Breaking Ground After the Fire: Our First 2025 Wildfire Rebuild Permit is Approved

After months of perseverance, coordination, and deep technical effort, we’re proud to share that Studio 3 AM has officially secured our first new construction permit for a 2025 wildfire rebuild in Los Angeles.

This moment marks more than just the start of a home—it’s a milestone for a family reclaiming their future and a testament to our commitment to walking alongside clients through the most difficult chapters of their lives.

Rebuilding Isn’t Just Construction—It’s Navigation

Rebuilding after a wildfire in Los Angeles County is no small feat. From navigating strict fire zone regulations to meeting evolving LADBS and County requirements, the process is layered, sensitive, and incredibly time-consuming. But that’s where we shine—at the intersection of strategy and empathy.

Here’s how we got it done:

1. Mastering the Wildfire Zone Requirements

We started by understanding the unique constraints of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ). That meant specifying ignition-resistant construction, non-combustible cladding, WUI-compliant roofing, fire-rated venting, and careful defensible space planning—all while maintaining the architectural integrity of the original home.

2. Reconciling City and County Jurisdictions

For this project, we worked across both LADBS and LA County Fire Department requirements. Each department had different submittal checklists, review timelines, and interpretations of fire code. Our team coordinated with plan checkers, attended in-person counter meetings, and revised multiple sets of drawings to meet every nuanced code requirement.

3. Documentation from Scratch

The original structure had no digital record. We recreated as-builts based on field measurement, fire debris assessments, and post-fire surveys. Our architectural and engineering team rebuilt the full documentation set from the ground up, including new Title 24 energy reports, structural calcs, and LID compliance plans.

4. Streamlining Consultant Collaboration

Time is everything for displaced homeowners. We accelerated turnaround by tightly coordinating with our structural, civil, and MEP engineers from day one. When plan check corrections came in, our entire team responded within 24–48 hours to keep momentum going.

5. Advocating for the Homeowners

When permit fees and plan check timelines stretched beyond what felt fair, we made the calls. We worked with LADBS leadership and local representatives to advocate for wildfire rebuild fast-tracking and fee adjustments where applicable.

The Rebuild Is Just Beginning

Securing this permit is only the beginning, but it’s a powerful one. This family can now rebuild—not just their home, but their sense of security and place. And as a design-build team, we’re honored to carry their vision through every phase, from foundation to final walk-through.

For us, this isn’t just a project—it’s a mission. We’re here to help wildfire survivors rebuild smarter, safer, and stronger.

If your home was lost in the 2025 wildfires, you don’t have to face the rebuild alone.

Let Studio 3 AM and Hogan Design Build guide you through the process with experience, empathy, and full-service design-build expertise tailored to Los Angeles’ most complex sites.