SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation in February 2026 requiring local governments to approve rebuilding permits within 30 days for structures destroyed in presidentially declared wildfire disasters, addressing a bottleneck that has delayed recovery for thousands of homeowners.
The law, which applies to single-family homes and small multi-family buildings, requires local building departments to prioritize wildfire rebuilding applications and prohibits the imposition of new design standards or zoning requirements that were not in effect at the time of the fire.
Homeowners rebuilding after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires had reported permit approval times of six months to more than a year, with some citing conflicting requirements from multiple agencies as a major obstacle. The new law creates a single-point-of-contact system within each local government to coordinate permit review.
The California Building Industry Association and the Restoration Industry Association supported the legislation, noting that permit delays increase costs for homeowners and reduce the availability of contractors who move on to other projects while waiting for approvals.
The law also requires local governments to accept digital permit applications and inspections for wildfire rebuilding projects, reducing the need for in-person visits that can be difficult for displaced homeowners living outside the affected area.
