The first step is understanding what’s possible on your property and what’s required by local agencies. The process has a specific sequence — and skipping steps creates problems downstream. Here’s the order:

• Debris removal — Your lot must be fully cleared of ash, hazardous materials, and structural remains before any construction permits will be issued. You can opt into the LA County government debris removal program (free, but on their schedule) or hire a licensed private contractor for more control.
• Insurance documentation — Before you accept any settlement, get contractor estimates so you know what rebuilding actually costs. Many homeowners are accepting offers that fall short of actual rebuild costs by $200,000 or more.
• Design — Work with an architect or designer to establish your plans. Whether you’re rebuilding like-for-like or making changes, you need drawings before permits.
• Permits — In Altadena (unincorporated LA County), permits go through LA County Building & Safety and Regional Planning — not the City of Pasadena. This is a detail many homeowners and out-of-area contractors miss.
• Construction — Once permits are in hand, your licensed general contractor manages the build from ground prep through final inspection and certificate of occupancy.

We can guide you through every one of these steps, or step in at any stage you’re currently at.

No — and this is a common, costly misunderstanding. Altadena is an unincorporated community of Los Angeles County, not part of the City of Pasadena. All permits go through LA County’s Building & Safety Division and Regional Planning — a separate process with different requirements, reviewers, and timelines.

Contractors who primarily work in the City of Pasadena may not know this process well. We do — and it makes a real difference in how smoothly and quickly your project moves through review.

Not necessarily. LA County allows homeowners to rebuild up to 10% larger or 200 square feet larger (whichever is greater) and still qualify for the county’s expedited plan check process — a significant benefit in terms of speed. Changes beyond that threshold require additional review.

Many homeowners use the rebuild as an opportunity to fix what never worked — a cramped kitchen, a poor layout, dark hallways — while staying within the expedited approval path. It’s worth discussing with your contractor and architect before locking in your plans, because the design choices you make early determine how quickly you move later.

Yes. We regularly collaborate with architects, designers, and engineers and can join the team early to help with constructability, budgeting, and scheduling. Getting a contractor involved during the design phase — not just after plans are complete — prevents costly surprises and keeps the project on budget.

If you don’t yet have an architect, we can refer you to trusted local professionals we’ve worked with on similar projects in the area.

Realistically, 12 to 24 months from site clearance to move-in. Like-for-like rebuilds on cleared lots may finish closer to the shorter end. Homes with design changes, custom features, or complicated lot conditions take longer. Permit processing times through LA County and material and labor availability both affect the final schedule.

The homeowners who move fastest are those who start early — especially on design and permitting. Every month of delay on the front end is a month added to the back end. We provide realistic timelines and clear communication throughout so you know what to expect at each stage.

Yes. Fire rebuilds involve multiple layers of review — LA County Building & Safety, Regional Planning, and in some cases Fire Department and Public Health sign-offs. We coordinate closely with the design team and local agencies to manage permit applications, inspections, and approvals throughout construction.

Permit applications move faster when plans are complete, accurate, and submitted correctly the first time. Experienced local contractors know what county plan checkers are looking for, which reduces back-and-forth resubmittals that add weeks or months to a timeline.

Yes. Even if you’re rebuilding the same home in the same location, construction must meet current building codes — not the codes from when the original home was built. For fire rebuilds in Altadena, this includes Chapter 7A fire-hardening requirements: exterior materials, vent covers, windows, roofing, and decking designed to make homes more resistant to wildfire ember cast.

These requirements add some cost, but they meaningfully improve your home’s long-term safety and can positively affect your insurance situation going forward. We walk every homeowner through what’s required and how it affects design and budget before construction begins.

We understand that most rebuild projects are shaped by insurance coverage and ongoing claim negotiations. Our standard proposals are lump sum estimates — a single total price based on a thorough review of your plans and project scope. This is how established residential contractors price their work, and it reflects the depth of experience behind the number we give you.

For homeowners who need a cost breakdown by category for insurance documentation purposes, we offer a fee-based itemized estimate prepared specifically to support your claim. If you go on to sign a construction contract with CCAD, that fee is credited in full toward your project — so there’s no added cost if we build together.

Getting accurate contractor numbers before accepting any settlement is one of the most important steps you can take. We can provide this early in the process, even before your claim is finalized.

This is one of the most common and serious problems facing Altadena homeowners right now. Studies show the majority of Eaton Fire survivors received insurance offers that fall short of actual rebuild costs — sometimes by $200,000 or more. Before you accept any settlement:

• Get at least two lump sum estimates from licensed contractors for what it will actually cost to rebuild your specific home. A lump sum from an experienced local contractor — priced from a full plan review — is a credible, defensible number your insurer has to reckon with.
• Request a full breakdown of your policy — including additional living expenses (ALE), extended replacement cost coverage, and code upgrade coverage.
• Document all pre-fire conditions: photos, square footage, finish levels, and special features.
• If your insurer is undervaluing your claim, you have the right to dispute it. A public adjuster — a licensed professional who advocates for you, not the insurance company — can help negotiate. You can also file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance.

