Fire Restoration: The Complete Step-by-Step Process After a House Fire

A house fire is one of the most disorienting things a family can go through. In a matter of hours, everything familiar is gone — and suddenly you are facing a process that involves insurance adjusters, government agencies, contractors, building departments, and attorneys, often all at the same time.

The good news: thousands of California families have been through this and rebuilt. The process is long, but it is navigable — especially when you understand what each step involves and what order things need to happen in.

This guide walks you through the complete fire restoration process, from the first 24 hours after the fire to the day you move back in. We have helped homeowners through this process across Greater Sacramento, and this is the clearest picture we can give you of what to expect.

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Phase 1: The First 24–72 Hours

Step 1: Ensure Safety and Secure the Property

Before anything else, do not re-enter the structure until the fire department has cleared it as safe. Fire-damaged structures can have compromised floors, walls, and roofs that are not visible from the outside.

Once cleared:

• Board up openings — windows, doors, and any holes in the roof or walls. This protects against weather damage, vandalism, and theft. Your insurance policy typically covers emergency board-up costs.
• Document everything — photograph and video every room, every damaged item, every structural element. Do this before anything is moved or cleaned. This documentation is the foundation of your insurance claim.
• Contact your insurance company — report the loss immediately. Ask for your claim number and the name of your assigned adjuster.

Step 2: Find Temporary Housing

Your homeowner's insurance policy almost certainly includes Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage — also called "loss of use" coverage. This pays for temporary housing, meals, and other living costs while your home is uninhabitable.

• Ask your adjuster about ALE coverage limits and how to submit receipts
• Keep every receipt for housing, food, clothing, and other necessities
• ALE coverage has limits — understand yours before committing to expensive temporary housing

Reference: California Department of Insurance — Fire Claims Guide

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Phase 2: The Insurance Process (Weeks 1–8)

Step 3: Work With Your Insurance Adjuster

Your insurance company will assign an adjuster to inspect the damage and estimate the cost to rebuild. This is one of the most important steps in the entire process — and one where many homeowners leave significant money on the table.

Key things to know:

• You have the right to hire a public adjuster. A public adjuster works for you (not the insurance company) and typically charges 10–15% of the settlement. For large losses, they often recover significantly more than their fee.
• The adjuster's estimate is not final. You can dispute it. Get your own contractor estimates and present them.
• Replacement cost vs. actual cash value. Most policies pay replacement cost (what it costs to rebuild today), not actual cash value (depreciated value). Confirm which you have.
• Extended replacement cost coverage. If your policy includes this, it pays above your coverage limit if construction costs have risen. This is especially important in post-wildfire markets where contractor costs spike.

Step 4: Understand Your Policy's Debris Removal Coverage

Debris removal — clearing the burned structure from your lot — is typically covered by your policy, but coverage limits vary. In California, debris removal after a wildfire often costs $50,000–$150,000 for a single-family home due to the presence of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead paint, toxic ash).

Important: In many California wildfire disasters, the state or county organizes a government debris removal program that clears lots at no cost to homeowners. This was done after the Camp Fire (Paradise), the Tubbs Fire (Santa Rosa), and other major disasters. If your area was part of a declared disaster, check with your county before hiring a private debris removal contractor.

Reference: Cal OES — Debris Removal Programs

Step 5: Get Your Own Independent Estimates

Do not rely solely on the insurance company's estimate. Get at least two independent estimates from licensed contractors. These estimates serve two purposes:

1. They give you a realistic picture of actual rebuild costs
2. They give you documentation to dispute a low insurance estimate

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Phase 3: Planning and Permits (Months 2–6)

Step 6: Hire a Drafting Professional or Architect

Before you can pull a permit to rebuild, you need permit-ready construction plans. This is where Liberty Drafting Studios comes in.

For fire restoration, the plans we prepare typically include:

• Site plan showing the lot, setbacks, and proposed structure
• Floor plans for all levels — either matching the original layout or incorporating desired changes
• Exterior elevations — all four sides
• Structural plans — foundation, framing, roof
• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plans (or deferred submittals by licensed subcontractors)
• Title 24 energy compliance — California's energy code, which applies to all new construction including rebuilds
• Chapter 7A fire-hardening details — required for all new construction in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (most of the areas affected by major California wildfires)

This is also your opportunity to make changes. Many homeowners use the rebuild as a chance to update the floor plan, add square footage, or improve the layout. As long as the changes comply with current zoning and building codes, they can be incorporated into the permit plans.

Turnaround time: At Liberty Drafting Studios, fire restoration plans typically take 10–20 business days depending on project size and complexity. We work directly with insurance companies and can provide documentation for your claim.

