A-Class HERS Raters

Fire Rebuild HERS / ECC Testing

Rebuilding after the Eaton or Palisades fire? A rebuilt home is new construction under the Energy Code, so it needs field verification before final, starting with QII before the drywall goes up. Here’s what to plan for, and where to pull rebuild permits in Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Malibu and the Palisades.

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Links last verified: October 2026
Energy testing

A Rebuild Is New Construction

Even a like-for-like rebuild is a newly constructed home for the Energy Code. The Energy Commission makes field verification and diagnostic testing mandatory for every newly constructed single-family building, and the Certificate of Compliance (CF1R) lists exactly which measures a third-party rater has to verify. Your rebuild can’t final until those results are registered.

Most rebuilds need these tests:

Code cycle: Executive Order N-29-25 suspends the 2025 California Building Standards Code, along with rooftop solar and battery requirements, for rebuilding structures affected by the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires (LA County rebuild policies). Ask your building department which cycle your rebuild is reviewed under. 2022 projects use HERS forms and 2025 projects use ECC forms. We’re certified for both.

Registry: either way, the results are registered with CHEERS. We send you the registered CF3R forms and the CHEERS Project Status Report for your final inspection.

Climate zone: LA County has designated Altadena ZIP codes 91001 and 91003 as Climate Zone 9 for rebuilding. Elsewhere, check the address with the Energy Commission’s climate zone tool.

When to call

Testing Through a Rebuild, Step by Step

Call us when framing starts, not at final. Here’s how the visits usually line up.

  1. 1

    Design: the CF1R

    Your energy consultant or designer prepares the Certificate of Compliance (CF1R). It lists every measure that needs field verification on your rebuild. Send it to us early so we can confirm the test list and schedule.

  2. 2

    Framing: QII air sealing

    Before insulation goes in, we verify air sealing at the framing stage (QII, CF3R-ENV-21-H).

  3. 3

    Insulation: QII inspection

    Once insulation is installed and before drywall, we inspect it (QII, CF3R-ENV-22-H). This can’t be checked once the walls are closed, so it’s the visit most often missed.

  4. 4

    HVAC installed: ducts

    With the duct system in, we test duct leakage (CF3R-MCH-20-H).

  5. 5

    Final: systems and ventilation

    Near completion we verify airflow (MCH-23), fan efficacy (MCH-22), refrigerant charge (MCH-25) and indoor air quality / mechanical ventilation (MCH-27), plus anything else your CF1R lists.

  6. 6

    Registration and paperwork

    We register each CF3R with CHEERS and send you the registered forms and the CHEERS Project Status Report for your final inspection.

Rebuild permits

Rebuild Permit Centers & Programs

One-stop centers, review timelines, fee programs and rebuild hubs for the Eaton and Palisades fire areas. For everyday permits elsewhere in LA County, see Permit Desks by City.

