Rollings Hills Looks Into Voluntary Buyout Program For Landslide-Affected Homes

ROLLING HILLS — City officials are looking into what it would take to establish a voluntary buyout program for community members in Rolling Hills whose homes have been affected by ongoing land movement.

Although the damage in Rolling Hills hasn't been the same as neighboring Rancho Palos Verdes, the program would serve as a long-term hazard mitigation strategy that allows homeowners facing land movement or risks the opportunity to sell their properties to the city at a fair market value, according to officials.

Through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program offered by FEMA, Rancho Palos Verdes was awarded $42 million to buy the homes of those affected by landslide movements. The land would then be turned into an open space area with restricted development.

While Rancho Palos Verdes officials have already chosen the 23 homes they intend to buy out, the city, as of May, has yet to see a cent of the $42 million. Thus, it may take years before homeowners chosen for the buyout see any money, and if they do, it will most likely be paid out in installments.

Rolling Hills, meanwhile, has yet to submit an official application to FEMA and is simply exploring the idea, and is looking at Rancho Palos Verdes as a roadmap to gather insight on the process. The deadline to apply for the grant is April 2026.

As the City considers participation in the Cal OES Voluntary Buyout Program, it is essential to weigh both the immediate and long-term implications of acquiring properties behind the gates," city officials said in a statement on June 23.

While the program offers a potential path toward permanent risk reduction and open space
preservation, it also represents a substantial policy and fiscal commitment that will shape the
City’s future land use, financial planning, and emergency management responsibilities.

Homes in the Rolling Hills area began seeing the effects of the landslide almost two years ago, with some describing hearing loud cracking as it began claiming several homes.

Neighborhoods such as the Flying Triangle, Quail Ridge, and Cinchring Road continue to be affected by land movement, which in turn has impacted utility operations and led to shut-offs.