The Malibu City Council extended a proposed temporary use permit program designed to help local businesses recover from devastating losses following the 2025 Palisades fire, while adding new restrictions to preserve the city's character.
The council agreed to extend the program's sunset date from January 31, 2026, to May 31, 2026, with a mandatory review in January, after business owners and public speakers argued the original timeframe was too short for meaningful recovery.
"The whole idea here is to get our businesses back on their feet," said Council Member Doug Stewart. "I will tell you 100% from my point of view I will not let this... continue on. This is meant to be a temporary help event not to permanently change the way we do business here in Malibu."
The proposed ordinance creates a three-tiered system for temporary events aimed at stimulating economic activity after Pacific Coast Highway was closed from the eastern city limit to Carbon Beach for months following the January 7 fire. Some businesses have reported losses of up to 80 percent year-over-year, according to city documents.
Three-Tier Permit System
Under the modified proposal, events with 99 people or fewer would require only a planning clearance costing $396, with applications submitted at least two days prior to the event. No public noticing would be required, and there would be no limit on the number of these events.
Events with 100-250 people would require a temporary use permit costing $821 for regular businesses and $342 for nonprofits. Applications must be submitted seven days in advance, with neighbor notification required five days before the event. Shopping centers would be allowed four such events per month, while individual businesses would be limited to two per month.
Events with 251 or more attendees would continue under existing regulations, limited to six per year with current notification requirements.
The council made a significant modification requiring all events to be open to the general public rather than private gatherings, addressing concerns about businesses renting out space for weddings and private parties.
"I thought what we were trying to do was allow businesses to do things out of the ordinary to get people to come in and patronize the business," said Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Silverstein. "Not change the type of business you're conducting in order to bring money in to pay the rent."
Shopping Center Focus
After lengthy discussion, the council agreed that shopping centers would serve as the primary applicant for events within their premises, rather than individual parcels. This change was requested by Cross Creek Ranch representatives, who noted their property has 40 tenant spaces and abundant common areas.
"Cross Creek Ranch has 40 tenant spaces plus abundant community open space and plazas," said Beth Gordie, attorney for Cross Creek Ranch. "There are circumstances under which simultaneous events will benefit local businesses and the community without detriment to the properties in the vicinity."
The council also limited events to one-day affairs and specified they must be held in common areas or occupied tenant spaces, not vacant ones.
Enforcement and Character Concerns
Several council members expressed concerns about enforcement and maintaining Malibu's rural character. Council Member Stewart warned against turning Malibu into Disneyland, while others worried about the city's ability to monitor compliance.
"We're going from a regulated environment to a free-for-all," Stewart said, emphasizing the need for weekend code enforcement staff.
The ordinance includes provisions for permit revocation if property owners violate noise ordinances or other regulations. Events must comply with existing noise, lighting and nuisance restrictions.
Signage Provisions
The proposal also allows temporary signage, with six signs per shopping center or two per parcel for other businesses, limited to 16 square feet each. Signs must be temporary without permanent foundations and cannot be illuminated.
The council removed language that would have allowed the community development director to authorize illuminated signs, citing the city's dark sky ordinance.
Economic Recovery Context
The ordinance responds to severe economic impacts from the fire and subsequent highway closure that lasted until Memorial Day weekend. The closure forced visitors from the greater Los Angeles area to use longer routes through Malibu Canyon Road or Kanan Dume Road, significantly reducing foot traffic.
Staff noted that current temporary use permit requirements, including a 35-day advance application period, have been too burdensome for businesses trying to recover quickly.
The council planned to put the item on "second call" later in the meeting to allow staff to incorporate the agreed-upon changes before a final vote, highlighting the urgency council members felt to provide businesses with recovery tools while preserving community standards.
