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MORE RECOVERY INFO

Mountain View News Saturday, July 19, 2025


ASSEMBLYMEMBER HARABEDIAN’S 

WILDFIRE RELIEF BILLS ON MORTGAGE 

FORBEARANCE AND INSURANCE INTEREST 
PROTECTION ADVANCE TO SENATE FLOOR

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – In a major step forward for wildfire recovery efforts, two 
bills by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena), AB 238 (Mortgage Forbearance 
Act) and AB 493 (Disaster Interest Accrual Act), passed the Senate Appropriations 
Committee today. These bills are designed to deliver financial relief to victims 
impacted by the Los Angeles County wildfires, with measures targeting unfair 
mortgage practices and insurance payouts.

“Victims impacted by wildfires deserve more than empty promises. I am determined 
to put the interests of families and communities victimized by these natural disasters 
above corporate profits,” said Assemblymember Harabedian (D-Pasadena). “These 
bills are a vital lifeline, allowing wildfire victims to pause mortgage payments without 
penalties and ensuring families receive the full interest they’re owed on insurance 
funds.”

AB 238, the Mortgage Forbearance Act, offers critical financial relief to wildfire survivors 
by allowing them to temporarily pause mortgage payments without facing penalties, 
foreclosure, or damage to their credit. The bill also gives wildfire survivors up 
to 12 months of relief for mortgage payments, starting with an initial 90-day period.

AB 493 ensures that homeowners, not banks, receive the interest earned on insurance 
payouts held in escrow after a disaster. By mandating a minimum 2% interest rate and 
prohibiting lender-imposed fees, the bill directs financial support back to victims to 
help fund the reconstruction and recovery of their homes.

Both AB 238 and AB 493 will now proceed to the Senate floor for a vote.

LA COUNTY FIRE RECOVERY UPDATES"

On June 17, the LA County Board of Supervisors 
approved a motion to waive and refund 
fees for qualifying property owners rebuilding 
single-family homes in unincorporated 
Los Angeles County following the Eaton and 
Palisades wildfires.

ELIGIBILITY

The Board motion was aimed at making the rebuilding 
process more affordable and accessible 
to homeowners looking to rebuild homes that 
were destroyed in the January wildfires. Certain types of rebuild projects (such as commercial 
or rental housing) are not eligible for a waiver or refund.

To qualify for a permit fee waiver or refund, an applicant must be able to demonstrate 
that they both owned and lived on the property prior to January 7, 2025.

A project qualifies for a fee waiver or refund if it is:

• Located in unincorporated Los Angeles County

• A replacement single-family home – which could include accessory structures 
such as garages, Ac cessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), pools, etc. – that was 
destroyed by the Eaton or Palisades Fire

• A “standalone” ADU that the property owner will temporarily occupy while they 
wait for their re placement single-family residence to be built

A project does not qualify for a fee waiver or refund if it:

• Is a commercial property

• Contains multi-family housing units

• Is a rental property (non-owner-occupied)

• Is not a home directly destroyed in the fires

• Is a temporary housing unit or temporary housing community

To apply for a fee waiver, please fill out a Request for Fire Rebuild Fee Waiver or Refund 
form and email it to recovery@planning.lacounty.gov.

PERMIT CENTERS

LA County is hosting One-Stop Permit Centers in both the Palisades and Eaton fire burn 
areas to help guide residents through the rebuilding process, answer any questions they 
have and connect them with each of the building and planning departments responsible 
for their area.

Schedule a FREE group appointment Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays or one-on-one 
appointments Saturday to get expert advice and guidance for County Unincorporated 
Area residents on how to: Prepare plans for your rebuilding project, obtain entitlements 
and permits to begin construction, schedule inspections, obtain a certificate of occupancy, 
and get answers to rebuilding questions.

EATON FIRE: 

For unincorporated LA County communities, One-Stop Permit Centers have been established 
for residents impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires. Walk-ins are welcome and 
consultation appointments can be scheduled at the Altadena and Calabasas One-Stop 
Permit Centers. LA County permitting agencies, including Fire Department, Regional 
Planning, Public Health, Geotechnical and Materials Engineering Division and Public 
Works Building and Safety, are available by appointment at the One-Stop Permit Centers 
to guide owners and their representatives through the rebuild process and answer any 
questions they may have. Homeowners will be provided packets with information specific 
to their property, including permit records, assessor records and property attributes. 
In addition, Southern California Edison (SCE) Planners are available by appointment 
and Billing Service Representations available via walk-in to assist the customers in their 
service areas.

Altadena One-Stop Permit Center

464 W Woodbury Rd. Suite 210

Altadena, CA 91001

Walk-In Hours:

Monday – Friday: 8:00AM – 4:30PM

Rebuild Consultation Appointments Available:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

SCE Planner Appointments Available:

Effective April 21st:

Monday and Wednesday: 8am – 12pm

Book Appointments: 

https://outlook.office365.com/book/AltadenaRebuildWorkshops@lacounty.onmicrosoft.
com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE DEADLINE REMINDER

Economic Injury Disaster Loans: October 8, 2025 - 

Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations located in a declared disaster 
area and which have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for a Small 
Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan.

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/economic-injury-
disaster-loans?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_
source=govdelivery&utm_term=


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com