LA County Moves to Suspend Some State Building Laws in Fire-Ravaged Areas—A Step Forward or a Step Back?
In the wake of devastating wildfires, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors has taken a bold step—unanimously voting to ask the state to temporarily suspend certain building regulations to help residents rebuild their homes faster.
The motion, introduced by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Lindsay Horvath, argues that “unprecedented strategies” are needed to cut red tape and provide relief for displaced residents. However, not everyone is on board—housing advocates warn that these rollbacks could lead to fewer housing units, exacerbate the climate crisis, and reduce affordability.
What do you think? Should the county prioritize speed over sustainability, or is there a better way to balance both?
🏠 Breaking Down the Motion
The Board is calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to suspend several key state requirements, including:
✅ Solar panel mandates for new homes and low-rise buildings.
✅ Battery storage system requirements (or, at least, state-funded rebates to offset costs).
✅ Public input meetings for affordable housing projects in burn areas.
✅ Density requirements and building restrictions in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Supervisor Barger clarified that this is not an attempt to undermine state policies but rather a practical approach to urgent recovery efforts.
“We’re talking about solar energy, battery storage, and rebuilding requirements,” Barger said. “I’ve spoken to many residents in West Altadena who feel that these regulations place an undue financial burden on homeowners already struggling to recover.”
To further speed up recovery, the motion will also allow the Public Works Department to modify or bypass competitive bidding for infrastructure repair contracts.
⚖️ The Debate: Recovery vs. Responsibility
🔥 Supporters say: Speed is key—fire victims can’t afford delays caused by bureaucratic hurdles. Many homeowners simply want to rebuild what they lost, not be forced into costly upgrades they can’t afford.
🌎 Opponents argue: Sustainability and equity matter. Climate advocates worry that waiving these regulations could worsen fire risks in the future. Others fear that skipping public input on affordable housing projects will lead to less oversight and fewer housing options for renters.
Janet Cox, CEO of Climate Action California, cautioned that relaxing building standards might be “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.
Meanwhile, Courtney Alicia Miles from Abundant Housing L.A. called the motion “counterproductive”, arguing that delays in building more housing will make the crisis even worse.
🚀 What Do You Think?
Is waiving regulations the right move to help families get back on their feet quickly, or should the county focus on long-term sustainability?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below! ⬇️
