Eaton Fire deadlines: what's due and when
The next Eaton Fire deadlines for Altadena homeowners are CalAssist mortgage relief applications on Nov 2, 2026, and SCE Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program claims on Nov 30, 2026. Property tax reassessment (Assessor form ADS-820) has a 24-month window to about Jan 7, 2027. ALE lasts at least 24 months, with extensions to 36.
Checked against the official source for each date. Dates can change, so confirm with the source before you act.
Quick answers
- •CalAssist Mortgage Fund: applications close Nov 2, 2026.[1]
- •SCE Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program: claims are due Nov 30, 2026.[3]
- •Property tax relief for fire damage (Assessor form ADS-820): state law gives Eaton Fire owners 24 months to file, which runs to about Jan 7, 2027.[6][7]
- •Additional living expenses (ALE): California law requires at least 24 months after a declared emergency, plus up to 12 more months if your rebuild is delayed by things outside your control.[8]
- •FEMA, SBA, and IRS/FTB tax-postponement deadlines have already passed.[12][13][14][15]
Not sure which of these apply to you? Our team can walk your lot and give you a free, written Rebuild Roadmap that lists your next steps and dates.
From the Altadena Rebuild Team, our sponsor
What are the upcoming Eaton Fire deadlines?
| Date | What it is | Who it affects | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 2, 2026 | Last day to apply to the CalAssist Mortgage Fund. It pays up to 12 months of mortgage payments, up to $100,000, straight to your servicer. It is a grant, so you never repay it.[1][2] | Owners whose primary home was destroyed or made unlivable, who have a mortgage, reverse mortgage, or HELOC, and who are under the income limit ($281,400 a year in LA County).[1][2] | calassistmortgagefund.org · 800-501-0019 | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Mon, Nov 30, 2026 | Last day to submit a claim to SCE's voluntary Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program.[3] | People and businesses with Eaton Fire losses who qualify under SCE's program rules.[3] | SCE program page · 1-888-912-8528 | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Thu, Jan 1, 2027 | The state ban on unsolicited offers to buy homes in fire-area ZIP codes (AB 851) is set to end.[5] | Owners in ZIPs 91001, 91024, 91103, 91104, 91106, 91107 (and some Palisades/Malibu ZIPs).[5] | AB 851 (Civil Code §2079.26) | Oct 22, 2026 |
| About Jan 7, 2027 | 24 months after the fire. This is the filing window for property tax reassessment after fire damage (form ADS-820).[6][7] | Owners whose property lost more than $10,000 in value.[7] | LA County Assessor · (213) 974-8658 | Oct 22, 2026 |
| About Jan 7, 2027 | The 24-month minimum for ALE under state law. It is not an automatic end date. See “ALE” below.[8] | Insured owners still out of their homes. | CA Dept. of Insurance | Oct 22, 2026 |
| As early as Jan 7, 2027 | Possible lawsuit deadline for personal-injury or wrongful-death claims, according to SCE. The real date depends on your facts.[4] | People hurt in the fire, and families of those who died. | SCE newsroom (Oct 20, 2026). Ask a lawyer. | Oct 22, 2026 |
| As early as Jan 7, 2028 | Possible lawsuit deadline for property-damage-only claims, according to SCE.[4] | Owners who may sue over property damage. | SCE newsroom. Ask a lawyer. | Oct 22, 2026 |
Which deadlines run from my own claim dates?
