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. Watch Meeting Video

Planning

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.

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.

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.

Building

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 Community Development Department has prepared these guidelines to assist property owners in safely and expeditiously rebuilding their fire-damaged properties. This update presents minor clarifications to the prior version and presents a Technical Addendum for wave uprush reports to clarify technical standards for the consultants. This update DOES NOT represent a change in how fire rebuild policies or design standards are applied to beachfront fire rebuilds.

Coastal Engineering Consultants currently working in Malibu (as of July 1, 2025).

Legislation

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.)