Thursday, October 29, 2026

Eaton Fire Soil Cleanup Program Sets Eligibility Rules for Unincorporated Pasadena Homeowners

County-funded pilot offers up to $60,000 in lead remediation services per approved property, with applications due Nov. 25

Homeowners in unincorporated areas of Pasadena affected by the Eaton Fire have until noon Wednesday, Nov. 25, to apply for county-funded soil testing and lead cleanup, but the program excludes renters, owners of vacant lots and homeowners whose residences are uninhabitable.

The New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program, administered by the Los Angeles County Development Authority, has $1 million available for testing, remediation and administration. County officials expect the pilot to serve approximately 20 properties, with assistance capped at $60,000 per approved application.

The program, launched Oct. 21, covers eligible owner-occupied homes in designated areas of unincorporated Pasadena and Altadena. Applicants can use an online address checker to determine whether their property falls within the program’s boundaries.

Homeowners must certify that the property has been their primary residence since Jan. 7, 2025, when the Eaton Fire began. The home must remain habitable and owner-occupied when the application is submitted.

Multifamily and commercial properties are excluded, along with condominiums and townhomes where the land is owned by a homeowners association or another entity.

Applicants must submit government-issued photo identification, a utility bill issued within 60 days of applying, and their most recent property tax notice or recorded deed. The agency may request additional documentation. Applicants have a maximum of five business days to supply missing information or forfeit participation.

The county will evaluate applications based on detected lead levels in bare soil and household circumstances.

First priority goes to households with a pregnant member, followed by those with children younger than 6 and homes regularly visited by children in that age group. Households with a member who has elevated blood lead levels follow, then households with children ages 6 through 17 and those with an older adult or a person with disabilities.

Under the program, LACDA pays licensed and certified lead-abatement contractors directly for testing and cleanup. Participating homeowners pay nothing but must sign an agreement permitting access to their property.

Cleanup methods depend on contamination levels and site conditions. They may include removing six to 12 inches of contaminated soil and replacing it with clean soil or covering exposed areas with grass, rock or mulch. The agency says remediation generally takes one to 14 days, and replacement soil is tested afterward.

The program follows Los Angeles County public health findings that identified elevated lead levels in representative soil samples collected from intact properties downwind of the Eaton Fire. The county’s final findings, released in September 2025, cautioned that conditions vary by property and that testing results do not automatically establish a need for cleanup.

The Board of Supervisors approved the county funding in July. Officials say they are exploring additional resources to extend assistance beyond the approximately 20 properties targeted by the initial pilot.

NEED TO KNOW: New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program applications close Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026, at noon. Eligible homeowners in unincorporated Pasadena and Altadena can check their address and apply at https://newroots.lacda.org. Approved testing and remediation services are provided without charge. Questions may be directed to newroots@lacda.org.