SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following executive order to assist residents displaced by this summer’s large-magnitude earthquakes near Ridgecrest with housing needs.
An attested copy of the order can be found here and the text is below:
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-20-19
WHEREAS on July 4, 2019, I proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in Kern County following a 6.4 earthquake centered near the City of Ridgecrest that same day; and
WHEREAS on July 6, 2019, I proclaimed a state of emergency to exist in San Bernardino County as a result of the 6.4 earthquake on July 4, 2019, and the 7.1 earthquake that struck the same vicinity on July 5, 2019; and
WHEREAS thousands of aftershocks struck the same region of California in the days and weeks following these earthquakes; and
WHEREAS these earthquakes caused significant infrastructure damage throughout Kern County and San Bernardino counties, including to roads, utilities, and public buildings; and
WHEREAS these earthquakes damaged residential structures, including mobilehomes, and displaced residents; and
WHEREAS many residents face a challenging recovery and it is imperative protections remain in place to ensure communities impacted by these wildfires are able to fully recover; and
WHEREAS California will require immediate additional resources to assist in responding to, recovering from, and mitigating the effects of these earthquakes; and
WHEREAS under the provisions of Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this order would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the these earthquakes.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the State of California, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567 and 8571, do hereby issue the following order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
- Provisions of the Mobilehome Parks Act (Health and Safety Code, section 18200 et seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder (Code of Regulations, Title 25, section 1000 et seq.), with the exception of statutes and regulations relating to permits and applicable fees to operate mobilehome parks (Health and Safety Code, sections 18300.25, subdivision (b), 18500, subdivision (d), 18502, 18505, 18506, and 18507; Code of Regulations, Title 25, sections 1006.5, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, and 1012), are suspended in Kern County, as they pertain to disaster survivors in the impacted county, for three years from the date of this Order, to facilitate housing for those displaced by the earthquake or who have suffered loss of property.
- Provisions of the Special Occupancy Parks Act (Health and Safety Code, section 18860 et seq.), and regulations promulgated thereunder (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 25, § 2000 et seq.), with the exception of statutes and regulations relating to permits and applicable fees to operate special occupancy parks (Health and Safety Code, sections 18870, subdivision (d), 18870.6, 18870.6, 18870.7, and 18870.8, subdivision (a); Code of Regulations, Title 25, sections 2006.5, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012), are suspended in Kern County, as they pertain to disaster survivors in the impacted county, for three years from the date of this Order, to facilitate housing for those displaced by the earthquake or who have suffered loss of property.
- Provisions of the Manufactured Housing Act (Health and Safety Code, section 18000 et seq.) and regulations promulgated thereunder (Code of Regulations, Title 25, sections 4000 et seq., 5510 et seq.) imposing or requiring fees are suspended in Kern County, as they pertain to disaster survivors in the impacted county, for three years from the date of this Order, to facilitate housing for those displaced by the earthquake or who have suffered loss of property.
- The Department of Housing and Community Development and local enforcement agencies, including those with delegated disaster authority, shall jointly develop permitting, operating, and construction standards to maintain reasonable health and safety standards for the disaster survivors and other residents in the impacted areas of Kern County.
- The planning and zoning requirements in Government Code sections 65853 through 65863.13, as they pertain to housing projects in Kern County, are suspended for three years from the date of this Order for recreational vehicles, mobilehomes, manufactured homes, mobilehome parks, and special occupancy parks damaged or destroyed as a result of the earthquakes.
- Any local government zoning and land use ordinances in Kern County, as authorized by the state statutes and regulations suspended by paragraphs 1 and 5 of this Order, that would preclude the placement and use of a manufactured home, mobilehome, or recreational vehicle on a private lot outside of a mobilehome park or special occupancy park for use during the reconstruction or repair of a home damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes, are suspended for three years from the date of this Order for the individuals impacted by those events. Those individuals placing manufactured homes, mobilehomes, or recreational vehicles on lots pursuant to this paragraph shall obtain permits as described in paragraph 4 of this Order.
I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 18th day of October 2019.
GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
ALEX PADILLA
Secretary of State
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