County Offers Fee Waivers for Disaster Recovery-Related Processes

The County Board of Supervisors voted to waive certain fees for people who lost their homes in the September 8 Coches Fire, including those associated with debris removal, burned vehicle disposal, rebuilding and document replacement.

Four mobile homes, and three accessory structures were destroyed. The fee waiver effort is expected to save residents approximately $18,000 for various permits and plan checks within the Building Division. In total disposal costs alone, residents could save up to $4,300.

County Environmental Health and Quality estimates residents could save up to $10,098 for the septic system or water well permits. The replacement of vital records and documents could save residents up to $500.

A Planning and Development Services recovery liaison is assigned to each affected property owner and serves in a caseworker-type role working directly for those people who were affected by the fire. They help find recovery resources and help them with permitting and rebuilding information.

Guidance and resources are also provided to property owners at no cost on request for mobile home repair and permitting, safe restoration of water wells, pools, and septic systems, off property fire damage and erosion control.

• Among the County service fees that can be waived are:
• Various solid waste disposal fees can be waived for franchise haulers, transfer stations and landfills on fire debris collected from properties damaged or destroyed in the Coches Fire. Residents or their contractors by informing the customer service representative that the service is for a Coches Fire-damaged property.
• Household hazardous waste collection is available for free to property owners through a County Public Works (DPW) contractor.
• For questions on debris collection or disposal, residents can reach out to DPW by email at [email protected] or by phone at (858) 694-2456.
• Removal and disposal of burned or damaged vehicles, including mobile homes and recreational vehicles can be done at no cost through the County's Vehicle Abatement Program.
• Building plan check and permit issuance fees can be waived.
• Septic system and water well installation permit fees and plan review fees can be waived.
• Vital record, deeds and other property-related and business document replacement fees from the Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk's Office can be waived.
• For assistance with this reach out to [email protected]or (619) 237-0502.

To qualify for the fee waivers, residents can apply with the County Building Division which will verify structures lost or damaged in the Coches Fire including those not listed in the initial damage report. Once qualified, they need only bring proof of parcel ownership to get the fee waivers.

In partnership with local non-governmental organizations, the Office of Emergency Services' AlertSanDiego website can connect residents to supplemental recovery services, including financial assistance for immediate needs, mental health support, clothing replacement, hazardous tree removal, and short-term housing for households whose homes were destroyed. For information on this, reach out to [email protected] or (858) 565-3490.