisdictional boundaries such as beaches, tidelands, public trust lands, the first public road segments, and ESHA.
State Executive Orders
Suspends CEQA and California Coastal Act for rebuilding properties damaged by Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia, Sunset and Woodley Fires; directs 30-day permit processing goals; allows rebuilding up to 110% of original structure size
Suspended CEQA and Coastal Act requirements for Palisades Fire rebuilds; established “rebuild plus 10%” allowances and structures existing “immediately before emergency” criteria
Suspends environmental regulations for electric, gas, water, sewer and telecommunications infrastructure rebuilding projects to expedite utility restoration and upgrades
Directs California Coastal Commission to avoid interference with rebuilding processes allowed under other executive orders.
Expands rebuilding flexibilities by suspending select building, energy, and environmental rules, easing sewer construction, and prioritizing displaced residents for affordable housing.
Allows homeowners affected by the 2025 Eaton, Palisades, and Straight-line Wind wildfires to pause their mortgage payments for up to 12 months without penalties or foreclosure, giving them temporary financial relief while they recover from wildfire losses.
“Like-for-like” rebuilding: Replacement structures within 110% of the same height, bulk, and square footage of the previous structure; design may change (e.g., craftsman to modern style)
“General location” requirements: Replacement structures must be within 50% of the previous structure’s footprint and envelope to be considered “substantially” in the same location
Bulk calculation methods: Cubic volume (bulk) shall not exceed 110% of the previous structure’s volume, measured from exterior surfaces
“Lawfully erected” structure criteria: Structures with permits or pre-incorporation existence qualify; special provisions for 2025 Palisades Fire and 2024 Franklin Fire allow structures existing just prior to fires (excluding open code violations)
Basement square footage calculations: New basement square footage must be included in the 110% calculation; cannot be excluded from size limits
Water tank and pool allowances: Water storage devices required/recommended by government agencies for fire protection don’t count toward Total Development Square Footage
Multiple structure combination rules: Structures 10 feet or less apart may be combined, but must maintain same use and uninhabitable areas (like garages) must remain uninhabitable.
No net loss housing density compliance: Converting multifamily to single-family requires replacement units via Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Current zoning regulation requirements: 10% increases must comply with current zoning; increases above 18 feet require Site Plan Review; setback encroachments need approval
Beachfront wave action report requirements: Replacement structures are not considered “new construction” so don’t require comprehensive wave action reports; FEMA flood regulations apply instead
Rooftop deck standards: Allowed for both beachfront and non-beachfront rebuilds with conditions (no furniture above railing height, no use after 10 PM, lighting/music restrictions)
Survey requirements: Updated surveys required when discrepancies exist between available records (assessor data, historical plans, etc.)
