Gov. Newsom signs executive order allowing local control of SB 9 development in high fire danger zones
Gov. Newsom signs executive order allowing local control of SB 9 development in high fire danger zones
Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday, July 30, signed an executive order which gives local governments the ability to limit Senate Bill 9 development in very high fire-hazard severity zones with the Eaton and Palisades fire burn areas.
Signed by Newsom in 2021, SB 9 went into effect in 2022. The law allows property owners to split a single-family lot into two lots and place up to two units on each.
According to the governor’s office, the order is a response to the concerns of local leaders about SB 9 development in areas rebuilding from fires and crowding evacuation routes.
“We will continue to assist communities in rebuilding safely in ways that are responsive to local concerns,” Newsom said in a statement. “This executive order responds directly to requests from local officials and community feedback, recognizing the need for local discretion in recovery and that not all laws are designed for rebuilding entire communities destroyed by fires overnight.”
According to the governor’s office, the executive order grants local governments the authority to adjust rules for SB 9 development, provide local governments with the flexibility to tailor standards to local needs and includes a seven day pause on SB 9 development.
These exceptions are for areas identified by the State Fire Marshal as very high fire hazard severity zones, which includes the entire Palisades with the city of Los Angeles, the eastern foothills portions of Altadena, Sunset Mesa and Malibu, according to the governor’s office.
The order will remain in effect as long as the state of emergency remains in effect.
In March, Cal Fire released updated fire danger maps. Local governments had until July 22 to adopt the maps. Cities and counties were not able to reduce the size of their fire zones but could have increased them.
The new maps increased the number of acres in the top two fire zones by 76%.
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