LA Fires Rebuilding Survey

Resumen del informe: The Eaton and Palisades fires of January 2025 stand among the most devastating natural disasters in the nation's history. These catastrophic fires destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, displacing families, and communities, while causing billions of dollars in damage. Beyond the immediate toll, the fires have radically upended the Altadena and Palisades communities, leaving residents and local institutions grappling with the daunting challenge of rebuilding. The scale of destruction demands an unprecedented response—one that is swift, respects the characters of the Palisades and Altadena, supports impacted residents and business owners, and enhances the communities.

A primary concern among respondents is the lack of leadership in recovery efforts, combined with worries related to a prolonged timeline for rebuilding, a lack of financial resources, and concerns that the neighborhoods will never be the same. Despite these challenges, a majority of homeowners intend to stay in their communities, with plans to either rebuild or retain ownership of minimally damaged properties.

The purpose of this survey is to listen directly to the residents and businesses impacted by the fires to ensure that elected officials, policy makers, and rebuilding authorities' response is both effective and aligns with needs and preferences. The survey assesses residents' and business owners' intentions and means relative to rebuilding their homes and workplaces. The results of this comprehensive, anonymous, and statistically significant survey is intended to inform elected officials and policymakers regarding where and how to prioritize their efforts. Understanding the challenges facing residents and businesses helps prepare solutions and address the concerns and challenges residents and businesses have, ultimately helping to facilitate the rebuilding and recovery from the fires as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.

Survey Sponsor and Endorsers
The survey is sponsored by the Urban Land Institute and is endorsed by both the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate and USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. The survey is administered by RCLCO, an independent real estate consulting company, with an office in Los Angeles.

The Survey Effort and Participation
The survey effort consists of four surveys, and data was collected in March and April 2025. More information can be found at the survey website: https://la.uli.org/la-fires-survey

Explore in-depth technical analysis, case studies, and best practices designed to help Los Angeles rebuild faster, more affordably, and with greater climate adaptation strategies in place in our recent report, Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles after the January 2025 Wildfires.