An executive order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday will expedite the process of assisting Los Angeles fire victims with temporary housing, his office says.
According to the governor’s office, the new order does the following:
- Direct state departments to support local governments as they develop temporary housing plans to help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms.
- Streamline construction and occupancy of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on properties destroyed by the fires, including extending CEQA and Coastal Act exemptions from the Governor’s executive order to accelerate rebuilding efforts to ADUs.
- Make it easier to place temporary trailers and other housing on property while destroyed or damaged resident is rebuilt.
- Suspend fees for mobile home parks under the Mobilehome Park Act, Special Occupancy Parks Act, and Manufactured Housing Act for the next three years.
- Direct the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to make suitable fairgrounds available to assist individuals impacted by the emergency.
- Extend price gouging prohibitions on hotel, motel, and rental housing in Los Angeles County to March 8, 2025.
“As thousands of Los Angeles residents have been faced with sudden displacement, the state is taking decisive action to help provide housing and assistance as quickly as possible,” Newsom said in a statement. “Today, we are expediting the creation of new temporary housing by removing roadblocks and strengthening protections against exploitation.”
In a statement, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the order will help prevent greed as a brand new housing crisis has begun to take shape in the L.A. area.
“Folks across the region are being preyed upon by greedy businesses and landlords, scam artists, and predatory buyers looking to make a quick buck off their pain,” Bonta said. “My office is here to say this is not only wrong, it is illegal. We are thankful for the support of the Governor’s Office in providing these stronger tools to make sure Californians have the housing they need. Let there be no doubt that short-term rentals are a crucial housing resource, not a get-rich-quick scheme. We are always here to make sure our neighbors have a roof over their heads.”
The order on Thursday is just the latest in a series of executive actions designed to help those who have been affected by the fires. A previous order slashed regulations and red tape for those looking to rebuild burnt structures, while another was aimed at helping students whose schools were destroyed.
The full executive order can be read here.
