Next steps for rebuilding homes released by Santa Cruz County Planning Department

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Cal Fire said a total of 330 structures have been destroyed in the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire, and 319 of those are in Santa Cruz County.

The fire is still burning and an additional 25,000 structures are still threatened, but the Santa Cruz County Planning Department is already sharing ways to help the community rebuild and recover from losses.

Before making plans to rebuild, the department said there will need to be infrastructure and property assessments, which it said will be done for public and private infrastructure when it is safe for county staff and Cal Fire to do them.

Once properties are assessed, owners should file a claim with the insurance company.

Property owners can also apply for financial assistance from FEMA because Santa Cruz County was identified as one of the counties most effected by fires in a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. Monterey County was also added to the declaration. Learn more about filing a FEMA claim here.

After assessments and claims, the planning department said property owners should file a Calamity Application with the Assessor's Office. Staff will then re-assess the property and share property record information. Contact the Assessor's Office for more information about this step at asrwebmail@santacruzcounty.us.

The next step is to get Building Permit records, including archived project plans. Property owners can do that by emailing recordsroominquiries@santacruzcounty.us. The planning department says to title the email "Fire Records Request" for expedited processing. The records are required to find out what the next steps are in the permitting process.

The department said obtaining environmental clearance for debris removal is the next step, but said it would release more information later.

After that is a permit application, submission and review. The department said most single-family home projects will only require a building permit, but some locations or projects may require a discretionary development permit, environmental resource permit or other special exeption or consideration. More information will be released later about that as well.

After all of that is done, building owners can begin construction and inspection.

For more information about regulations and policies, find the 'Key County Code Provisions Regarding Rebuilding After Fire Disaster" memo here.