Property Tax and Pool Cleanup update

PROPERTY TAX:

There’s been a lot of confusion to how the LA County Assessors will reassess the value of the property after the rebuild. From 2/20/2025 Mayor’s town hall, there were a few clarifications. The assessors will be re-valuate the in one of the two methods and keep your existing or pre-fire tax base, the assessor will choose the method that has the maximum benefit to the homeowner:

  1. VALUE - Under 120% of the pre-fire VALUE. For example, if your home was worth $1million before the fire, you can build up to $1.2 million and keep your full tax basis. But this will diminish over time, so the sooner you build, the more likely you will be able to keep your pre-fire tax basis.

  2. SIZE - Maintain the same size and square footage + 10% of the pre-fire home. Replacement in similarity. But if you build and add construction beyond what was originally there, then only that portion will be picked up as new construction and added to your taxable value. The assessor also explained that if your property was 1,000 s.f. and you build 1,005 s.f., they are not going to pick that up. But if you build a 2,000s.f. home, then they will consider that as additional s.f. and would be picked up as new construction. Please also note that garage does not count in square footage. HERE is a good explanation how tax assessors calculate their square footage.

    OR

    if you want to sell, Proposition 19 allows you to transfer your property’s tax base to be transferred to a comparable property within the same county or another county in California.

All of this information may be found on https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief The assessors also indicated that they are working with both the State Senate and the Assembly in trying to deliver a bill that will address the application of decrease in value as of 1/7/2025 rather than as of 1/1/2026. Please also note that the reduced value remains in effect until the property is fully repaired, restored, or reconstructed.

POOL CLEANUP

If you opt into Army Corp phase 2 debris removal program, please note that the pools within the structural ash footprint with eligible structural debris will have structural debris and water removed from the pool to wet the ash debris. The pool will also be fenced off after debris removal to prevent accidental falls. However, they will not refill the pools, they will not remove the pools, and they will not clear or clean the pools and ponds outside the structural ash footprint.

HERE is the link to the City of LA protocol for swimming pool drainage. You will need to fill out the Pacific Palisades - Pool Discharge Request Google form via the link, or scan below:

city of la protocol for swimming pool drainage

After draining the pool, the County also recommends the following procedure for health and safety.