What Should I Expect for My LA Fire Rebuild?

After seeing hundreds of rebuild bids from dozens of LA contractors, here is what homeowners in Altadena and Pacific Palisades can realistically expect in regards to cost, and timeline. We have also shared some (hopefully) helpful information on design, soil health, and expected value post rebuild.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Overall Cost Range

For a full ground-up rebuild in Los Angeles, most fire-affected homeowners are landing between:
$485–$650+ per square foot (turnkey).

This cost typically includes:

• Full structure + finishes (flooring, cabinets, windows, doors, tile, fixtures)

• All utilities (electrical, plumbing, sewer, gas)

• Site work (driveway, drainage, retaining walls, foundation adjustments, fencing)

Key Cost Drivers

• Site Work (hillside lots = $$)

  • Altadena and Palisades have slope, which means:

    • Retaining walls

    • Drainage systems

    • Driveway + concrete work

    • Grading + foundation

• Your Design Choices

  • Custom windows/doors can add tens of thousands and slow your build.

  • You can still personalize without blowing your budget.

Important Considerations

• Change orders should NOT happen

  • If your pre-construction selections (finishes, fixtures, layout) are done correctly, you should have zero or near-zero change orders (unless YOU are the one making changes).

• Comparing bids

  • Contractors present costs differently. Some include finishes, site work, utilities…some do not. One contractor may have an efficiency in cost on a trade that another GC does not. The bottom-line number is what matters, as long as the scope is identical.

Soil Health

Soil Health Can Be Compromised

Wildfires often leave soil:

• Hydrophobic (water-repelling)

• Depleted of carbon

• Stripped of microbes

• Potentially carrying heavy metals
  

Restoring Soil Health

A full 5,000 sq ft property typically costs $5,000–$7,000 to refresh with high-quality topsoil or biological amendments.

Regenerative soil companies focus on reintroducing healthy bacteria and fungi that detoxify and rebuild soil structure.

RGN has a very good explanation of soil remediation here: RGN Soils

301 Organics is an LA based company already working in the area. They are incredibly knowledgeable and offer a clear path forward: Soil Treatment for Altadena Residents

Free Testing Options

LA County Public Health

USC Dornsife Program

Plants That Naturally Clean Soil (Phytoremediation)

• Sunflower

• Indian mustard

• Alfalfa

• Alpine pennycress

• Willow

• Brassica family (mustard, kale)

Rebuild Value Trends

Rebuilt home values in post-wildfire areas show 40–65% value increases within 1–3 years.

While not guaranteed, the trend is encouraging.