Executive Order Related to Housing and SoCal Wildfires

Executive Order Related to Housing and SoCal Wildfires

Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-9-25 today. The Order suspends certain permitting and construction mandates, while also expanding restrictions on evictions and associated rental housing pricing, in response to the recent fires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

Housing provisions of note:

• Provision 13 extends price gouging of rental housing AND evictions that result in re-renting units at a higher rate in Los Angeles County until March 8, 2025.
• Provision 2 suspends certain environmental and coastal permitting and construction provisions for new Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
• Provision 3 allows ADUs on residential properties damaged by fires to be occupied before repair and construction of the primary residence is complete. This provision is in effect for three years.

CalRHA is working to provide additional clarity and guidance to members. The Executive Order may be found at https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/EO-Temp-Housing_1.16.25-GGN-Signed-_Final-for-Print.pdf.

The provisions of Executive Order N-9-25 are summarized below:

1. Comprehensive Housing Plan: State agencies will work with local authorities to create a plan for temporary and long-term housing for displaced residents.
2. Streamlined Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Certain environmental and coastal regulations related to ADU permitting and construction are lifted.
3. Flexible Housing Certifications: Rules requiring that repairs and construction of a primary dwelling be completed before an ADU on the same property can be occupied are suspended for three years.
4. Temporary Housing Flexibility: Local restrictions on using manufactured homes, mobilehomes, and RVs on private lots during rebuilding are suspended for three years.
5. Simplified Mobilehome Rules: Regulations for mobilehome parks, including environmental standards, are suspended for three years.
6. Suspended Zoning Laws: Zoning requirements for RVs and mobilehome parks are lifted to provide more flexible housing solutions are suspended for three years.
7. Health and Safety Standards: The state will establish standards for safe operation of mobilehomes, manufactured homes, and RVs.
8. Fee Waivers: Fees related to manufactured housing for displaced persons are suspended for three years.
9. Park Manager Fees Waived: Mobilehome park manager training program fees for operators in affected wildfire areas are suspended for three years.
10. Residency Law Protection Program Fees Waived: Fees under the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program are suspended for three years.
11. Employee Housing Fees Waived: Permit fees for employee housing facilities used by evacuees are suspended for three years.
12. Fairgrounds Available for Housing: State fairgrounds can be used for temporary housing without additional approvals.
13. Extended Anti-Price Gouging and Eviction Restrictions: Price gouging rules established in Penal Code Section 396 related to rental housing, motels, hotels in Los Angeles County are extended until March 8, 2025. Prohibitions on eviction of a tenant and re-renting the unit at a higher price in LA County are also extended until March 8, 2025.

The matters discussed herein are being provided for informational purposes only. If you have any questions regarding your property or specific leasing issues, or the requirements of any local or state laws, please consult with your legal counsel.