One Year Later, LA Residents Struggle to Rebuild After Deadly Fires

Permitting delays, insurance gaps, and financial hurdles continue to hamper recovery efforts.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

More than a year after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles, residents are still grappling with the rebuilding process, citing ongoing challenges with permitting, insurance, and access to affordable capital. The city has received over 3,500 permit applications and issued nearly 2,000 permits, but thousands remain displaced as they navigate complex bureaucratic processes and insurance disputes.

Why it matters

The slow pace of rebuilding has drawn scrutiny from the federal government, with President Trump issuing an executive order to override state and local permitting requirements. The recovery efforts highlight the difficulties communities face in the aftermath of natural disasters, underscoring the need for more streamlined disaster response and recovery policies.

The details

As of February 21, the city of Los Angeles has received 3,561 permitting applications and issued 1,939 permits for 844 unique addresses. There are currently 1,189 applications in review and 2,372 plans approved. Residents like Michelle Bitting and Mychal Wilson have faced delays in the permitting process, with some waiting months to obtain the necessary approvals. The Los Angeles City Council has taken steps to waive permit fees for affected residents, but many still struggle with insurance disputes and lack of access to affordable capital.

  • The Palisades and Eaton fires began in January 2025.
  • As of February 21, 2026, the city has received 3,561 permitting applications and issued 1,939 permits.
  • On February 3, 2026, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to waive permit fees for residents affected by the fires.
  • On February 14, 2026, Mychal Wilson anticipated receiving his permits within two weeks.

The players

Traci Park

LA District 11 Councilperson who stated that hundreds of homes are already under construction in the Palisades, with over 1,000 permits in the pipeline, but thousands remain displaced.

Michelle Bitting

A Palisades resident whose home was destroyed during the fires, and who described the 'fatigue factor' within the ongoing rebuilding process.

Mychal Wilson

A whistleblower attorney and Palisades resident who echoed similar sentiments about the permitting process, stating that they decided to expand after the fires and anticipated receiving their permits within two weeks as of February 14, 2026.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Hundreds of homes are already under construction in the Palisades, with over 1,000 permits in the pipeline. That's real progress — but those are people who can. Thousands of others remain displaced, faced with lingering insurance disputes and lack of access to affordable capital to rebuild.”

— Traci Park, LA District 11 Councilperson (FOX Business)

“The minutia of what we had to navigate with just the insurance stuff was exhausting. Just the policy details and sort of understanding all of that stuff.”

— Michelle Bitting (FOX Business)

“Permits have been being issued, and it takes anywhere between 30 days to six months, but some of that falls on the homeowner. You go through the design, and then you say, 'Well, wait a second. I want to increase the square footage … I think there's that issue in the permitting process that has delayed stuff.”

— Mychal Wilson, Palisades resident (FOX Business)

What’s next

The Los Angeles City Council plans to hold an upcoming town hall to allow residents to directly weigh in on what should be included in a 'long-term recovery plan'. Additionally, President Trump's executive order mandating the federal government to take over rebuilding efforts in Los Angeles could lead to further developments in the recovery process.

The takeaway

The ongoing rebuilding challenges faced by Los Angeles residents in the aftermath of the Palisades and Eaton fires underscore the need for more streamlined disaster response and recovery policies. The complex bureaucratic processes, insurance disputes, and lack of access to affordable capital have left thousands displaced, highlighting the 'fatigue factor' within the community as they navigate the arduous rebuilding process.