LA County Backs Federal Tax Credit for Disaster-Hardened Homes

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion recently supporting federal legislation that would provide tax credits to homeowners who upgrade their properties to withstand natural disasters, a direct response to devastating January wildfires that destroyed more than 18,000 structures.

"Los Angeles County residents have faced unimaginable losses due to these catastrophic wildfires," said Board Chair Kathryn Barger, who introduced the motion with Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. "By supporting the FIREWALL Act, we aim to provide tangible assistance to families striving to rebuild and fortify their homes against future disasters."

The bipartisan federal bill, introduced by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Sheehy, would create a tax credit covering 50% of eligible home-hardening expenses, up to $25,000. The credit would be fully refundable, allowing families with little or no tax liability to receive the benefit as a direct payment.

Households earning less than $200,000 annually would qualify for the full credit, with benefits gradually phasing out for those earning up to $300,000. The income thresholds and credit cap would be indexed for inflation beginning in 2026.

Qualifying improvements include fire-resistant building materials, impact-resistant roofing, stormwater barriers, air filtration systems and vegetation removal around properties. Communities that experienced federally declared disasters within the past decade would be eligible for the program.


Supporting FIREWALL Act: Federal Tax Benefits for Homeowners smdp.com

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