Altadena Included in Fire Zone Exemption from State Housing Law

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday issued an executive order exempting fire-ravaged areas of Los Angeles County — including sections of Altadena — from Senate Bill 9, a controversial state law that allows the construction of up to four housing units on lots previously zoned for single-family residences.

The temporary exemption comes as communities across the region assess damage from January’s devastating wildfires.

Newsom’s order permits local governments to suspend SB 9 provisions in burn zones, giving municipalities more discretion over rebuilding efforts. Areas named in the exemption include Pacific Palisades, parts of Malibu and Altadena — all of which fall within high fire hazard severity zones.

“This executive order responds directly to requests from local officials and community feedback, recognizing the need for local discretion in recovery,” Newsom stated in a press release issued Wednesday. “Not all laws are designed for rebuilding entire communities destroyed by fires overnight.”

The order is effective for the duration of Newsom’s declared state of emergency in Los Angeles County and initiates a seven-day pause on SB 9-related development in affected neighborhoods, allowing time for local authorities to establish appropriate rebuilding standards.

Concern had mounted among elected officials and residents that SB 9 could inadvertently enable developers to reshape fire-prone areas without adequate local oversight.

Altadena, home to several hillside neighborhoods vulnerable to wildfires, has joined other fire-stricken communities seeking to manage reconstruction through local oversight rather than statewide housing mandates.