California Coastal Commission’s role uncertain in LA Wildfire re-building after Newsom orders

After declaring a state of emergency due to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended certain environmental permit procedures by issuing Executive Order N-4-25 on Jan. 12, 2025. Among other measures, Executive Order N-4-25 suspended all permit requirements under the California Coastal Act to rebuild structures that were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires. This suspension applies if the rebuild is in substantially the same location and does not exceed 110% of the footprint of the structure that was legally established immediately before the wildfires. These conditions for suspending Coastal Act requirements largely mirror what the Coastal Act already exempts from the definition of a "new development" requiring a permit.

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