Newsom exempts fire-torn areas of Los Angeles from controversial duplex law

Published July 31, 2025 4:08pm ET



Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) issued an executive order on Wednesday that exempts fire-torn areas of Los Angeles from a landmark housing law that allows property owners to build duplexes on land reserved for single-family homes.

Newsom’s executive order would let the city of Los Angeles, LA County, and Malibu, California, restrict construction allowed under the 2021 law, which allowed lots to be split up to four housing units.

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