SBA Allows California Wildfire Survivors to Bypass Permit Delays

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The Small Business Administration has issued new guidance that allows California wildfire survivors to bypass local permitting delays and access $3.2 billion in disaster relief funds. The SBA Administrator described the permitting backlog as a 'nightmare' and emphasized the need for prompt reconstruction, as over 16,200 buildings were destroyed in the recent wildfires with construction started on fewer than 600 homes and businesses so far.

Why it matters

The new SBA guidance is intended to expedite the rebuilding process for California wildfire survivors, who have faced significant delays due to local permitting backlogs. This will help get people back into their homes and businesses more quickly and allow the affected communities to recover faster.

The details

The SBA's new guidance allows California wildfire survivors to bypass local permitting delays by self-certifying compliance, providing them with immediate access to $3.2 billion in disaster relief funds. This is aimed at addressing the slow pace of reconstruction, as fewer than 600 of the over 16,200 destroyed buildings have started construction so far.

• The recent wildfires in California destroyed over 16,200 buildings.
• Construction has started on fewer than 600 homes and businesses so far.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The new SBA guidance is intended to help wildfire survivors access disaster relief funds more quickly and accelerate the rebuilding process in the affected communities.