LA County Owners With $10,000 in Storm Damage May Lower Tax Bills, Get Refunds
Key Takeaway: Los Angeles County has renewed its disaster reassessment programme ahead of a looming El Nino: owners whose storm damage cuts at least $10,000 off their property’s market value can lower their taxable value and claim refunds on taxes already paid.
Pasadena Now first reported the updated guidance on 15 October 2026: $10,000 in market-value loss is the threshold for a Misfortune & Calamity reassessment, with county appraisers determining the loss under a State Board of Equalization rule.
The programme, run by assessor Jeff Prang’s office, offers lower bills until repairs are done plus refunds of taxes already paid, and was renewed ahead of heavy rain and storms from a looming El Nino, per a 14 October county news release.
How it works
Owners have 12 months from the damage date to file for a Misfortune & Calamity reassessment, all three outlets report. Eaton Fire victims in Altadena get 24 months instead, under Senate Bill 663 enacted in 2025, Pasadena Now reports.
Claims use Form ADS-820, the “Application for Reassessment”; online filing is accepted, and the Misfortune and Calamity Unit can be reached at (213) 974-8658, according to Pasadena Now.
What qualifies
Eligible property spans commercial buildings, business equipment and fixtures, agricultural groves, aircraft, boats and certain manufactured homes, Pasadena Now and Colorado Boulevard report. Household furnishings and non-taxable or state-licensed manufactured homes are excluded.
Destroyed buildings may receive a full improvement-value reduction, while land remains taxable even when buildings are destroyed, all three outlets report.
A county appraiser determines the reduction with a standard formula that “may account for existing insurance”, Colorado Boulevard alone reports. The tax reduction applies retroactively from the date the damage happened and stays in place until the property is repaired or rebuilt, until it changes hands, or until a base-year transfer is triggered, according to Colorado Boulevard.
The timing
The guidance came from assessor Jeff Prang’s office; the county’s 14 October news release cited heavy rain and storms from the looming El Nino, Pasadena Now and Colorado Boulevard report.
The Cool Down, syndicated on MSN, covered the renewal on 20 October 2026, confirming the $10,000 threshold, the refund mechanism and the lower bills until repairs are complete.
Key Story Metrics
| Figure | Reported Status |
|---|---|
| Threshold | $10,000 market-value loss, set by county appraiser (all three) |
| Filing window | 12 months; 24 months for Eaton Fire Altadena owners under SB 663 (Pasadena Now) |
| Relief | Lower bills until repaired, plus refunds of taxes paid (all three) |
| How to file | Form ADS-820; online claims; (213) 974-8658 (Pasadena Now) |
| Land | Remains taxable even if buildings destroyed (all three) |
✓ Verified
Los Angeles County renewed its Misfortune & Calamity reassessment programme ahead of a looming El Nino (Pasadena Now, Colorado Boulevard, The Cool Down/MSN). Owners whose storm damage cuts at least $10,000 off market value, as determined by a county appraiser under a State Board of Equalization rule, can lower their taxable value (all three). Relief means lower tax bills until repairs are completed plus refunds of taxes already paid; destroyed buildings may receive a full improvement-value reduction while land remains taxable (all three). Claims use Form ADS-820 and the programme is run by assessor Jeff Prang’s office (all three).
⚠ Still needs confirmation
Single-source details: the 24-month Eaton Fire Altadena window under SB 663, the (213) 974-8658 contact and online filing come from Pasadena Now alone; the appraiser formula that ‘may account for existing insurance’ and the relief duration triggers come from Colorado Boulevard alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much damage qualifies for reassessment?
At least $10,000 of market-value loss, determined by a county appraiser. (Pasadena Now)
How long do I have to file?
12 months from the damage date; Eaton Fire Altadena owners get 24 months under SB 663. (Pasadena Now)
Does the relief cover my land?
No, land remains taxable even when buildings are destroyed. (all three)
How do I apply?
File Form ADS-820 (“Application for Reassessment”), online or by mail; call the Misfortune and Calamity Unit at (213) 974-8658. (Pasadena Now)
- The Cool Down (via MSN): Los Angeles County owners with $10,000 in storm damage may lower tax bills and get refunds
- Pasadena Now: Local Property Owners Can Seek Tax Relief After Storm Damage
- Colorado Boulevard: L.A. County Offers Property Tax Relief for Eligible El Nino Damage
Editor’s note: This article covers only the county’s Misfortune & Calamity reassessment programme; unrelated sponsored content in one source was excluded.
