2025 Brought Seismic Changes to California Housing Laws

From new state laws to emergency regulations prompted by the Eaton and Palisades fires, California saw significant changes in zoning and housing policy this year. In an article for LAist, Brianna Lee highlights the biggest policy changes affecting Southern California.

A new state law, SB 79, raises the height limit for apartments near transit stops to nine stories, overriding local zoning laws. Changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the state’s key environmental law, exempt most new apartment building  in developed areas from its requirements, which housing advocates say are often disingenuously used to derail housing projects. 

After the January wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes, Los Angeles and California officials issued various orders affecting recovery and reconstruction. The state legislature expanded the areas where new homes must be built with fire-resistant materials, and Governor Newsom banned duplexes in fire zones (a move currently being challenged in court). In Altadena, a pre-fire zoning plan called for restricted density in the foothills, a plan that residents will have to follow as they rebuild. Lee also notes that over half of Altadena properties sold after the fire were sold to corporate buyers, a potentially troubling trend that could exacerbate the housing crisis.