| Clock | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ALE: 24 months, then up to 36 | Your insurer must give at least 24 months of ALE after a declared emergency. If you are acting in good faith and your rebuild is slowed by things you can't control (for example permit delays, material shortages, or no available contractors), the insurer must extend it up to 12 more months, for 36 in total. More 6-month extensions are possible “for good cause.” Your policy's dollar limit can still run out first.[8][9] | CDI consumer alert; Ins. Code §2060 |
| Collecting full replacement cost: at least 36 months | After a declared emergency, you have at least 36 months from the date of the insurer's first actual-cash-value payment to collect the full replacement cost, with 6-month extensions for good cause.[9] | CDI 2026 Annual Notice |
| Rebuild window to keep your property-tax base: 8 years | If you rebuild on the same site and the new home's value is comparable (up to 120% of the old value), you can keep your old tax base. For the Eaton Fire the window to rebuild is 8 years (to about January 2033).[6] | State Board of Equalization, Pub. 802 |
| Moving instead? Prop 19 base-year transfer | If you sell the damaged home and buy or build a replacement primary home in California within 2 years of the sale, you may transfer your tax base. File form BOE-19-V within 3 years of buying or building the replacement.[6] | State Board of Equalization, Pub. 802 |
| SB 1090 pause on SB 1123 projects | New applications for fast-track small-lot (SB 1123) projects in 91001 and 91003 filed on or after Oct 1, 2026 lose ministerial approval until Jan 1, 2030. SB 9 duplexes and lot splits and ADUs are not covered by this pause.[10][11] | See ADU and SB 9 guide |
Which programs have no deadline?
Which Eaton Fire deadlines have passed?
| Program | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FEMA Individual Assistance | Mar 31, 2025 (closed) | [12][13] |
| SBA disaster loans for homes (physical damage) | Mar 31, 2025 (closed) | [13] |
| SBA economic injury loans (businesses) | Oct 8, 2025 (closed) | [13] |
| IRS and FTB tax filing postponement | Oct 15, 2025 (passed) | [14][15] |
| Debris removal opt-in/opt-out form | Apr 15, 2025 (passed) | [18] |
If you applied to FEMA, you can still check your status at DisasterAssistance.gov.[12]
Free download: The Altadena Rebuild Checklist. Nine phases, from records to move-in, with each of these dates in one table.
What do I need to know about each deadline?
CalAssist Mortgage Fund (Nov 2, 2026)
Answer first: If you had a mortgage on a home the fire destroyed or made unlivable, you may get up to a year of mortgage payments that you never pay back.[1][2]
- •Covers disasters from Jan 1, 2023 to Jan 8, 2025, including the 2025 LA fires.[1]
- •The home must have been your primary residence: a 1–4 unit home, condo, or permanently fixed manufactured home.[1]
- •In February 2026 the state raised the benefit to 12 months and up to $100,000. It raised the LA County income limit to $281,400.[2]
- •The state says borrowers who are current, in forbearance, or behind on payments can apply.[2]
- •Payments go straight to your loan servicer. Applying is free.[1]
- •Apply online. Help line: 800-501-0019, Mon–Fri 8–5.[1]
SCE Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program (Nov 30, 2026)
Answer first: It's optional. SCE says submitting a claim, getting an offer, and reviewing it do not waive your rights. You give up the right to sue only if you accept an offer and sign the settlement.[3][4]
- •Claims sent in by Nov 30 will still be reviewed after that date.[4]
- •If a lawyer represents you when you file, SCE adds 20% to the net damages part of the offer to help with legal costs.[3]
- •Free help: 1-888-912-8528 (Mon–Fri 8–6). Spanish is available.[3]
- •SCE sessions listed for Oct 28 (virtual), Nov 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1757 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, and Nov 19 (virtual), all at 6 PM.[4]
- •Compare it with a lawsuit before you decide, and talk to your own lawyer. We don't give legal advice.
Property tax relief after fire damage (about Jan 7, 2027)
Answer first: If your home lost more than $10,000 in value, the Assessor can lower your assessed value until you rebuild. Your tax bill then goes down, and you may get a refund.[6][7]
- •The usual filing window is 12 months. A 2025 state law (SB 663) extended it to 24 months for the Eaton Fire. That puts the date at about Jan 7, 2027.[6]
- •Form: ADS-820 (online e-form). Questions: relief@assessor.lacounty.gov or (213) 974-8658.[7]
- •Many owners filed in 2025. If you aren't sure whether you did, ask the Assessor.
