The policy change went into effect at noon on Monday.
"Thanks to the tireless efforts of our public safety, public works, and utilities partners - as of noon [Monday] all of the Pacific Palisades will be opened for resident re-entry," said Los Angeles Councilwoman Traci Park in a video posted to her Instagram page. "This is a watershed moment and I want to thank you all for your patience to allow these workers to clear major hazards."
According to Park, as part of the update, the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway along the Pacific Palisades will be reopened for resident-only traffic. Eyewitness News was told residents will still need police escorts but you can check in at Lot 3 for re-entry.
Park said residents will be allowed to go back between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., but the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew will remain in effect. For those in the Highlands, due to the rain, Palisades Drive has only one open lane, so drivers are being asked to be patient.
A long line of cars stretched along Lot 3 as hundreds of residents waited for hours to check in before getting the green light for re-entry.
For many, this is the first time they're seeing their home since they had to evacuate due to the deadly and destructive blaze.
"It's a lot to lose everything that you've collected I think over the last, you know, your adult life and even your childhood, and so I wanted to go back. A lot of people told me there's no point going back. I don't think you're going to find anything, but I think just for my own personal reasons to be able to just feel what it feels like and just be there to see it in person is very important to me," said resident Ana Pincus.
After waiting to check in, residents must have their ID and address verified by police, and then they are directed to various services like Red Cross or L.A. City officials if needed.
Some residents expressed frustration with the process and how long it's taken to get up to their homes.
"You tell me the common sense of having us come all the way down here to show you an ID, to go all the way back to go into Palisades. I've said enough. It sucks," said resident Paul Smith.
Although many residents know they'll be returning to nothing but ash and rubble, to be back home is enough.
"Maybe a boring photo, maybe something to take away. Probably not, but to go and see it, right? The rains came so if there was anything, I suspect it's probably washed down anyway now," said fellow resident Peter Butler.
Meanwhile, more than a 100 residents who call Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates home were barred from doing so, blocked by security and a National Guard armored vehicle.
"I just want to say goodbye to my home of 25 years," said Greg Garber.
Garber returned on Monday to see if there was anything left of his property.
"I, like so many of the other residents, want to just kind of look through the ashes and see if we can find a little kind of a memory or something," Garber said.
Andy Turpin said he lost everything. He said looters have taken much of what little was left in the mobile home community. He's beside himself that the security that ostensibly let the looters in are now keeping him out.
"It's unfathomable," he said.
Eyewitness News tried contacting the Estates owners and L.A. City Councilmember Traci Park's office to figure out what's going on but still haven't been able to get any answers.
Rebuilding LA: New executive order further suspends Coastal Commission rules
Gov. Gavin Newsom is suspending Coastal Commission rules to make it easier for victims of the L.A. wildfires to rebuild.
Newsom issued an executive order Monday, reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act remain suspended. The order also extends the amount of time people can stay at hotels and short-term rentals.
"As the state helps the Los Angeles area rebuild and recover, we will continue to remove barriers and red tape that stand in the way," said Newsom in a statement released on Monday. "We will not let over-regulation stop us from helping the LA community rebuild and recover."
What does the executive order say?
The order responds to Coastal Commission guidance that suggested rebuilds are subject to Coastal Act exemption provisions and procedures and reiterates that all permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended.
A press release from Newsom's office said the "legally erroneous guidance" threatened to create confusion and delay rebuilding efforts.
"The order further directs the Coastal Commission to stop issuing guidance or attempting to enforce permitting requirements that conflict with the Governor's Executive order issued on January 12, 2025, which waives the CEQA and Coastal Act requirements, as well as a subsequent order issued on January 16 to streamline the building of accessory dwelling units to assist in creating more temporary housing," read the press release.
The order also extends the amount of time people can stay at hotels and short-term rentals. It temporarily allows victims to remain classified as "short-term occupants" rather than "tenants" when they stay past 30 days.
Those rules will remain in effect until March 8.
Rain prompts mudflow concerns in Palisades Fire zones
The recent rainfall certainly helped firefighters, but there's now a whole new concern: rocks and mudslides.
Topanga Canyon Boulevard between Grand View Drive and Pacific Coast Highway remains closed until further notice. PCH is also closed between Coastline and Entrada drives.
Malibu Canyon Road was closed between Piuma and Francisco Ranch roads through 5 p.m. Monday.
However, some businesses in Topanga are open.
"Everything is open, so this new rain hasn't really affected people being able to come into the town," said Joseph Rosendo with the Topanga Chamber of Commerce, who was seen wearing a black "Topanga Town Open" hat, hoping to bring patrons to the area.
City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.