If you own an Altadena home affected by the Eaton Fire and have bare soil outside, the county has a pilot program that could pay for testing and lead cleanup. Eligibility is narrow, though. Your address, primary residence history and property type matter.
The New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program accepts applications through November 25, 2026, at 12 p.m. Someone buying a home now would not meet this round’s residence requirement. For an eligible homeowner, the next step is to check the address through the program’s Eligibility Tool.
What does the New Roots pilot pay for?
The pilot provides grants to remediate lead contamination in exterior areas with bare soil, with testing and remediation paid directly to contractors.
The Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA) runs the New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program. Its site describes a science-based approach to testing and remediating lead-contaminated bare soil for homeowners impacted by the wildfire. LACDA says there will be no cost to the property owner.
A total of $1,000,000 covers testing, soil remediation and program administration. Each approved application cannot exceed $60,000.
Colorado Boulevard’s October 21, 2026, report says the funding came from the County Board of Supervisors’ Climate Equity Account. The program estimates it will remediate approximately 20 properties.
Which properties are eligible?
Eligible properties are owner-occupied primary residences within specific ZIP codes in unincorporated Altadena and Pasadena, subject to the program’s requirements.
Altadena is in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Still, an Altadena address alone doesn’t establish eligibility. Use the address checker on the program site rather than assuming your property falls within the eligible area.
The applicant also certifies that they have resided at the property as their primary residence since January 7, 2025. That requirement matters if you’re considering a purchase: buying an otherwise eligible property now would not qualify you for this pilot round.
The FAQ excludes:
- Multifamily and commercial properties.
- Properties outside the eligible area or not used as the homeowner’s primary residence.
- Homes that are uninhabitable and vacant lots.
- Condominiums or townhomes where an association owns the land.
Renters are not eligible at this time. Questions about a property’s fit belong with LACDA, especially when the address checker and the property’s ownership arrangement leave something unclear.
What do you need to submit, and when?
You need an online application and supporting documents during the window from October 21, 2026, at 12 p.m. to November 25, 2026, at 12 p.m.
The application portal is separate from the program’s information site. Gather the documents before submitting so you can check what the application asks for against what you have.
Required documents include a valid government-issued photo ID, a utility bill issued within 60 days of application, and the most recent property tax notice or recorded deed. LACDA may also require additional documentation.
Missing paperwork has a short response period. Applicants receive a maximum of five business days to provide it; failure to do so constitutes forfeiture of the application.
Applicants certify under penalty of perjury. They also agree to reimburse LACDA within ten days of notification for funds obtained through fraud or error.
How are properties selected and tested?
The county selects homes per its published program guidelines, and testing involves collecting soil samples for a certified laboratory.
Colorado Boulevard also reports that homes are selected based on detected lead levels in bare soil.
Participating owners sign an Owner Participation Agreement. It commits them to the guidelines and allows LACDA and its contractors access to the property for testing and remediation.
Samples go to a certified laboratory for a report of lead levels. The program site does not give a lead threshold number or a selection date. You can ask LACDA how the laboratory findings affect a particular application and when to expect a selection update.
What could cleanup involve at your property?
Cleanup methods may include removing the top 6 to 12 inches of contaminated soil and replacing it with clean topsoil, or covering exposed soil with grass, rock or mulch.
Those are possibilities listed in the FAQ, not a prescribed treatment for every property. Licensed and certified lead abatement contractors perform the work.
LACDA says work takes 1 to 14 days in most cases. Some methods use large equipment, which can limit access to your property and cause temporary disruptions.
After the fire, D. stopped talking about landscaping and started asking about soil. He had planned to replant the yard once the property was usable again, but the possibility of lead changed the order of everything. Before bringing in new soil or letting contractors disturb the ground, he wanted to know whether the county would test or clean it and what a homeowner had to do to participate. The cleanup program mattered to him because it could determine whether the next step was planting, testing, or waiting.
What happens after the cleanup?
LACDA says the property can be used again after cleanup, but ongoing maintenance is required.
The property owner must ensure the soil remains covered and promptly re-cover areas where bare soil becomes exposed. That’s an ongoing obligation under the program, so read that part of the guidelines alongside the proposed work.
LACDA also says new topsoil will be assessed and re-tested after remediation to confirm that it meets Environmental Protection Agency-approved safety levels. Ask LACDA for the laboratory report and re-test results for your property.
This pilot concerns bare soil. The guide to lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 California homes addresses a different topic and should be read separately.
What should buyers and sellers ask about the paperwork?
Buyers should ask sellers for the Owner Participation Agreement, laboratory report and re-test results, then ask LACDA about any unanswered program terms.
The program site does not address whether the maintenance duty passes to a later buyer, is recorded on title or must be disclosed. Don’t treat participation or completed cleanup as an answer to those questions. The California seller disclosure guide provides general reading without resolving this program’s terms.
For another separate issue when preparing to sell, see the wildfire insurance non-renewal selling guide.
Colorado Boulevard reported on October 21, 2026, that the county was exploring Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funding and that no such funding was available. The program says future funding opportunities may be explored. Neither statement establishes another application round.
The short version
Eligible homeowners can apply for county-paid bare soil testing and lead remediation through November 25, 2026, at 12 p.m., but the residence requirement excludes someone buying now.
Check the address tool, gather the required documents and read the maintenance terms. For questions, Colorado Boulevard lists LACDA’s contact details as (626) 568-1727 and [email protected].
This guide is educational, not legal or tax advice.
If you’re also considering a sale, start with the home value tool.
Common questions
Who can apply for the New Roots Eaton Canyon Pilot Program?
The pilot serves eligible owner-occupied primary residences in specific ZIP codes in unincorporated Altadena and Pasadena. Applicants must certify that they have resided at the property as their primary residence since January 7, 2025. Check the program's Eligibility Tool.
When do applications close?
The application window runs from October 21, 2026, at 12 p.m. to November 25, 2026, at 12 p.m.
Does the homeowner pay for testing and remediation?
LACDA says it pays contractors directly for testing and remediation, with no cost to the property owner. Each approved application cannot exceed $60,000.
Can someone buying an Altadena home now qualify?
A buyer purchasing now would not meet this pilot round's requirement to have resided at the property as a primary residence since January 7, 2025.
Does the soil maintenance duty pass to a later buyer?
The program site does not address that question. Ask the seller for the Owner Participation Agreement, laboratory report and re-test results, and ask LACDA about the maintenance terms.
