By Jonathan Azal, Founder — JB Builders | Reseda, CA
If you lost your home in the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, you are navigating one of the most overwhelming experiences a family can face. The phone calls from contractors you have never heard of. The insurance paperwork that seems designed to confuse. The permits, the timelines, the decisions that feel impossible to make when you are still processing what happened.
I am Jonathan Azal, founder of JB Builders. My company has been building homes in greater Los Angeles for more than 20 years. We are based in Reseda, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley, and we have spent the better part of the last year helping families in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and surrounding communities begin the process of rebuilding.
This post exists because I kept having the same conversations with homeowners — conversations that should be happening earlier, before families make decisions that cost them time, money, and peace of mind. Consider this the version of that conversation I wish every fire-affected homeowner could have on day one.
The First Thing Most Homeowners Get Wrong
The most expensive mistake I see families make is accepting their insurance settlement before having a licensed contractor review the scope of loss.
Here is what happens. Your insurance company sends an adjuster. The adjuster documents the loss and produces a scope — a detailed estimate of what it will cost to rebuild your home. That number becomes the basis of your settlement offer.
The problem is that construction costs in Los Angeles have risen substantially over the past several years. Many homeowners purchased their policies five, ten, or fifteen years ago and have never updated their coverage limits to reflect current market conditions. When a 2010 policy meets a 2025 rebuild cost, the gap can be staggering — we are talking six figures in some cases, and we have seen it exceed that.
Before you sign anything with your insurance company, call a licensed contractor and ask them to review the scope. At JB Builders, this review is completely free. It is not a sales pitch. It is the same conversation I would want someone to have with my own family if we were in this position.
The Contractor Fraud Problem in Los Angeles Right Now
Following the 2025 wildfires, consumer advocates, city officials, and the California Contractors State License Board all issued warnings about the same thing: unlicensed operators and out-of-state contractors flooding the Los Angeles market to prey on families in crisis.
The tactics are consistent. Large upfront deposit requirements. Pressure to sign contracts quickly. Vague timelines and no references. Licenses that do not check out or belong to someone else entirely.
Before you have any conversation with any contractor about your fire rebuild, do this one thing first: go to cslb.ca.gov and verify their license number. It takes about 60 seconds and it will tell you whether the contractor is licensed, whether their license is active, and whether they have any disciplinary actions on record.
JB Builders holds an active California CSLB license and carries full general liability and workers’ compensation insurance on every project. We welcome any due diligence a family wants to conduct — our license, insurance certificates, and references from completed Los Angeles projects are available upon request.
How the LA County Fire Rebuild Permitting Process Actually Works
One of the most common questions I hear from families is some version of: how long is this going to take?
The honest answer is that it depends — on the size and complexity of your home, on your design decisions, and significantly on how well your contractor navigates the permitting process.
LA County has established an expedited review pathway specifically for fire rebuild projects. This pathway was designed to accelerate approvals for families rebuilding in designated disaster areas. But — and this is important — the pathway still requires correctly prepared documents, proper plan submissions, and a working knowledge of the current code requirements that apply to homes in fire hazard zones.
Homes rebuilt in Los Angeles fire hazard zones must now meet current California Building Code fire-resistant construction requirements. That means Class A roofing, ember-resistant vents, fire-rated exterior walls, and defensible space standards. These are not optional. They are required for permit approval, and a contractor who is not familiar with them will cost you months in corrections and resubmissions.
Working with an experienced Los Angeles contractor who knows this process, families can typically begin construction within four to six months of starting. Full rebuild construction generally runs 12 to 18 months depending on the scope of the project.
The Four Phases of a Fire Rebuild — What to Expect
Here is how we walk families through the process at JB Builders.
Phase 1 — Insurance and Scope of Loss (Weeks 1 through 8)
This is the most critical phase and the one most homeowners rush through. We review the insurance scope with you, identify gaps between the settlement offer and actual current rebuild costs, and help you document everything needed to make a strong case to your carrier. Many families leave significant money on the table here simply because they did not know to push back.
Phase 2 — Design and Planning (Months 2 through 4)
We connect you with architects experienced in fire-resistant construction and familiar with current LA County requirements. During this phase we also develop a detailed pre-construction budget so you have full financial clarity before a single permit is filed.
Phase 3 — Permitting (Months 3 through 6)
We submit plans to LADBS and navigate LA County’s expedited fire rebuild review pathway. Our familiarity with fire rebuild-specific code requirements means we can anticipate correction requests before they happen and keep your project moving.
Phase 4 — Construction (Months 6 through 18+)
Ground-up construction with weekly progress updates, transparent budget management, and quality control at every stage. Jonathan Azal is personally reachable throughout every project — not a project manager you have never met, not a call center.
Why We Started the JB Builders Fire Rebuild Program
We did not launch a fire rebuild program because it was a business opportunity. We launched it because we are from here.
Our team lives and works in the San Fernando Valley. We know these neighborhoods. We know the families who lost everything in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Eaton Canyon. And we know how to build in Los Angeles — the geology, the codes, the agencies, the subcontractors who do exceptional work and the ones who do not.
The JB Builders Fire Rebuild Program includes a free initial consultation with no obligation, insurance scope-of-loss review, permitting navigation, and full ground-up construction. We respond to all fire rebuild inquiries within 24 hours because we know that for families in this situation, time is not abstract — it is another month in a rental, another month away from home.
If you or someone you know is navigating the LA fire rebuild process and would benefit from a straightforward conversation about where things stand and what the path forward looks like, call me directly at 818-402-4772 or visit jb-build.com/fire-rebuilds. The first conversation is free and it always will be.
— Jonathan Azal
Founder, JB Builders
Reseda, CA
Frequently Asked Questions — LA Fire Rebuild
How do I know if my insurance payout is enough to rebuild?
Have a licensed contractor review your scope of loss before accepting any settlement. At JB Builders this review is free. Many homeowners discover their policy limits are significantly below current Los Angeles construction costs — catching this early is the single most important financial step in the rebuild process.
How long does a fire rebuild take in Los Angeles?
With an experienced contractor navigating LA County’s expedited fire rebuild permitting pathway, most families can begin construction within four to six months. Full rebuild construction typically takes 12 to 18 months depending on size and complexity. JB Builders provides a realistic timeline at the start of every engagement.
How do I protect myself from contractor fraud?
Verify every contractor’s license at cslb.ca.gov before signing anything. Ask for proof of general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Be cautious of large upfront deposit requirements, pressure to sign quickly, and contractors who cannot provide local Los Angeles references from recently completed projects.
Does JB Builders serve Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Eaton Canyon?
Yes. JB Builders serves the entire greater Los Angeles area including Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Calabasas, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, and throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Is the JB Builders fire rebuild consultation really free?
Yes — completely free, no obligation. Call Jonathan directly at 818-402-4772 or visit jb-build.com/fire-rebuilds. We respond to all fire rebuild inquiries within 24 hours.
JB Builders is a licensed California general contractor headquartered in Reseda, CA, serving greater Los Angeles County for more than 20 years. Founder Jonathan Azal specializes in luxury custom home construction, commercial development, and LA wildfire rebuilds. License information and insurance certificates available upon request. Call 818-402-4772 or visit jb-build.com.