Back to California

AB-1815 • 2026

Factory-built housing: building standards and local requirements.

Factory-built housing: building standards and local requirements.

Energy Housing
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Wicks
Last action
Official status
Senate - Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The source states the bill imposes a state-mandated local program but does not specify if this has been finalized or what specific costs are involved.

AB-1815: Rules for Factory-Built Homes

This law changes which building rules local governments can set for factory-built homes and updates the legal definition of what counts as factory-built housing.

What This Bill Does

  • Reserves to local jurisdictions only requirements for land use zones, design standards, flood resistance, and wildfire safety.
  • States that the California Building Standards Code now addresses regional variations in snow load and wind pressure instead of leaving them entirely to local rules.
  • Prohibits cities, counties, or city-counties from enforcing building standards stricter than state minimums on factory-built housing construction projects.
  • Clarifies that this prohibition does not apply to structures within a development project if they are not classified as factory-built housing.
  • Updates the definition of 'factory-built housing' based on the cost ratio of factory-made components and residential space usage.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Cities, counties, and city-counties that enforce building codes.
  • Builders and developers constructing factory-built homes in California.
  • The California Building Standards Commission within the Government Operations Agency.

Terms To Know

Factory-built housing
A residential building where at least 15% of construction costs come from factory-made parts and at least two-thirds of the space is for living use.
Local jurisdictions
Cities, counties, or combined city-county governments that make local rules.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill states no state reimbursement is required for costs this law creates for local agencies.
  • The effective date of the law is not listed in the provided text.
  • The specific reasons why financial reimbursement is not needed are mentioned but not detailed.

Bill History

  1. California Legislative Information

    Senate - Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Factory-built housing: building standards and local requirements.