The original article was published from 9/14/2026 12:00:00 AM to 10/12/2026 12:00:00 AM
VIDEO: 100TH REBUILD PERMIT ISSUED
The City of Malibu has reached two major milestones in the rebuilding of homes and properties destroyed or damaged in the January 2025 Palisades Fire: the City has issued its 100th permit allowing a property owner to begin reconstruction; and Big Rock residents Denise and George Toberman received the first Certificate of Occupancy for a completed rebuilt home, and can move back into her home.
FIRST CERTIFICANT OF OCCUPANCY ISSUED
In an emotional moment at the City Council meeting at City Hall on September 14, the milestones were announced to the Council and the public, and the Tobermans officially received their Certificate of Occupancy.
The Certificate of Occupancy marks the completion of construction and final inspections, allowing the Tobermans to move back into their home. Their rebuild journey has now come full circle: they received their permit in October of 2025 and were able to complete their rebuild in just 11 months. Their completed home is the first to receive a Certificate of Occupancy.
“This is a milestone that brings the meaning of recovery home in a very real way,” said City Manager Joe Irvin. “The first Certificate of Occupancy means that a Malibu family can finally return to a home that was lost in the Palisades Fire. At the same time, reaching 100 permits to begin construction shows that rebuilding is moving forward throughout our community. We know there is still a long road ahead for many families, and the City remains committed to helping every property owner navigate the process and get home.”
The Tobermans have also been advocates for other fire-affected homeowners throughout the rebuilding process. In March, the City posted videos of their rebuild progress and shared their messages of encouragement to families beginning their own rebuilds, emphasizing the importance of taking the process one step at a time, building a strong professional team and making use of the resources available through the City and other agencies.
“Coming home is something I have looked forward to since the fire,” Ms. Toberman said. “The rebuilding process takes patience, persistence and a lot of people working together. I am grateful to my family, my team and the City staff who helped me navigate the process. It is not easy or fast, but I hope seeing this first completed home gives other Malibu families hope that they can get there, too with persistence and help.”
The City’s rebuilding program is designed to provide homeowners with direct assistance and a streamlined path through the planning, permitting, construction and inspection process. City staff established dedicated rebuild resources, including the Malibu Rebuild Center, where property owners and their rebuild teams can meet with City staff and staff from other agencies, receive guidance on their projects and better understand the requirements, the process, the timeline and other details for rebuilding.
The City provides pre-submittal consultations, coordinates with reviewing agencies, offers online project tracking and works with homeowners throughout plan review and construction, and created a dedicated Rebuild website with comprehensive information and resources.
The City Council has also adopted measures to reduce the financial and regulatory burden on fire-affected property owners, including rebuild fee waivers for eligible like-for-like projects. City staff have worked to expedite the review of rebuild applications while maintaining the safety, environmental and engineering standards required for construction in Malibu’s challenging coastal and hillside environment.
“Every permit represents a family taking another step toward rebuilding their home and their life in Malibu,” said City Manager Joe Irvin. “Reaching 100 construction permits and issuing the first Certificate of Occupancy are important signs of progress. City staff will continue working directly with homeowners, architects, engineers and contractors to help move projects forward as efficiently as possible while ensuring that rebuilt homes are safe and resilient.”
As of September 14, 2026, the City has issued 370 planning approvals, while 66 projects have been submitted for plan check and are currently under review. These are now in the building plan-check phase.
The City’s rebuilding process includes planning review to determine where and what can be rebuilt, followed by building plan review to ensure compliance with building codes and current safety standards. During construction, City inspectors conduct required inspections, and after a home passes its final inspection, the City issues a Certificate of Occupancy allowing the homeowner to move in.
The Palisades Fire destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes and structures in Malibu, leaving families facing the difficult process of rebuilding while also navigating insurance, design, permitting and construction challenges. The City continues to provide dedicated staff and resources to assist affected property owners throughout recovery.
“We know that every family’s path home is different,” Community Development Director Yolanda Bundy, who leads the rebuild effort, said. “Today we celebrate the Tobermans coming home, and we celebrate the 100th homeowner who has reached the point of being able to begin construction. These are important steps for Malibu, and we will continue doing everything we can every day to help our community rebuild.”
For information about the City’s Palisades Fire recovery and rebuilding resources, visit the Rebuild website.
Resident Denise Toberman (second from left) with City rebuild team staff members.
Resident Denise Toberman (fifth from right) with City Councilmembers, City Manager and rebuild team staff members.