California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Jan. 12, 2025, via an executive order that he's streamlining the permitting process for businesses and homeowners by waiving two required building permits, 10news.com reported.
"When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks. The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger," Newsom said.
California's Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which is designed to protect residents from pollution caused by construction, will be waived, as will the California Coastal Act, according to 10news.com. The latter protects Pacific Coast habitats and helps ensure that building don't impede public access.
The CEQA was signed into law by then-Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1970, while the California Coast Act was created two years later by voter proposition, according to The Los Angeles Times.
The executive order also includes measures to protect Los Angeles residents for a year from price gouging on building materials, construction and storage services.
Newsome also said the suspension of other building permits will be considered and he promises to discuss with the state legislature about other ways to speed up rebuilding, while also protecting against future wildfires, 10news.com reported.
Gregg Cantor, president and CEO of Murray Lampert, told the news outlet that these efforts will help fast-track-rebuilding.
"It can take three to six months to pull a permit normally, and I imagine this is going to be probably weeks at the most," Cantor said. "What we don't know is how quickly the insurance companies are going to be able to process the claims. If they're building in kind, it'll be a very fast track permit, but if somebody wants to customize what they had, then that might extend the process."
As of Jan. 12, the fires had damaged more than 10,000 structures, according to Cal Fire.
Dan Dunmoyer, the president and CEO of the California Building Industry Association, told the Los Angeles Times that "the state will encourage homeowners to go back to their neighborhoods rather than deem development there too risky."
"He's put a marker down to say we're going to rebuild these communities," Dunmoyer said.
The Times said LA Mayor Karen Bass pledged to accelerate permitting by the city.
"We are going to clear the red tape and unnecessary delays and costs and headaches that people experience in ordinary times so that we can rebuild your homes quickly," Bass said on Jan. 9.
