The severe storms that hit the Tri-Community starting on December 23rd, which brought over 17 inches of rain to some areas, have left many of residents in Wrightwood, Phelan, and Piñon Hills facing a long road to recovery.
The toll of repairing a home or business after flooding and mudslides is hard enough without the extra burden of government fees. Fortunately, to help the community repair and rebuild moving forward, the Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved recovery fee waivers to speed up the rebuilding process.
“Recovering from a disaster is hard enough without additional costs standing in the way,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. “Waiving recovery fees removes barriers and helps families and property owners move forward safely and legally, so our communities can rebuild as quickly as possible.”
Current Available Permit Fee Waivers
- Plan Review and Permit Fee Waivers: To help you start repairs legally and safely, the board approved waivers of San Bernardino County Land Use Services’ plan review and permit fees, up to $5,000 per property (both fees combined), with an aggregate countywide limit of $200,000, available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 30, 2027, for post-disaster recovery and repairs to properties in communities damaged by the December 2025 storms.
Under the board’s action, the Land Use Services’ plan review and permit process for impacted residents will be expedited.
- Debris Disposal Fee Waivers: The board also authorized San Bernardino County Public Works – Solid Waste Management to waive Standard Gate Rate Disposal fees for impacted property owners. This allows qualifying residents to dispose of acceptable debris at county landfills at no cost. The waiver applies to properties identified by the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services in the Wrightwood and Phelan areas, with a total waiver amount not to exceed $16,800. The program is limited to an estimated 48 residential properties, with a maximum of five tons per property, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through June 30, 2026.
Debris must be acceptable for disposal and cannot contain asbestos, hazardous materials, or other unacceptable waste. For a detailed list of acceptable and prohibited materials at county landfills, visit the “Can I take it to the landfill” webpage.
Resources for Your Recovery
- Clean-up Assistance: If you need physical help with debris removal, the California Floods Home Cleanup Hotline is available through January 23 at (800) 451-1954 or visit bit.ly/4bumkgu.
- Insurance Questions: For help navigating flood or mudslide insurance claims, call the California Department of Insurance at (800) 927-4357.
“From the mountains to the high desert, residents have been dealing with damage, debris, and disrupted access,” said First District Supervisor Col. Paul Cook (Ret.). “By reducing their out-of-pocket costs to rebuild, we’re helping residents and business owners get repairs started. We’ll keep coordinating across departments and with our partners to support a steady recovery.”
To find additional information on storm recovery resources, please visit prepare.sbcounty.gov. To stay up to date with emergency alerts and safety information, download the Ready SB County app today.
