On June 30, 2025, the Governor signed two bills that have made significant changes as to how the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) will now apply to certain housing development projects.  Assembly Bill (AB) 130 states it is designed to further “infill” multi-family housing development projects, other than single-family residential, including projects that have already been submitted to local jurisdictions and are currently being processed.

AB 130 provides a CEQA exemption provided that certain criteria are met, including but not limited to:

  • The project site is no larger than 20 acres, or no more than 5 acres if it qualifies as a builder’s remedy site.
  • At least two-thirds of the project’s total square footage is dedicated to residential use.
  • The project site has been previously developed with an “urban use”, at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses, at least 75 percent of the area within a one-quarter mile radius of the site is developed with urban uses, or for sites with four sides, at least three out of four sides are developed with urban uses and at least two-thirds of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses.
  • The project is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning ordinance unless the project is a “Builders Remedy” project, and then other portions of the state housing law govern whether such ordinances may apply.
  • The project meets at least 50% of the “Mullin density” standard. The Mullins density for LCF is 20 dwelling units per acres, meaning a project must be at least 10 units per acre.
  • The project is not located on a site where a “recognized environmental condition is found” or on a hazardous site.
  • The project does not require the demolition of a historic structure that was placed on a national, state, or local historic register.

If a housing development project meets these (and other) criteria, typical environmental concerns that the public are aware of, such as traffic, air quality, noise, etc. are not applicable.  Under AB 130, the local jurisdiction must provide notification to California Native American Tribes with an invitation to consult on the project and must ensure a Phase I environmental assessment is completed.  Like other statutory and categorical exemptions under CEQA,  there is no public review period of the environmental impacts of the project and other timelines for approval are altered.

How will this impact the processing of the 600 Foothill mixed use project?  The project proponent informed staff on July 3, 2025 they are intending to utilize the AB 130 exemption signed into law on June 30, 2025. The City has reviewed AB 130 and determined it is applicable to the 600 Foothill project.  As such, the review of the Class 32 Categorical Exemption that the applicant had previously submitted has been suspended. Staff has contacted applicable California Native American Tribes regarding consultation in accordance with AB 130.  After completion of the consultation, the project will be scheduled for a public hearing before the Planning Commission.

What about future housing projects?  There is a high probability that future housing development projects will be eligible for a CEQA exemption based on AB 130 if they meet the criteria identified above and within state law.  While in the past multifamily housing projects required intense study of environmental factors and the public had an opportunity to provide comments on Environmental Impact Reports and Mitigated Negative Declarations or Negative Declarations, this may no longer apply moving forward.

Since this change to CEQA is so new, there are still questions as to when the exemption is applicable and how projects will be implemented based on the exemption.  While there may be some concern within the community that factors significantly impacting La Cañada Flintridge, such as fire prevention, grading and drainage, will not be reviewed prior to a project being approved, there are safeguards in the adopted building and fire codes that apply to all new construction.  More information as to the processing and ultimate construction of housing development projects subject to the CEQA exemptions will be released after thorough review of the new statutes.