REALTORS ® from Pacific West Association of REALTORS® joined with other business groups to oppose additional costs to housing, and our advocacy efforts succeeded! The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) recently considered amendments to rules 1111 and 1121. The proposed amendments would have established limits for space and water heating units in new or existing buildings. Manufacturers that sell gas units would have been required to pay a mitigation fee of $100 and $50 for each space and water heating unit respectively. For a manufacturer that sold units above their quota, a fee of $500 and $250 per space and water heating unit would have been assessed. The fee was scheduled to grow by 3% a year.
Business groups along with housing groups joined together to oppose these fees, as they naturally would have added to the cost of housing. The umbrella coalition called “Cost of Living Council” organized residents and local government leaders to address the SCAQMD board. On a 7-5 vote, the board voted to not impose these fees. This is another testament to the power of advocacy, with REALTORS ® working in partnership with other business organizations to advocate for affordable home ownership!
