Under the order Newsom signed Sunday, state and local agencies are directed to help the residents of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties by expediting processes that would hinder reconstruction. They have also been tasked with identifying additional building codes that can be safely suspended.
"When the fires are extinguished, victims who have lost their homes and businesses must be able to rebuild quickly and without roadblocks," Newsom said in a Sunday press release. "The executive order I signed today will help cut permitting delays, an important first step in allowing our communities to recover faster and stronger."
The environmental safety restrictions that govern construction projects are an obstacle for anyone looking to build in the state. Legislators have also expanded regulations aimed at improving fire and earthquake resilience in fire-prone neighborhoods. These requirements, like installing sprinkler systems and external water tanks, can be cost-prohibitive for homeowners.
Some state residents have also questioned why the process for rebuilding was not streamlined after other wildfires. Republican Assemblymember David Tangipa, who represents the Central Valley, said that wildfire victims are still recovering from the Creek Fire in 2020 in a social media post and called on the state government to address the disparity.
Matt Sedlar, a climate analyst at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, said the issue is more complex than simply rebuilding. He said he's worried that Newsom's order may come with unintended consequences.
"CEQA review is something that's been a thorn in the side of many housing advocates because a lot of localities use that to hold up development," Sedlar said. "My concern is that there's a bullet point that directs state agencies to identify additional permanent requirements, including provisions of the building code, that can safely be suspended to accelerate rebuilding."
Sedlar noted that in areas like Los Angeles County, a high risk of wildfires necessitates resiliency measures when it comes to rebuilding.
"It wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to rebuild as things were before because that's the opposite of adaptive resilience," he said.
The focus instead should be on mitigating the costs associated with making these neighborhoods safer, whether that's through state or federal assistance, according to Sedlar.
In the United States, experts and state officials are working together to find solutions that account for rising building costs, environmental safety and the need for hardened homes. In 2006, Florida legislators introduced My Safe Florida Home, a program that distributes funds to applicants looking to improve the resiliency of their homes against natural disasters like hurricanes. The program is wildly popular.