Los Angeles County opened applications on Oct. 21 for Eaton Fire soil cleanup, a pilot program that tests bare soil for lead and pays for removal at about 20 homes in Altadena and unincorporated Pasadena. Applications close at noon on Nov. 25, 2026.
The program is called New Roots Eaton Canyon. The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) runs it with $1 million from the Board of Supervisors’ Climate Equity Account, as announced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger. It covers the cost of testing and cleanup, so homeowners pay nothing.
Who can apply for Eaton Fire soil cleanup
Eligibility is narrow. The home must have been the owner’s primary residence since Jan. 7, 2025, the day the fire began. It must also be habitable and owner-occupied when the application is filed, and it must sit in an eligible Altadena or unincorporated Pasadena ZIP code.
Several property types are excluded. Multifamily buildings, commercial properties, vacant lots, uninhabitable homes and condos or townhomes on association-owned land do not qualify. Renters cannot apply at this time.
Applicants need a government-issued photo ID, a utility bill from the last 60 days and a recent property tax notice or recorded deed. Missing items must be sent within five business days, or the application is forfeited. You can use the New Roots program page to check your address and start an application, or call 626-568-1727.
How the cleanup works
A certified lab first tests the soil for lead. If bare soil is contaminated, licensed lead abatement contractors either remove the top 6 to 12 inches and replace it with clean topsoil, or cover exposed ground with grass, rock or mulch. Work usually takes between one and 14 days. New soil is retested against EPA-approved levels, and owners must keep the ground covered afterward.
Each approved application is capped at $60,000. Because the budget supports only about 20 properties, the county ranks applicants. Households with a pregnant member come first, followed by those with children under 6 (including regular visitors), then members with elevated blood lead levels. After that come households with children ages 6 to 17, older adults or people with disabilities. Lead levels in bare soil and household exposure also count toward scoring.
What it means for residents
The pilot is small compared with the number of burned lots and nearby homes in the area. LACDA’s executive director, Emilio Salas, described it as a first step and said the agency hopes to expand help by working with federal partners. Federal disaster recovery funds are not currently available for this program, though officials said they are exploring that source.
The federal debris removal after the fire dealt with ash, structural debris and the top layer of soil in burned footprints. Soil testing on surrounding properties was not part of that mission, which is part of why this county program exists. More on fire recovery and regional guidance is in the health guides.
This is general information, not medical advice. Families with questions about lead exposure should talk to a doctor or the county health department.