Debris Cleanup Coverage: Who Covers Debris Removal After the 2025 LA Fires?

Disasters create debris. Who cleans it up?

A standard homeowners insurance policy may cover debris removal.

If your policy has debris removal coverage, then insurance covers the cost of restoring your property to pre-loss condition – including the removal of all debris from the premises.

In some cases, government authorities cover debris cleanup – especially in large-scale disasters like the 2025 Los Angeles fires.

With 12,000+ structures destroyed in Los Angeles to date, however, it could take a long time to clear your property of hazards and contaminants. The US Army Corps of Engineers currently estimates 18 months to clear all properties of debris.

Can homeowners clear debris themselves? Does insurance cover debris removal? Who do you call to make your property safe? Today, we’re answering common questions asked by homeowners in Los Angeles.

Who Covers Debris Removal?

A standard homeowners insurance policy may or may not include coverage for debris removal.

Check your homeowners insurance policy. Typically, there’s a section specifically covering cleanup costs.

The important thing to remember is that homeowners insurance only covers debris removal associated with a covered loss – like a house fire or windstorm for which you’ve made an insurance claim.

Debris removal could also be covered by state, municipal, or federal agencies – especially after a large-scale disaster.

Who’s Covering Debris Removal for the 2025 Los Angeles Fires?

In January, fires destroyed 12,000+ homes across Los Angeles.

In addition to causing billions of dollars of damage, the fires left behind mountains of debris.

For large-scale disasters like the 2025 Los Angeles fires, the government often intervenes to handle debris cleanup.

The US Army Corps of Engineers, for example, has already started clearing properties across Los Angeles.

As the New York Times reports, however, cleanup could take up to 18 months. Debris cleanup takes place in a distinct series of steps.

Crews work in two phases:

Phase #1:

First, workers under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remove batteries, pesticides, paint cans, and other hazards. This cleanup process could take anywhere from a few hours to a few days for each home.

Homeowners are not allowed to opt out of this cleanup process, nor are they allowed to clean up hazards themselves because of safety risks.

Lithium-ion batteries, for example, store large amounts of energy and, when affected by wildfire flames, pose a risk of exploding. These are the same batteries found in laptops, electric cars, and cell phones.

Phase #2:

Second, the US Army Corps of Engineers hauls away the remaining non-hazardous debris. After a wildfire like the 2025 Los Angeles fires, that debris includes burned trees, damaged home structure components, and ash.

The US Army Corps of Engineers estimates they need to remove around 4.25 million tons of debris across the 12,000+ properties. Homeowners can wait for the US Army Corps of Engineers to clear their property. Or, they can pay a private contractor for debris removal.

Debris Removal Options

If you wait for the US Army Corps of Engineers to clear your property, then cleanup is free. The government does not charge you for debris removal.

If you pay for a private contractor to speed up the debris removal process, however, then it may or may not be free:

• If you have already made a claim, then insurance could cover debris removal.
• If you haven’t made a claim, then you could start a claim or pay for debris removal out of pocket.

What is Debris Removal Insurance?

Debris removal insurance is a section of an insurance policy covering the cleanup of a property after a disaster.

Typically, your insurance requires you to contact a licensed debris removal contractor. Then, that contractor must remove debris from your property within a set timeframe – like 90 to 180 days from the date of the loss.

Important points about debris removal insurance include:

• A standard homeowners insurance policy may or may not include debris removal insurance. Generally, policies include basic debris removal coverage.
• If your homeowners insurance policy covers debris removal, then you should receive compensation for the cost of removing debris from your property after a covered loss.
• If your homeowners insurance policy doesn’t cover debris removal, then you may wish to add it. Some insurers allow you to add coverage for a few extra dollars per month.
• If you make a debris removal claim, the debris removal must be completed by a licensed contractor within a set time – typically around 180 days.
• The contractor is in charge of removing debris from your property to put it in the same condition it was in pre-loss. That means safely removing hazards, debris, contaminants, and other materials from your property linked to the loss.
• Debris removal doesn’t cover hazards that were already on your property prior to the covered loss.

Debris removal coverage is typically capped at 25% of the insurer’s liability for a covered event. Once you exceed this limit, you’ll need to pay for debris removal out of pocket.

What Comes Next for Los Angeles Homeowners?

Typically, homeowners insurance covers basic debris removal. Your insurance should cover the cost of restoring your property to pre-loss condition – including the removal of any debris caused by a covered loss.

Check your policy, however, for any exclusions and rules regarding coverage.

Don’t forget to check with government authorities. State, local, and federal governments may be involved in large-scale debris removal after a natural disaster.

EPA workers and the US Army Corps of Engineers, for example, will clean your property for free – but it may take 18 months.