CCAD works alongside homeowners and their adjusters. Our lump sum estimates give you a clear, committed number to negotiate with — and for those who need a cost breakdown by category for formal insurance documentation, we offer that as a separate, fee-based service (credited to your contract if you build with us).

ALE is the portion of your homeowner’s policy that pays for your temporary housing costs while you rebuild — rent, hotel, storage, and related expenses. Most policies have both a time limit (often 12–24 months) and a dollar cap.

If your rebuild takes longer than your ALE period, you may be responsible for housing costs out of pocket while still paying for construction. This is a significant reason to start the design and permitting process as early as possible — every month saved on the front end reduces the risk of outlasting your coverage.

This is one of the most common and least-talked-about problems facing Altadena homeowners. Insurance claims take time — sometimes many months — and construction costs are due well before any settlement arrives.

The good news: there is a federal loan program specifically designed to bridge this gap. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) — despite its name — offers low-interest disaster loans directly to homeowners, not just businesses. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to repair or replace their primary residence, and up to $100,000 to replace personal property including clothing, furniture, appliances, and vehicles.

The terms are significantly better than any conventional loan or credit card. For homeowners and renters, interest rates are as low as 2.75–3%, with loan terms up to 30 years. Critically, interest does not begin to accrue and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement.

That 12-month grace period is meaningful — it means you can begin rebuilding without any loan payments due for the first year. If you end up not needing the loan (because your insurance settles quickly), you can decline the offer at no cost after you’re approved.

No — and you shouldn’t wait. Disaster survivors do not need to wait for an insurance settlement to apply for an SBA disaster loan. The SBA can make a loan for the total replacement cost up to its limits, with the agreement that you will use your insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan balance when the settlement arrives.

In practical terms: the SBA loan bridges the gap while you wait for your insurer. When your insurance payment arrives, you apply it toward the SBA loan balance. The two programs are designed to work together, not compete. You simply cannot use both to cover the exact same expense — but the loan is explicitly designed to cover costs that insurance doesn’t fully pay for.

Apply at sba.gov/disaster or call the SBA Customer Service line at (800) 659-2955. There is no cost to apply. Verify current program availability and deadlines directly with SBA, as these can change.

This is a separate and still-evolving legal matter. Evidence strongly suggests that SCE equipment played a role in starting the Eaton Fire. Edison has opened a compensation program that offers homeowners $550–$750 per square foot for lost single-family residences, with additional payments for pain and suffering. Thousands of individual lawsuits are also moving through Los Angeles Superior Court as part of a coordinated mass tort proceeding.

However, SCE has not admitted full liability, and many attorneys representing victims believe the compensation program may undervalue claims. This is genuinely complex legal territory — not something to navigate without professional help.

We would advise against it. Any Edison payout is uncertain in both timing and amount. The compensation program has moved slowly — months after opening, only a small fraction of applicants had received payments. Litigation timelines are even less predictable.

Build your rebuild budget around what you know today: your insurance settlement (once negotiated to a fair amount), any SBA loan you qualify for, and your own resources. If and when an Edison payment arrives, it can be used to pay down an SBA loan, fund improvements, or provide financial relief — but it shouldn’t be the load-bearing beam of your plan.

This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. After a disaster, unlicensed and inexperienced contractors flood the area. Here’s what to verify before signing anything:

• CSLB License — Verify your contractor’s California State License Board license at cslb.ca.gov. The number should appear on every document they give you. CCAD holds CSLB License #786113.
• Local experience — A contractor who has worked in Altadena and with LA County permits will move faster and make fewer costly mistakes than one new to the area.
• References from completed projects — Ask for references, and follow up. Projects currently under construction aren’t references yet.
• Single point of contact — Ask who you’ll be talking to throughout the project. With some larger companies, you sign with a salesperson and never hear from them again. With CCAD, Dustin is personally involved in every project.
• A clear, written proposal — Never sign a vague contract. A lump sum from a reputable contractor should be based on a full review of your plans, with a clearly defined scope of what is and isn’t included. You shouldn’t need a line-by-line breakdown to understand what you’re agreeing to — but you should understand the scope completely before signing.

We recognize that rebuilding after a fire is not just a construction project — it’s a personal process of recovery. Dustin Cunningham has lived and worked in and around Altadena for over 20 years. He knows the neighborhoods, the county permit process, the local trades, and the particular conditions of foothill construction.

Our approach combines technical expertise with steady, clear communication — and respect for what the home represents to the family rebuilding it. We don’t subcontract our client relationships. You will always have a direct line to the person actually running your project.

Yes — and starting the conversation early is one of the most valuable things you can do. We offer free initial consultations and can provide a lump sum estimate based on a full review of your plans — the kind of clear, committed number that gives you real leverage when negotiating with your insurer or applying for an SBA loan, well before your settlement is finalized.

For homeowners who need a cost breakdown by category for formal insurance documentation, we offer that as a separate, fee-based service — credited in full to your construction contract if you move forward with CCAD. Either way, having accurate contractor numbers early puts you in a far stronger position than waiting.