Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang met today with members of PFAR to talk about recent updates in property assessments and post-fire disaster relief for affect residents and property owners.
Words & Photos: David Kissinger
The date of the Assessor’s presentation, September 11, was the 24th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2001 on New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It was a devastating loss of nearly 3,000 lives that lives on in our history. PFAR remembered 9/11 with a moment of silence before the presentation.
Part of Assessor Prang’s remarks covered several areas of responsibility for his office, including assistance and support for residents and property owners to who experienced losses in the Eaton and Palisades Fires in January 2025. Many relief opportunities are available from the Assessor’s Office and other County resources. Not all eligible residents have applied for available resources, so PFAR joins the Assessor in urging individuals to find out more about opportunities for support as they weigh options to rebuild, sell, or something else.
REALTORS® and brokers are recommended to save, print, and give their clients these important information packets for relief and moving forward:
- Assessor’s Information Packet: Disaster Relief. Designed to assist property owners in navigating the property tax relief programs available after a disaster has affected their property. Included are fact sheets that explains the information that needs to be provided to the Assessor’s Office to claim property tax relief and update contact information, as well as copies of the forms that property owners will need to do so.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Wildfires and Other Disasters: Implications for Property Assessments and Tax Bills. What action(s) should you take if a fire or other emergency caused damage to or complete destruction of my property?
- Rebuilding After Wildfires: Clarification of Conflicting Rebuilding Standards. As property owners affected by the recent wildfires begin to think about rebuilding, the question of how much they can rebuild while still being able to take advantage of various relief programs is at the forefront of many people’s minds. Many numbers are being thrown around – 110%, 120%, etc. – and are causing confusion that require clarification.
The Assessor’s Office reported in August 2025 that the assessed value of Los Angeles County increased nearly 4% over last year to over $2 trillion. Despite the recent fire disasters, that marks 15 years of continuous growth.
Such growth represents the high value of properties in Los Angeles County but also represents the challenges faced by REALTORS® and their clients in the County’s fire zones. REALTORS® are recommended to read through and take advantage of the tools available on the Assessor’s Real Estate Toolkit, with reliable information on topics like Proposition 13, Proposition 19, Disaster Relief, Fraud Prevention, Reassessments, and so much more. Check out the Real Estate Toolkit and contact the Assessor’s Office for further support.
