New California safety laws tighten commercial rules after Lineage fire in Boyle Heights
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 716 and AB 817 after the June 17 fire at Lineage's 500,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse in Boyle Heights, raising fines to up to $50,000 per violation and requiring contingency funds or insurance for cold storage building permits. Both laws apply locally in the short term but take effect statewide on July 1, 2028.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed bills that create new rules for the state's industrial companies following a massive fire at a cold storage facility in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights neighborhood in June. A June 17 fire at cold storage operator Lineage's 500,000-square-foot food warehouse left neighbors dealing with noxious smoke and an influx of rats and flies. Senate Bill 716 by Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles) raises the amount of fines local agencies can levy against companies that pose a threat to health and safety. Operators could now face fines of up to $50,000 per violation. Another bill, Assembly Bill 817 by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), prohibits the approval of a building permit for a cold storage facility unless the owner or operator creates a contingency fund, or has insurance, that can be used for emergency needs for locals. Both laws apply locally in the short term, but don't go into effect statewide until July 1, 2028.