Step 7: Understand Chapter 7A Fire-Hardening Requirements

If your home is in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (HFHSZ) — which includes most areas affected by California's major wildfires — your rebuilt home must comply with California Building Code Chapter 7A. This applies to all new construction in these zones, including rebuilds.

Chapter 7A requirements include:

• Ignition-resistant exterior wall cladding — no standard wood siding; must use fire-rated materials
• Multi-pane windows — tempered glass required in many applications
• Enclosed eaves — open eaves are a major fire entry point; must be enclosed or fire-rated
• Ember-resistant vents — all attic, crawl space, and foundation vents must be ember-resistant
• Non-combustible or ignition-resistant decking — if you have a deck, it must meet fire-resistance standards
• Defensible space — 0–30 feet from the structure must be cleared of combustible vegetation

Reference: California Building Standards Commission — Chapter 7A

These requirements add cost to the rebuild, but they also significantly reduce the risk of losing your home in a future fire — and they are non-negotiable for permitted construction in these zones.

Step 8: Submit for Permits

Once your plans are complete, they are submitted to your local building department for plan check. For fire restoration projects in declared disaster areas, many California jurisdictions offer expedited plan review — sometimes as fast as 1–2 weeks instead of the standard 4–8 weeks.

Ask your building department specifically about:

• Disaster recovery expedited review programs
• Fee waivers (some jurisdictions waive permit fees for fire victims)
• Pre-application meetings to identify potential issues before submittal

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Phase 4: Construction (Months 4–18+)

Step 9: Select Your Contractor

Choosing the right contractor is critical. After major wildfires, the Sacramento region and surrounding areas see an influx of out-of-area contractors — some reputable, some not. Protect yourself:

• Verify the license at CSLB.ca.gov — California Contractors State License Board
• Verify insurance — ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as additional insured
• Check references — ask for references from recent fire restoration projects specifically
• Get everything in writing — a detailed contract with a payment schedule tied to construction milestones, not calendar dates
• Never pay more than 10% or $1,000 upfront — California law limits contractor down payments

Reference: California Contractors State License Board

Step 10: Construction and Inspections

Construction proceeds in phases, with building department inspections required at each milestone:

1. Foundation inspection — before concrete is poured
2. Framing inspection — before insulation or sheathing
3. Rough mechanical/electrical/plumbing — before walls are closed
4. Insulation inspection — before drywall
5. Final inspection — when all work is complete

Your contractor is responsible for scheduling inspections. Make sure they are happening — uninspected work can cause problems at the final inspection and at resale.

Step 11: Manage the Insurance Payments

Insurance companies typically release rebuild funds in stages:

• Initial payment — covers emergency costs and a portion of the rebuild
• Progress payments — released as construction milestones are reached
• Final payment — released after the Certificate of Occupancy is issued

Keep detailed records of all payments to contractors and all communications with your insurance company. If your costs exceed your initial estimate (which is common), document the reasons and submit a supplemental claim.

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Phase 5: Completion and Move-In

Step 12: Final Inspection and Certificate of Occupancy

When construction is complete, the building department conducts a final inspection. If everything passes, they issue a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) — the document that legally allows you to move back in.

Do not move in before the CO is issued. Your insurance company may require it, and your homeowner's policy on the rebuilt structure typically does not take effect until the CO is in hand.

Step 13: Final Insurance Settlement

Once the CO is issued and you have moved in, work with your insurance company to close out the claim. Make sure all supplemental claims for cost overruns have been submitted and resolved.

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How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

For a complete rebuild (total loss), the realistic timeline in California is:

Phase	Typical Duration
Insurance process	2–4 months
Plans and permits	2–4 months
Construction	8–18 months
Total	12–26 months

This is a wide range because every project is different. Smaller homes, simpler designs, and cooperative insurance companies can move faster. Large homes, complex designs, permit corrections, and insurance disputes add time.

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How Liberty Drafting Studios Helps

We work with fire restoration clients throughout Greater Sacramento and within 100 miles. Here is what we provide:

• Permit-ready reconstruction plans — typically 10–20 business days
• Insurance documentation — we provide detailed scope-of-work descriptions and cost breakdowns that support your claim
• Chapter 7A compliance — all our fire restoration plans meet current fire-hardening requirements
• Permit coordination — we manage the building department process on your behalf
• Flexibility — if you want to make changes to the floor plan during the rebuild, we incorporate them

If you or someone you know is going through this process, call us at 916-694-9949 or use our online calculator for an instant estimate on reconstruction plans.

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References:

• California Department of Insurance — Wildfire Resources
• Cal OES — Debris Removal Programs
• California Building Standards Commission — Chapter 7A
• California Contractors State License Board
• Sacramento County Building Inspection