Voluntary Property Buyout Program Applications due November 8 

Reminder: Applications for the Voluntary Property Buyout Program in the landslide area are due this Friday, November 8, 2024. Completed applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. and can be sent via email to landmovement@rpvca.gov or in person at City Hall. Please make sure that all forms in the application are signed by all owners of the property.  

Established with $42 million from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Voluntary Property Buyout Program is intended to help eligible homeowners relocate to safer areas by offering a fair market value for their properties based on pre-disaster appraisals. Properties acquired by the City through this program will be permanently converted to open space and deed-restricted, protecting them from future redevelopment risks. 

As of close of business on November 6, the City has received 57 applications. The Building and Safety Division has conducted dozens of home inspections as part of the application process. 

The City and Cal OES will review all applications to ensure they meet FEMA's eligibility criteria.  Properties will be prioritized for selection based on factors such as safety concerns, structural condition, and utility statuses.   

If selected for a grant under the program, the City will purchase the property for a price determined by an appraisal that is based on the fair market value of the land on Dec. 1, 2022, prior to the acceleration of the landslide. The FEMA grant will pay for 75% of the sale, and property owners will contribute the remaining 25% through a reduction of the fair market value payment. Property owners who have been selected to proceed with the purchase of their property may withdraw at any time prior to sale closing.   

For more information, please visit rpvca.gov/landmovement. If you have questions about the program, please email landmovement@rpvca.gov.    

$1.9 Million in Relief Grants Distributed to Landslide Property Owners

Over the past month, the City has distributed $1.9 million in emergency relief grants to residents impacted by land movement and utility shutoffs. The City’s Finance Department has been working diligently to get grants to those in need as soon as possible, typically issuing checks in five days. 

Eligible property owners can still apply for up to $10,000 to cover critical expenses such as purchasing supplies, home repairs, temporary housing and other related costs due to land movement or utility interruptions. This program was made possible thanks to $5 million from Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, which included $2.8 million for individual assistance, and $2.2 million to help the City’s ongoing landslide response and stabilization efforts. 

For more information about the relief grant program and to apply, visit rpvca.gov/landmovement. 

Coming Soon: Land Movement Door Hangers 

In the coming weeks, the City will be distributing door hangers with magnetic cards to homes in the landslide area containing key phone numbers and web links related to the land movement emergency. This includes hotlines to report utility leaks, websites and phone numbers for utility updates, the City’s land movement webpage, Alert SouthBay emergency alerts, and the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office for tax relief resources. If a property is not able to be safely accessed, the door hanger will be mailed. Extra door hangers will be available at City Hall. 

Questions?

If you have questions, please email the City at landmovement@rpvca.gov. 

Media Inquiries

If you have a media inquiry related to land movement in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, please contact the City’s communications partner, Tripepi Smith, with your questions at RPVMedia@TripepiSmith.com. They will also add you to our media list so you receive our listserv updates, press releases and media advisories.