CBIA Legislative Program

Regional Blueprints and More Certain and Efficient Land Use

To conform to their constant objective of making more efficient use of land, California homebuilders will pursue legislation in 2008 that adopts the regional blueprint model of land-use planning and creates incentives for more urban-centric housing development.

Strategies for Improved Water Quality

California homebuilders will continue their efforts to establish a watershed-based approach to managing and regulating stormwater runoff in California.

Incentives for Infill Housing

The single-biggest obstacle to more urban-centric, infill housing development is the abuse of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and if “smart growth” is ever to happen in California, the law must change.  In 2008, California homebuilders will pursue legislation to allow for a streamlined environmental review when projects conform to regional blueprints.

Industry Recovery Initiatives

  • To help the homebuilding industry begin to climb out of its slump, California homebuilders are proposing a package of legislative initiatives in 2008:
  • Extending expiring subdivision maps;
  • Allowing payment of impact fees at certificate of occupancy; and
  • Asking the U.S. Congress to increase limits on federally guaranteed loans to better reflect California high-cost housing markets.

Strategies for Increased Water Conservation

Already effective in accomplishing significant water-use savings in newly built home, in 2008 California homebuilders to seek to increase conservation through workable new landscaping strategies.

Greenbuilding

California homebuilders will seek to institutionalize greenbuilding as part of the state’s code of residential construction standards. 

Assessing Housing’s Carbon Footprint

California homebuilders will seek to ensure that housing is doing its part to lower the states greenhouse gas emissions.

Enhanced Wildfire Prevention

California homebuilders will propose the establishment by the state fire marshal of a model fire-safety ordinance for adoption by communities determined to have wildfire-risk areas.