Newsom extends housing access, rebuilding efforts for wildfire victims

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued a new executive order to help L.A. County fire victims find temporary housing and rebuild.

The order relaxes rules to expand hotel access and short-term rentals for displaced residents. Wildfire victims can now stay in hotels, motels and other short-term rentals without being reclassified as tenants. The new rule is effective until March 8, 2025.

The order also clarifies that the Coastal Commission’s permitting requirements, suspended under earlier orders, remain unenforceable. It directs the agency to cease issuing guidance or taking actions that could delay rebuilding.

“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,” Newsom said in a statement.

To further help wildfire victims, Newsom has also mobilized federal hazmat teams for debris removal, expanded anti-price-gouging protections, directed over $2.5 billion in state aid to recovery efforts and expanded the tax deadline for all L.A. County residents.