AltadenaEaton Fire · One-Stop, 464 W. Woodbury Rd.PasadenaEaton Fire · Fee waiver, planner consultationsSierra MadreEaton Fire · Accela portal, trade permitsPacific PalisadesPalisades Fire · One-Stop Rebuilding Center, EO1Unincorporated Palisades-area (LA County)Palisades Fire · Calabasas One-StopMalibuPalisades & Franklin fires · Malibu Rebuilds, Rebuild Center
AltadenaEaton FireUnincorporated LA County · LA County Public Works
  • Walk-ins: Mon–Fri 8 am–4:30 pm (last call for permits 3 pm). Rebuild consultations: Mon, Wed and Fri 8:30 am–12:30 pm.
  • County departments target 10 business days for a first review of rebuild plans and 5 business days for rechecks.
  • The Altadena Community Center recovery center at 730 E. Altadena Dr. is open Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm.
  • For rebuilding, the County has designated Altadena ZIP codes 91001 and 91003 as Climate Zone 9.
  • Altadena is not part of Pasadena: rebuild permits come from LA County, not the City.
PasadenaEaton FireCity of Pasadena
  • OfficePlanning & Community Development, Building & Safety Division (Permit Center)
  • Address175 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101
  • Phone(626) 744-4200
  • Book a free 30-minute Planner-of-the-Day consultation for rebuilding guidance through the City’s Eaton Fire recovery page.
  • Fee waiver: for eligible owner-occupied homes red-tagged in the Eaton Fire, City plan check and permit fees are waived, except water service fees and a $1,000 C&D deposit. Apply online or through your designated zoning planner.
  • The Building & Safety page posts rebuild bulletins, including a Rebuild Permit Status map and next-day inspections for new residential units.
  • Survivor support is available in person at 730 E. Altadena Dr.
Sierra MadreEaton FireCity of Sierra Madre
  • All plan check, building and zoning applications go through the Accela Citizen Portal.
  • There’s no all-in-one permit: each trade, including mechanical, needs its own permit.
  • Service counter: Mon–Thu 7:30 am–5:30 pm, closed Fridays.
  • We didn’t find a dedicated rebuild permitting page on the City’s site, so ask the counter about any Eaton Fire rebuild procedures.
Pacific PalisadesPalisades FirePart of the City of Los Angeles · LADBS
  • OfficeLADBS · L.A. One-Stop Rebuilding Center
  • Address1828 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
  • Two in-person centers, Mon–Fri 9 am–5 pm: the L.A. One-Stop Rebuilding Center (1828 Sawtelle Blvd.) and the Palisades Inspections & Permitting Support Center (16925 Marquez Ave., 90272).
  • Under Executive Order 1, qualifying like-for-like rebuilds get expedited review, with a 30-day target.
  • LADBS also offers a self-certification pilot, AI pre-plan check and standard plans for rebuilds.
  • Pacific Palisades is in the City of Los Angeles, so rebuild permits come from LADBS, not LA County or Malibu.
Unincorporated Palisades-area (LA County)Palisades FireLA County Public Works · Calabasas One-Stop
  • OfficeLA County Public Works, Building & Safety · Calabasas One-Stop Permit Center
  • Address27001 Agoura Rd., Suite 250, Calabasas, CA
  • For Palisades Fire rebuilds in unincorporated LA County, not the City of LA or Malibu.
  • The same County review targets apply: 10 business days for a first review and 5 for rechecks.
  • Palisades-area questions: Building & Safety Calabasas office, (818) 880-4150.
MalibuPalisades & Franklin firesCity of Malibu
  • maliburebuilds.org is the City’s Palisades and Franklin fire rebuild hub, linked from malibucity.org. The City Council adopted its final Rebuild Policies on October 15, 2025.
  • Rebuild paths include like-for-like plus 10% or a Coastal Development Permit. A typical single-family rebuild needs separate building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits (plus septic where applicable).
  • To restore pre-existing non-conforming features, rebuild applicants have six years from the fire to submit a planning application and eight years to get a building permit.
Last verified: October 2026. Rebuild programs, office hours, fees and permit requirements change often. Always confirm with your building department before you apply. These links go to official city, county and state websites; A-Class HERS Raters is not affiliated with any of these agencies.
FAQ

Fire Rebuild Questions

Does a like-for-like fire rebuild need HERS / ECC testing?

Yes. For the Energy Code a rebuilt home is new construction, and field verification is mandatory for every newly constructed single-family home. Your CF1R lists exactly which measures have to be verified before final.

When should we call a rater on a rebuild?

Before insulation, ideally when framing starts. QII is verified at the framing stage and again once insulation is in, before drywall. If the walls are closed first, that verification can’t be done. Calling at final is too late.

Which tests does a rebuild usually need?

Most rebuilds need QII insulation verification, duct leakage testing, airflow and fan efficacy, refrigerant charge verification and indoor air quality / mechanical ventilation checks. Under the 2025 code, heat pumps need refrigerant charge verification in every climate zone, and air conditioners need it in Climate Zones 2 and 8–15. The CF1R has the final list.

Is my rebuild under the 2022 or the 2025 Energy Code?

Ask your building department. Executive Order N-29-25 suspends the 2025 California Building Standards Code, along with rooftop solar and battery requirements, for rebuilding structures affected by the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires. 2022 projects use HERS forms and 2025 projects use ECC forms. We’re certified for both, and both are registered with CHEERS.

What do we get at the end of testing?

We register each CF3R with CHEERS and send you the registered forms plus the CHEERS Project Status Report. That’s a one-page summary with a QR code and a green check for each verified measure, which gives your inspector a quick way to confirm testing is done.

We’re in Altadena. Do we go to Pasadena for permits?

No. Altadena is unincorporated LA County, so rebuild permits come from LA County Public Works through the Altadena One-Stop Permit Center at 464 W. Woodbury Rd. Homes inside Pasadena city limits go through the City of Pasadena Permit Center.

Does Pasadena’s fee waiver cover HERS / ECC testing?

The waiver covers City of Pasadena plan check and permit fees for eligible red-tagged homes. Third-party testing by a rater is a private service, not a City fee, so it isn’t part of the waiver.

Do you test rebuilds in Malibu and the Palisades?

Yes. We work across Los Angeles County, including Pacific Palisades (City of LA), Malibu and the unincorporated Palisades-area, as well as Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre.

Eaton & Palisades rebuilds

Line Up Your Rebuild Testing Before Drywall

Call with the address and your framing schedule, or use the quote picker. We’ll confirm what your CF1R calls for and schedule QII before insulation is covered.

Call 323-490-0960 Open the Quick Quote Picker