Design and Construction Report staff writer
The State of California is taking steps to cut red tape and streamline the rebuilding and recovery of homes in communities impacted by the recent Los Angeles area firestorms. An executive order signed last week clarifies existing exemptions, expands local streamlining efforts and implements additional recommendations by state agencies.
The order further clarifies and expands the scope of those suspensions under the Coastal Act and CEQA, in close coordination local governments and to provide the full scope of flexibility those governments have requested. It also provides additional flexibility to facilitate rebuilding, including extending the duration of permits, ensuring homeowners can access the building plans for their homes, and allowing homes recently approved for development under modern building safety standards, including fire protection standards, to be rebuilt to the approved specifications.
“I will not allow red tape to stand in the way of Angelenos who want to rebuild their homes,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “From allowing LA to automatically reissue permits for homes built in the last few years to quickly getting copies of building plans in the hands of residents who lost theirs in the fire, I am proud to partner with Governor Newsom to help Angelenos get back home.”
The executive order:
- Updates the Governor’s previous executive orders waiving permitting requirements under the Coastal Act and CEQA by clarifying the scope of the waivers and that local planning or permit approval is determinative of eligibility for these suspensions.
- Expedites rebuilds of recently constructed homes by allowing them to be rebuilt to approved specifications.
- Helps speed access to original plans held by local planning and building departments, to minimize delays in rebuilding.
- Extends deadlines for construction permits, to limit the administrative burden for homeowners seeking to rebuild.
Extends deadlines related to local housing element rezoning requirements for Los Angeles County so local government staff can focus fully on issuing permits for rebuilding efforts.
