City of Ventura Reflects on Eight Years Since the Thomas Fire With Rebuild Progress and Safety Improvements

This week marks the eighth anniversary of the Thomas Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California history. Since 2017, the City of Ventura has remained focused on supporting impacted homeowners, strengthening wildfire preparedness, and improving the transparency of the rebuilding process.

As of November 2025, 404 homes have been completely rebuilt and approved for occupancy, 31 permits are under active construction, and another 18 more are under plan review. The City’s Thomas Fire Rebuild Overlay Zone, established in 2018 to support recovery by reducing fees, simplifying development standards, and providing greater design flexibility, will expire on December 31, 2025. Property owners who wish to rebuild under these provisions must submit a complete and substantial building permit application, including all required plans, before the expiration date.

Beginning January 1, 2026, all new applications will follow current zoning regulations and standard review requirements. Any expired applications or permits must be resubmitted without the Overlay Zone benefits.

“After losing my home in the Thomas Fire, I know firsthand the challenges wildfires pose for residents,” said Dr Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios. “That experience reinforces how important it is for us to keep improving our preparedness, our response, and the support we offer our community.”

A 2025 report from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy recognized Ventura as one of the strongest-performing communities in post-fire recovery. Researchers found that Ventura rebuilt homes at a significantly faster pace than other fire-affected jurisdictions and praised the City’s clear public data, streamlined permitting, and consistent support for homeowners.

The study highlighted Ventura’s Thomas Fire Recovery Map as a model for transparency and noted that early policy decisions, such as expedited plan checks, fee reductions, and dedicated staff, helped accelerate rebuilding and provided a framework later adopted by other communities. Read the complete report on our website at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ThomasFireRebuild.

In addition to rebuilding support, Ventura has implemented significant emergency preparedness and public safety improvements. These include hiring a full-time Emergency Services Manager, updating the Emergency Evacuation Plan, revising Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps, and expanding the Fire Hazard Reduction Program to help property owners in areas of high concern maintain safe conditions.

The City is also expanding fire response capacity. Fire Station 7 is under construction to improve response times, and the Fire Department now deploys fast-attack Type VI engines, a new Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) for hard-to-reach areas, and dedicated staffing during every Red Flag Warning.

“These efforts reflect lessons learned and our ongoing commitment to protecting life, property, and the environment,” said Fire Chief David Endaya. “Our focus remains on supporting residents and making our community safer and more resilient for the future.” 

For more information about Thomas Fire rebuild requirements and resources, please visit www.cityofventura.ca.gov/ThomasFireRebuild.