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To: California State Representatives Brad Sherman, District 32, and Judy Chu, District 28
Wildfire families need property tax relief! Refuse to get burned again!
Dear Representative Sherman (District 32) and Representative Chu (District 28) and Governor Newsom:
I am writing to urge you and your colleagues in the California State Legislature to take immediate action to provide financial relief to the thousands of homeowners affected by the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires of 2025. Specifically, I request that the state waive property taxes for a reasonable period for homeowners who lost their residences in these disasters in order to help them during this extraordinary and unprecedented tragedy.
While California law provides for Misfortune and Calamity relief that allows for reassessment of the physical structure, this does not sufficiently address the financial hardship these homeowners face. The majority of property tax assessments are based on land value, which remains unchanged, and property owners are still being required to pay substantial property taxes even though they no longer have homes to live in.
It is estimated that the average property tax bill is over $50,000 per year in the Palisades fire zone, and roughly half that in the Alta Dena / Eaton fire zone. As you may know, a failure to pay these taxes on a timely basis may result in not just substantial fees, but may also trigger defaults in mortgage loans and home equity loans that are likely outstanding in 75% of these victim's cases. This would literally add insult to an already devastating injury.
It is estimated that the average property tax bill is over $50,000 per year in the Palisades fire zone, and roughly half that in the Alta Dena / Eaton fire zone. As you may know, a failure to pay these taxes on a timely basis may result in not just substantial fees, but may also trigger defaults in mortgage loans and home equity loans that are likely outstanding in 75% of these victim's cases. This would literally add insult to an already devastating injury.
It is estimated that over 10,000 homeowners are now facing years of navigating complex permitting and rebuilding processes while simultaneously managing ongoing mortgage obligations and securing temporary housing. Many of these families are struggling to stay afloat financially, and continued taxation on uninhabitable land only exacerbates their hardship. Waiving property taxes for a period of time—at least until rebuilding is complete—would provide critical relief and allow these homeowners to focus on recovery and rebuilding their lives.
California has long been a leader in disaster response and recovery. By enacting a temporary property tax waiver for wildfire victims, the state would demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting its residents during this difficult time. I urge you to introduce and support legislation to provide this much-needed relief. Specifically, I ask for a 3-year total waiver on property taxes for affected owners, and then a 50% reduction for the following 2 years.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and to seeing action taken to assist those impacted by these catastrophic fires. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information or personal testimony from affected residents.
Why is this important?
To My Fellow Californians and Fire Survivors,
The devastation caused by the Palisades and Eaton wildfires of 2025 has left thousands of homeowners without a place to call home. As we navigate the long and difficult road to rebuilding, we are now facing another financial burden—property taxes on land we can’t even live on.
While the state offers some relief for the loss of a home through reassessment of the physical structure, this does little to address the fact that the majority of our property tax bills come from the value of the land itself. Homeowners who have lost everything are still expected to pay thousands of dollars in taxes on land that, for years to come, will remain uninhabitable as we battle permitting delays, skyrocketing construction costs, and housing insecurity.
What makes this even more infuriating is the fact that the state’s response to these fires was, at best, inadequate—and at worst, negligent. Reports from multiple affected neighborhoods revealed empty hydrants when firefighters needed them most. Fire crews, already stretched thin, had fewer engines available than in past disasters. And now, after failing to protect our homes, the state still demands we pay full property taxes on what is little more than ash.
This is unacceptable. California must do better.
We are calling for immediate property tax relief for wildfire victims—at least until homes can be rebuilt and families can return. This is not a handout; it is a fair and necessary measure to prevent financial ruin for thousands who have already lost so much. We are asking for a 3-year tax holiday (100% waiver), and then the following 2 years at 50% of the most recent assessed value.
New York enacted a similar tax holiday (421a) after the 9/11 attacks, and it proved extremely helpful in stimulating downtown Manhattan development at a time when the entire WTC complex was a pit.
New York enacted a similar tax holiday (421a) after the 9/11 attacks, and it proved extremely helpful in stimulating downtown Manhattan development at a time when the entire WTC complex was a pit.
We need every Californian—whether you’ve been personally affected or not—to stand with us. If the state can’t ensure proper fire protection, the least it can do is stop taxing families for land they cannot live on.
I urge you to make your voice heard. Contact your state representatives. Demand real relief. Sign petitions, attend town halls, and spread the word. We are stronger together, and we cannot allow the state to turn its back on those of us who need help the most.
Let’s fight for what is right.