Gov. Newsome Issues Executive Order to Facilitate Manufactured Homes in California Wildfire Recovery

In the aftermath of declared and undeclared natural disasters, the utilization of manufactured homes is prominent in recovery efforts. Local, state and federal agencies have found that manufactured housing provides a safe, quality and expedient source for displaced disaster victims. 

Today’s manufactured homes are the only form of single-family housing built to mandated national construction and safety standards code (HUD Code), including fire and wind safety requirements that are at least equal, and sometimes superior to on-site home construction standards. The following report is an example of the role manufactured homes play in facilitating displaced resident housing needs following natural disasters.

According to an online report by Bay City News, California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, to help streamline recovery efforts in the five counties where 13 wildfires burned in October.

The fires destroyed houses, mobile homes, manufactured homes and other structures and left debris, forced closures of highways and roads and destroyed or damaged infrastructure.

Newsom’s executive order helps displaced residents with housing needs by facilitating manufactured homes and mobile home parks and waving fees to replace driver’s licenses and birth certificates of residents affected by the fires.

The order, which contains a dozen sections, includes a three-year suspension of planning and zoning requirements that pertain to recreational vehicles, mobile homes, manufactured home parks/mobile home parks and special occupancy parks that were damaged or destroyed as a result of wind events and fires.

Many residents face a challenging recovery, and strict compliance with various statutes and regulations addressed in the order and would prevent, hinder or delay the mitigation of the effects of the fires. Newsome said.

Newsome issued proclamations of a state of emergency on Oct.11 for Riverside and Los Angeles counties, where five fires burned, on Oct.25 in Sonoma and Los Angeles counties, where two fires burned, and on Oct. 27 for severe fire weather conditions that began on Oct.26.

During the severe fire weather, six fires began burning in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, Newsome said.

All orders and provisions in proclamations dated Oct. 11, 25, and 27 shall remain in force and effect, the executive order states.