LADBS and City Planning Meeting

I attended the recent LADBS and Planning Department meeting hosted by the Palisades Recovery Coalition, as well as an earlier meeting with the Bureau of Engineering. I appreciate the Coalition for organizing these sessions and the City departments for taking the time to come out and meet with residents face-to-face.

That said, my personal frustration is that anyone who has previously done construction or development in the City already understands most of the material being presented. The most valuable part of these meetings is the Q&A, where residents can raise the real-world issues that are directly impacting their rebuilds.

One major topic raised during the Q&A was undergrounding and what LADBS can and cannot enforce. Reza Akif, May Sung, and I have pushed for combo panels to be required and for LADWP undergrounding paperwork to be included as part of the permit issuance package. The challenge, as LADBS explained, is that until something is formally adopted into code, they cannot enforce it. They cannot deny plan check approval, issue corrections, or withhold a Certificate of Occupancy based on undergrounding requirements that are not yet codified. While this is understandable, it means progress on this front will take time.

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to revisit my previous newsletter: Understanding LADWP’s Undergrounding Plans – Pali Builds Until this becomes code, enforcement falls on us as residents and homeowners. Make sure your contractor is aware of these requirements and that undergrounding is clearly addressed in their plans and proposals.

Another homeowner shared that they had received seven contractor bids and were overwhelmed trying to determine the best path forward. They were told that the contractor could only work on a cost-plus basis, citing changing codes and requirements from DBS as the reason. Frankly, this is an easy way for a contractor to shift risk onto the homeowner.

Have I had inspectors request items that were not on City-approved plans? Yes. And I absorbed those costs to keep the project moving. Using this as a blanket excuse to push cost-plus contracts—which are not allowed in disaster rebuilds without a cap—is unacceptable and upsetting to me as a contractor. If you are experiencing this, please reach out to me directly at kambiz@palibuilds.com.

We are expecting to receive the slideshow that was presented at the meeting, and I will share it once it is available. In the meantime, here are some key resources and reminders:

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Helpful Resources

1. Palisades Inspections and Permitting Support Center
   If you haven’t seen it yet, review the Mayor’s Office announcement here:
   https://mailchi.mp/lamayor.org/palisadescommunitybriefing-17977399?e=889b1d94bb
   This has been a major push by community groups—particularly myself, Reza Akif, May Sung, and the Palisades Builders Coalition. Our hope is that this center will streamline clearances and help accelerate the plan check process.
2. Palisades DBS Concierge
   For any permitting questions or issues, email:
   palisadespermitconcierge@lacity.org
   I used this service this morning—sent an email at 6:28 a.m. and had my issue resolved by 6:51 a.m.
3. Planning Department
   See the attached document with a QR code for Planning-related inquiries and submissions.
4. Plan Check Submittal Requirements
   The City will not accept a plan check submittal without all required documents listed in the attachment, plus a signed and notarized fee waiver form from anyone listed on the property deed. Be sure to include a copy of the deed in your submission package.
   If submitting in person, the City is also requesting a thumb drive containing your plans for internal distribution. Historically, two-thirds of submissions were online and one-third in person; in the Palisades, that ratio has been reversed.
5. Wildfire Rebuilding & Recovery
   Use this site for comprehensive rebuilding information:
   Wildfire Rebuilding & Recovery | LADBS
6. Property Status & Plan Check Tracking
   You can track your plan check and permit status through the City’s Online Services portal.