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# LA County moves to shield fire survivors from contractor scams
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/la-county-moves-to-shield-fire-survivors-from-contractor-scams/
- Published: 2026-09-04T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-04T15:59:59.000Z
- Author: Maaz Alin
- Tags: Government & Politics, LA County

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to crack down on contractor fraud and rebuilding scams targeting survivors of the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires, ordering a coordinated county response and a new public awareness campaign as construction across the burn zones accelerates.

The motion, authored by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsey P. Horvath, directs the county's Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to develop a plan within 30 days to curb fraud and to launch an expanded consumer education effort within 45 days. It comes 18 months after the fires destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades area, and as more residents begin the long process of rebuilding.

"As more Eaton Fire survivors move forward with rebuilding, my office is hearing increasing concerns about contractor fraud and bad actors targeting homeowners in Altadena," Barger said. "My constituents have already lost far too much — they shouldn't have to worry about being victimized again by an unscrupulous contractor or scammer."

Barger, whose 5th District includes Altadena, said the county needs "our consumer protection and enforcement partners working together, while making sure survivors have clear, trusted information before they sign a contract or spend their recovery dollars."

The Eaton Fire tore through Altadena in January 2025, killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 structures in what became the second-most destructive wildfire in California history. The Palisades Fire, burning at the same time, killed 12 people and destroyed nearly 6,900 structures across Pacific Palisades, Malibu and surrounding areas. Together the fires displaced tens of thousands of residents.

The concern driving Tuesday's action is not hypothetical. The California Contractors State License Board's investigative fraud team conducted 52 sweeps in the Palisades and Eaton fire areas in 2025 to deter unlicensed work, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged 11 unlicensed contractors — five in the Eaton zone in December and six in the Palisades zone this year, tied to bids totaling as much as $1.27 million. Some survivors have reported losing tens of thousands of dollars to builders who left work unfinished.

In their motion, the supervisors wrote that while survivors "have shown extraordinary resilience, the complexity of recovery has also created opportunities for bad actors to exploit vulnerable homeowners through contractor fraud, home repair scams, deceptive business practices, and other predatory conduct."

Officials also warned that not all harm comes from criminals. Some contractors, they said, take on more work than they can finish, leaving homeowners with stalled projects and additional financial and emotional strain.

Horvath, whose 3rd District includes Calabasas and the Palisades area, said the county's response must combine enforcement with support for those already harmed.

"Los Angeles County is standing with wildfire survivors and holding accountable those who seek to exploit them," Horvath said. "Survivors deserve our full support as they rebuild — not scams, fraud, or predatory contractors looking to take advantage of vulnerable residents who have already endured too much. If you believe you've been victimized, our Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is here to help."

The motion directs consumer affairs officials to work with the District Attorney's Office, County Counsel, the Department of Public Works and the state licensing board to align enforcement tools so emerging complaints can be identified and addressed more quickly.

A central goal is preventing fraud before it happens. The planned awareness campaign will teach survivors how to verify a contractor's license, understand the terms of a home improvement contract, recognize warning signs and report suspected scams. Information will be centralized on the county's Recovery LA website, recovery.lacounty.gov, and built into the Altadena and Calabasas One-Stop Permitting Centers, where homeowners obtain rebuilding permits.

The measure also calls for targeted outreach to residents considered especially vulnerable or hard to reach, including older adults, people with limited English proficiency and displaced households. Those efforts will rely on partnerships with community and legal service organizations.

The board granted the consumer affairs director authority to enter agreements with consultants, nonprofits and community groups to carry out the work. The motion does not attach a specific dollar figure, instead directing existing county resources toward the effort.