What you need to know: Governor Newsom is taking additional steps to make it easier for survivors of the LA firestorms to rebuild and access shelter, with a new executive order reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act remain suspended, and expanding temporary housing supply by extending the amount of time people can stay at hotels and short-term rentals.

LOS ANGELES - Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. The order also helps boost the availability of short-term housing, by making it easier for survivors of the LA area firestorm to stay in hotels and other short-term rentals for more than 30 days.

“As the state helps the Los Angeles area rebuild and recover, we will continue to remove barriers and red tape that stand in the way. We will not let over-regulation stop us from helping the LA community rebuild and recover.” - Governor Gavin Newsom

Cutting red tape in rebuilding 

The order responds to Coastal Commission guidance that suggested rebuilds are subject to Coastal Act exemption provisions and procedures and reiterates that all permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended.  That legally erroneous guidance threatened to create confusion and delay in rebuilding efforts for impacted communities. The order further directs the Coastal Commission to stop issuing guidance or attempting to enforce permitting requirements that conflict with the Governor’s Executive order issued on January 12, 2025, which waives the CEQA and Coastal Act requirements, as well as a subsequent order issued on January 16 to streamline the building of accessory dwelling units to assist in creating more temporary housing.

Removing barriers to temporary housing

The executive order also suspends rules that could deter hotels, motels, and other short-term rentals from offering shelter to survivors for more than 30 days. The order temporarily allows survivors to remain classified as short-term occupants rather than tenants when they stay beyond 30 days, effectively suspending rules that might limit hotel and short-term rental operators’ flexibility to support extended stays. The order suspends these rules until March 8, 2025. 

Read the executive order

Speeding recovery 

Today’s announcement adds to the Governor’s work to cut red tape, remove onerous permitting requirements, and help speed rebuilding and recovery from the Los Angeles firestorms. On January 12, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed - suspending the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act permitting requirements and review. 

Additional actions to aid in the rebuilding and recovery efforts include:

• Providing tax relief to those impacted by the fires. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 - providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline.
• Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants and homeowners. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline the construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms. For homeowners, California has worked with five major lenders, as well as 270 financial institutions, to provide mortgage relief to their customers.
• Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate the risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas. 
• Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.
• Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers.  
• Getting kids back in the classroom. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.
• Protecting victims from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.