New Laws | firsttuesday Journal

The language(s) of a transparent eviction summons

by Lily Hart | Apr 29, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Assembly Bill 863 tasks the Judicial Council by 2027 to create a single summons form translated into multiple languages for use in any civil action.

CFPB cuts into mortgage discrimination rules

by Carrie B. Reyes | Apr 29, 2026 | Buyers and Sellers, New Laws, Real Estate, Your Practice | 0

A new CFPB federal rule shaves down the definition for what lender actions qualify as mortgage discrimination.

Lot splitting in historic districts permits new housing

by Amy Platero | Apr 29, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

A loophole allowed local agencies to designate neighborhoods as “historic districts” barring additional housing by ordinance. Now, that local loophole is removed. Parcels in historic districts may now be subdivided and each lot constructed with a duplex.

Disaster relief delivered at the reception desk

by Lily Hart | Apr 28, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

AB 299 sets protections for residents displaced by a disaster staying in short-term lodging for longer than 30 days.

Streamlined post-entitlement phase permit process in California

by Amy Platero | Apr 21, 2026 | Economics, Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

State departments may now approve housing plans, and all agencies now have tighter review timelines, or a building permit application is deemed complete.

Rebuilding homes after a disaster now easier and less restrictive in California

by Amy Platero | Apr 7, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Homebuilders rebuilding residential structures damaged or destroyed in a disaster now encounter fewer hurdles when the home is located in a common interest development (CID) or a planned residential project.

By 2028, online portals open to apply for housing development permits

by Lily Hart | Mar 26, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

AB 920 mandates centralized portals for online housing development applications by 2028 in all cities or counties with a population over 150,000.

Third-party reviewer speeds up building permit approval process in California

by Amy Platero | Mar 19, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Homebuilders now have the option to hire their own licensed engineers or architects to approve building plans when a local agency takes longer than 30 days to approve the plans.

Remedies when the city council breaks housing laws

by Lily Hart | Mar 13, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Assembly bill 712 holds local agencies accountable through painful money penalties and protections for applicants when agencies fail to follow housing reform laws.

Housing developments get approvals in 45 days, period

by Lily Hart | Mar 10, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 3

Assembly bill 1007 amends the 90-day deadline into 45 days for a public agency to approve or disapprove a development project.

Heat-related deaths lead to reformed building standards

by Lily Hart | Feb 6, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

SB 655 protects against extreme heat by setting a maximum indoor air temperature in residential units.

Green light for ADUs stopped by red tape

by Lily Hart | Feb 5, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

Senate Bill 9 mandates local agencies that do not submit new ADU ordinances to HCD or fail to respond to deficiency notices will have the new ordinance voided.

No more unsolicited offers on homes lost in LA wildfires

by Carrie B. Reyes | Jan 22, 2026 | Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-Ventura, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

A new law prohibits investors and their agents from swooping in after a fire and submitting offers to homeowners who have not yet marketed their property for sale.

Real estate photography as advertised

by Lily Hart | Jan 13, 2026 | Laws and Regulations, New Laws, Real Estate | 0

New legislation mandates transparency in real estate photography by requiring labels for digitally manipulated images used in advertising and promotion.