Malibu, after the fires

Malibu fire rebuild electrical.

Malibu has rebuilt after the Woolsey Fire and is rebuilding again after the Franklin Fire and the coastal reach of the Palisades Fire. County Line Electric wires Malibu rebuilds for builders and owner-builders: City of Malibu permits, the Coastal Zone, SCE service, and backup power on gas or propane.

  • SCEService
  • City of MalibuPermits, plus the Coastal Zone
  • PropaneWhere there is no gas main

Tell us about the project

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The situation

Three fires, one city hall, and the Coastal Zone.

The Woolsey Fire of November 2018 destroyed hundreds of homes in Malibu. The Franklin Fire of December 2024 burned around Malibu Canyon and Serra Retreat, and in January 2025 the Palisades Fire burned along the coast into eastern Malibu. A house rebuilt after any of them is permitted by the City of Malibu's own building department, and the entire city is inside the California Coastal Zone, where exterior changes such as a generator pad or exterior panel can be part of coastal review.

Southern California Edison serves Malibu and can de-energize its circuits in wind events, and where a lot has no natural gas main, backup power on a rebuild is a propane-fueled generator, a battery, or both. County Line wires Malibu rebuilds as the electrical subcontractor to builders and directly for owner-builders, and plans the backup into the new service rather than adding it later.

Generac standby generator beside a two-story house with a backyard patio
Generac product imagery.

The sequence

From a cleared lot to the final inspection.

  1. 01

    Edison application

    Filed as early as the plans allow, for temporary power now and permanent service later.

  2. 02

    Temporary power

    A temp pole or pedestal so the foundation and framing crews have power, inspected by the city.

  3. 03

    Service and panels

    A new service sized for the house being built, with generator, battery, EV and pumps in the calculation.

  4. 04

    Rough-in to current code

    The California Electrical Code as the city enforces it today, with the low-voltage backbone.

  5. 05

    Backup and exterior

    Generator on propane or gas and the transfer switch, exterior equipment placed with the Coastal Zone review in mind.

  6. 06

    Finish and final

    Fixtures, devices, lighting control programming and the City of Malibu final.

County Line Electric at a glance

  • 20+ yrsIn businessJeff Tucker has run County Line Electric in the Conejo Valley for over 20 years.
  • #949580California contractor licenseLicensed, bonded and insured. Check it on the CSLB site any time.
  • GeneracStandby generator estimatesA written estimate after a site visit and a load calculation.
  • A+BBB Accredited since 2017Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. See the profile.
  • 5.0HomeAdvisor ratingFive stars from every reviewed job. Read the reviews.

Malibu rebuild questions

Who issues electrical permits for a Malibu fire rebuild?

The City of Malibu issues electrical permits for fire rebuilds in Malibu, through its own building department, with coastal review where it applies. Electric service is Southern California Edison. County Line Electric files with the city and the utility as part of the rebuild.

Can a rebuilt Malibu house have a generator without a gas main?

Yes. Where there is no natural gas main, County Line Electric installs a propane-fueled Generac standby generator, with the tank and line coordinated with the propane supplier, or designs battery backup, as part of the new electrical service.

Does County Line Electric work on Malibu rebuilds?

Yes. County Line Electric wires Malibu homes being rebuilt after the Franklin and Palisades fires, as the electrical subcontractor to a builder or directly for an owner-builder, from temporary power through the City of Malibu final.

Related

Official references

Where the facts on this page come from.

County Line links to the authorities rather than restating them. Rules change; these pages are current.

Next step

Rebuilding in Malibu? Tell us where the lot is.

Name, phone, city and a line about the project. The office calls back, and a site visit is scheduled if it makes sense. No pressure, no sales script.

Call (805) 499-0823

Or call (805) 499-0823. Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.

Talk to a rebuild electrician

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