Mayor Karen Bass issued an emergency executive order Friday she waid will further expedite the rebuilding of businesses and commercial properties in Pacific Palisades.
The order, called emergency order No. 10, introduced a set of measures aimed at streamlining the rebuilding process for commercial properties located within the Palisades Commercial Village and Neighborhoods Specific Plan area, as well as properties in the Coastal Zone. According to the mayor’s office, the measures focus on administrative efficiency, economic relief and community preservation.
“Small businesses are the heart and soul of the Palisades community, and I remain committed to helping them rebuild as quickly and safely as possible,” Bass said in a statement.
“With this new executive action, we are further streamlining the permitting process and cutting through unnecessary delays that will help business owners rebuild quickly, keep workers employed, and restore community services that residents rely on — all while maintaining the unique community character of the Palisade,” Bass added.
A key provision of the order will grant a five-year extension on valid land use entitlements that were in place as of Jan. 7, which officials said will provide business owners flexibility and time to recover and rebuild.
It also established a program led by the Department of Building and Safety, allowing licensed architects to self-certify compliance for certain interior commercial improvements, also called tenant improvements. Bond requirements for certain small-scale repairs outside geohazard zones will be waived, and reducing rebuilding costs for property owners in geologically stable areas.
Meanwhile, the Department of Building and Safety also released new guidance for grading and soil reports, which provide additional streamlining options for rebuilding in Pacific Palisades. As part of this effort, a licensed civil or geotechnical engineer may now self-certify soil compaction and subgrade conditions, speeding up the permitting process while maintaining safety standards.
The mayor’s office noted, to date, nearly 300 homes are confirmed to have started construction across Pacific Palisades. More than 1,985 plan check applications have been received for more than 990 unique addresses, and more than 1,075 rebuilding plans have been approved. Additionally, more than 850 permits have been issued for 445 unique addresses.
The latest permitting numbers for Los Angeles, which are updated hourly, are available at recovery.lacity.gov/.