News & Analysis as of

Real Estate Development California Environmental Quality Act

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

New Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation—Abundance or Another Bagel Topping?

This is the fifth update in our series covering AB 130 and SB 131, two bills that work substantive changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and California housing law....more

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass

CEQA Transportation Mitigation Fees and Other Key Reforms in AB 130 and SB 131

This is our third update on the important changes in the two budget trailer bills, AB 130 and SB 131, after previous posts addressing the new CEQA exemption for infill housing and the “near miss” CEQA streamlining process....more

Downey Brand LLP

Wait, What? Major Changes to CEQA Slip into Law via Deft Maneuvering

Downey Brand LLP on

Much is discussed every year in the Legislature about how the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) needs reform. But the calls for change nearly always fail, aside from a few tinkering changes. This year is...more

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

CEQA Infill Exemptions and “Near Miss” Streamlining—A Concrete Fix for California’s Housing Crisis?

Note: This is the second update in our series covering AB 130 and SB 131, two bills that work substantive changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and California housing law....more

Miller Starr Regalia

State Budget Bill Includes Landmark CEQA and Housing Law Changes

Miller Starr Regalia on

On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed AB 130 and SB 131 into immediately effective law as budget trailer bills, marking a historic effort to accelerate housing production and to reform the CEQA review process that has been...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

California Real Estate Developers Optimistic About CEQA Reform

Husch Blackwell LLP on

On June 30, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) and Senate Bill 131 (SB 131), legislation that contains significant changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that...more

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass

“Near-Miss” CEQA Streamlining: New Option to Reduce Scope of Review for Housing Development Projects

Following up on our earlier coverage of the new California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption passed as part of budget trailer bill AB 130, another significant CEQA pathway was created through its companion...more

Nossaman LLP

Will California’s CEQA Reform Impact Condemnation? 

Nossaman LLP on

Acquiring property for public projects typically does not occur until after the project has received environmental approval.  In California, complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) can sometimes take...more

Best Best & Krieger LLP

AB 130 and SB 131 Include Updates to Major California Housing Laws

On June 30, 2025, two budget trailer bills — Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) and Senate Bill 131 (SB 131) — were signed by Governor Newsom and went into effect immediately. In addition to significant modifications to the...more

Mayer Brown

California Legislation Eviscerates CEQA for Most Housing Projects

Mayer Brown on

In a monumental win for pro-housing advocates, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation essentially exempting most housing and mixed-use projects from CEQA....more

Clark Hill PLC

CEQA finally brought to its knees by California’s severe housing crisis

Clark Hill PLC on

Originally enacted in 1970, the objective of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was to review projects to assess potential impacts on the environment, disclose those impacts to the public, and mitigate those...more

Miller Starr Regalia

“Double Counting” or Redundant Mitigation?  Second District Holds CEQA Guidelines’ Additionality Requirement Precludes Applying...

Miller Starr Regalia on

In a partially published 102-page opinion filed June 26, 2025, the Second District Court of Appeal (Div. 7) resolved cross-appeals by affirming the trial court’s judgment invalidating Los Angeles County’s 2019 EIR...more

Perkins Coie

Major Reforms Enacted to the California Environmental Quality Act

Perkins Coie on

Key Takeaways - - AB 130 and SB 131 were recently passed by the California Legislature and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, enacting the most significant reforms to CEQA in recent years. - AB 130 establishes a new statutory...more

Beveridge & Diamond PC

California Passes Major CEQA Reforms: Key Takeaways for the Regulated Community

Introduction - Last week, California enacted the most significant reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) since the mid-1970s. On June 30, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 131 and Assembly Bill 130...more

Allen Matkins

California Environmental Law & Policy Update 7.3.25

Allen Matkins on

On June 30, 2025, Governor Newsom signed two budget trailer bills into law: Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, which reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) effective immediately. As explained by the...more

Nossaman LLP

From Permits to Penalties: A Deep Dive Into Coastal Development Law

Nossaman LLP on

The California Coastal Act (The Act) is a critical piece of legislation impacting countless developers and homeowners within the coastal zones of California. Understanding the intricacies of The Act is pivotal for anyone...more

Downey Brand LLP

Indispensable Party: First District Rules Petitioner’s Failure to Join Real Party in Interest Necessitates Dismissal of Action

Downey Brand LLP on

In Citizens for a Better Eureka v. City of Eureka (2025) __ Cal. App. 5th __, the First District Court of Appeal affirmed a judgment dismissing a CEQA action that challenged an approval for the redevelopment of a City of...more

Allen Matkins

2025 Land Use, Environmental & Natural Resources Update

Allen Matkins on

California stands at a pivotal juncture in 2025, confronting an array of environmental and housing challenges. As usual, the California State Legislature is considering numerous strategies to address these issues. This year’s...more

Allen Matkins

Challenging the Industrial Exodus: Legal Lessons from Santa Ana’s Planning Reboot

Allen Matkins on

The City of Santa Ana (City) has recently undertaken an ambitious — and highly controversial — effort to reshape the landscape of its historically industrial-centric Transit Zoning Code (TZC) district. Through the adoption of...more

Allen Matkins

City of Los Angeles Approves New Ordinances to Encourage Housing Development

Allen Matkins on

California’s housing crisis has necessitated innovative legislative solutions at the state and local level to increase the supply of affordable housing across the state. Cities are required by state law to plan for a...more

Allen Matkins

Recent Amendments to Affordable Housing and High Roads Job Act of 2022 (AB 2011)

Allen Matkins on

AB 2243 (Wicks) amended AB 2011 effective January 1, 2025. As explained in our prior legal alert, AB 2011 provides for “by right” streamlined ministerial (i.e., no CEQA) approval of qualifying mixed-income and affordable...more

Allen Matkins

Western Burrowing Owl’s CESA Candidacy Triggers New Compliance Obligations for Developers

Allen Matkins on

On October 10, 2024, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) unanimously voted to designate the western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species...more

Downey Brand LLP

Senate Bill 607 and Potential Sweeping Changes to CEQA

Downey Brand LLP on

This year, over fifty bills were introduced in the Legislature that directly addressed a CEQA issue. Many died in committee, or failed to make it out of their respective houses. The vast majority of those that advanced sought...more

Miller Starr Regalia

First District Affirms Judgment Dismissing CEQA Action Based On Petitioner’s Failure To Join Indispensable Real Party Developer...

Miller Starr Regalia on

In an opinion filed May 14, and later ordered published on June 11, 2025, the First District Court of Appeal (Div. 3) affirmed a judgment dismissing a CEQA action challenging an approval for a City parking lot...more

Miller Starr Regalia

Third District Holds County Could Require Supplemental Environmental Information From Grading Permit Applicant As Condition of...

Miller Starr Regalia on

Like a gift to land use lawyers that never stops giving, the strange and wondrous interrelationship between CEQA and the Permit Streamlining Act (“PSA”; Gov. Code, § 65920 et seq) continues to inspire litigation and require...more

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