ALE (additional living expenses)
Answer first: Don't treat Jan 7, 2027 as an automatic cutoff. Ask your insurer in writing for an extension if your rebuild is delayed by things outside your control.[8]
- •Keep a dated log of permit delays, contractor availability, and material delays. These are the reasons the law names.[8][9]
- •Check your dollar limit for ALE too. It can run out before the time limit.[8]
- •Free help: CDI hotline 1-800-927-4357.[19] More in our Insurance guide.
Running short on ALE time? A permit-ready plan and a written construction schedule can help you show your insurer that delays are outside your control. (From the Altadena Rebuild Team)
AB 851 unsolicited-offer ban (ends Jan 1, 2027)
Answer first: Until Jan 1, 2027, no one may make you an unsolicited offer to buy your home in the listed ZIP codes, unless you have publicly shown you want to sell (for example, a listing or a "for sale" sign).[5]
- •If you signed a sale that started with an illegal unsolicited offer, the law lets you cancel within 4 months of signing.[5]
- •Penalties include civil fines of up to $25,000.[5]
- •After Jan 1, 2027, expect more offers. You never have to answer one. See rebuild-or-sell guide.
Sponsored content
From the Altadena Rebuild Team
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If you're watching these deadlines and still haven't started, we can help you see your options:
- •A free visit to your lot.
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The Altadena Rebuild Team is two independent firms with separate contracts. You're free to use either firm alone. No referral fees are paid. We don't give insurance, tax, or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What changed
- •Oct 22, 2026: Page created. Added the property-tax reassessment window (24 months for the Eaton Fire). Clarified that ALE can extend past 24 months.
Have a date coming up and no plan yet?
Get a free, written Rebuild Roadmap for your lot.
Call or text (626) 532-6009
Sources (all checked Oct 22, 2026)
- 1.
CalAssist Mortgage Fund (CalHFA)
- 2.
Office of the Governor, "Governor Newsom announces major expansion of mortgage relief program…" (Feb 12, 2026)
- 3.
SCE, Wildfire Recovery Compensation Program (page updated Oct 20, 2026)
- 4.
SCE / Edison International newsroom, "Key Deadlines Approaching for Eaton Fire Recovery Compensation" (Oct 20, 2026)
- 5.
AB 851 (2025), Civil Code §2079.26, bill text and history
(direct page load was blocked from our checker on Oct 22; text read from the leginfo search snapshot. Re-open before publishing.) - 6.
California State Board of Equalization, Publication 802 update, LTA 2026/022 (May 29, 2026)
- 7.
LA County Assessor, Disaster Relief (Calamity & Disaster)
(page blocked our direct fetch; content read from search snapshot. Re-open before publishing.) - 8.
California Department of Insurance, consumer alert "Insurance coverage for additional living expenses…"
- 9.
CDI, 2026 Annual Notice – Significant California Laws… (Jan 9, 2026)
- 10.
State Board of Equalization, 2026 enacted legislation report (lists SB 1090, Ch. 1006, 2026)
- 11.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, statement on SB 1090 (Sept 30, 2026)
- 12.
FEMA, Disaster 4856 (page updated July 14, 2026)
- 13.
Federal Register, SBA amendment for CA-20030 (Mar 12, 2025)
- 14.
IRS, IR-2025-10 (Jan 10, 2025), official IRS bulletin copy and IRS list of California relief
- 15.
FTB, Help with Los Angeles County fire relief
- 16.
LA County Recovers, Fee Deferrals & Refunds
- 17.
City of Pasadena, Fire Rebuild Fee Waiver and Refund Program
- 18.
LA County Recovers, Like-For-Like Rebuild (debris steps)
- 19.
CDI, Wildfire Resources (hotline 1-800-927-4357)
Last reviewed: October 22, 2026