LA County seeks to suspend some state building laws in fire-ravaged areas, but housing advocates object

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted Tuesday to ask the state to suspend some building requirements in areas ravaged by recent wildfires as they try to cut back on red tape for returning residents.

The motion — put forward by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsay Horvath — argued that "unprecedented strategies" are needed to reduce barriers for rebuilding efforts.

But housing advocates say the move could lead to fewer housing units — especially if density requirements are waived — and less state oversight of the rebuilding process. Some speakers said during public comment that the policies will also exacerbate the climate crisis and affect the amount of housing available for renters.

Horvath, however, said during the meeting that constituents who lost homes in the fires said they are concerned by the “inability to afford to replace what was there in the first place,” let alone “aspirations around a completely resilient rebuild to 21st century home hardening standards and everything in between.”

“This motion is so our county departments have direction from us and that we are clear with our residents that we are wasting no time at all to help them rebuild and return home,” she added.

Breaking down the motion

The supervisors will send a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom calling for the suspension of provisions that require solar panels on new single-family homes and low rise buildings, in addition to battery storage systems. If they are still required, the supervisors are asking for state rebates.

They’re also asking the state to suspend public input meetings on affordable housing projects in the burn areas, as well as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and density requirements.

”These temporary adjustments should not be misconstrued as efforts to undermine requirements and mandates across the county or state, but rather as practical measures to support urgent and equitable recovery,” Barger said during Tuesday’s meeting.

“We were talking about solar energy and battery storage and rebuilding requirements. It may be well-intentioned, but requirements like this, and I talked to many residents in the west Altadena area, feel that this is placing an undue financial burden on homeowners already facing an uncertain recovery,” she added.

The motion will also allow the public works department to amend, enter into or terminate contracts without a competitive bidding process to expedite infrastructure repairs.

What opponents say

Janet Cox, the chief executive of Climate Action California, said some of the standards rollbacks “might be a little hasty.”

“I think that Los Angeles needs a more inclusive, deliberative process to figure out exactly what the standards should be going forward,” she said.

 Courtney Alicia Miles, an organizer with Abundant Housing L.A., called the motion “counterproductive to the task of rebuilding fire impacted communities in a sustainable, equitable, and a resilient manner.”

“Stalling things is not going to make anything easier or more affordable,” she added.