More than 18 months after the Palisades Fire swept through Malibu, much of the Pacific Coast Highway corridor still looks like a ghost town, with burned lots and slow recovery work leaving the area scarred.
Of nearly 600 single-family homes destroyed in the fire, only 61 have begun reconstruction, as complex permitting and soaring construction costs continue to slow the process. Residents say the rebuilding timeline can stretch for years, and some have chosen to sell instead of rebuilding.
Matt Greenberg said he waited a full year just to get a remodeling permit, only to have the Palisades Fire destroy his home on the day the permit was issued. He ultimately decided not to rebuild and sold the property. City Council candidate Danny Smith also chose to leave, warning that without faster action, Malibu could remain in ruins for decades.
One homeowner, Karl Randle, said he reduced a permitting process that can normally take five to six years to about one year, but his reconstruction cost has reached $7 million, far beyond what insurance will cover. With California Fair Plan coverage capped at $3 million, many homeowners are selling their lots, and luxury buyers are moving in. The city says it is working to speed up rebuilding with simpler procedures and a dedicated support portal, and voters are expected to decide this fall whether to build a new sewer system.
