Altadena's houses and the county permit
Altadena had about 42,800 residents in 2020 and is unincorporated Los Angeles County, governed by the Board of Supervisors with an advisory Town Council. Its houses range from 1920s homes with steep roofs and multiple gables to Craftsman bungalows and mid-century designs. Christmas Tree Lane on Santa Rosa Avenue has been lit every year since 1920, and Eaton Canyon sits on the east side. Because there's no city government, every building permit comes from the County.
| Item | Altadena |
|---|---|
| Permit authority | Los Angeles County Public Works (Building and Safety) |
| Local office | 464 W. Woodbury Rd, Suite 210, Altadena, 626-424-6743 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
| Online | EPIC-LA: apply, upload plans, pay fees, track inspections |
| State rules | Title 24, CALGreen and Civil Code 1101.4 apply as they do in Pasadena |
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LA County service locator and Public Works permits page, read October 2026.
Remodeling after the Eaton Fire
The Eaton Fire started on January 7, 2025 near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive and destroyed 9,419 structures. Many of the houses that survived took smoke and ash, and their kitchens and baths are often where drywall, insulation and cabinets were removed during remediation. That rebuild is its own page: rebuilding a smoke-damaged kitchen or bath.
- Testing and cleaning come first, by restoration specialists, under the insurance claim
- Keep the restoration report: it shows what was removed and therefore what the rebuild replaces
- California's AB 1642 and AB 1795 take effect January 1, 2027
- Hire only CSLB-licensed contractors; unlicensed contracting in a declared disaster area is a felony
Kitchens and baths in older Altadena homes
Outside the fire's path, Altadena remodels look like Pasadena's: small original baths, closed kitchens, old supply pipe and circuits. A heritage area of 1920s homes was designated in 2002, and pre-1978 paint brings lead-safe rules into any paid work that disturbs it. The kitchen remodel and bathroom remodel pages cover the work, the permit guide compares offices, and hiring a contractor covers the license check.
