Governor Newsom Suspends Environmental Regulations to Expedite Rebuilding After Deadly LA Wildfires

Jan 12, 2025, 05:06 PM

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Sunday to expedite the rebuilding process for victims of the recent Southern California wildfires, which have devastated Los Angeles County and resulted in at least 16 fatalities. The order suspends certain environmental regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act, allowing homeowners and businesses to rebuild without undergoing the usual permitting and review requirements. Newsom is working with the Coastal Commission and has called on state agencies to identify other statutory and regulatory requirements that can be waived to facilitate reconstruction. The executive order also extends price gouging protections to make rebuilding more affordable and prevents increases in property tax assessments for those rebuilding. "When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and efficiently," Newsom said.