AB 557: California Factory-Built Housing Law.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law, the California Factory-Built Housing Law, requires all factory-built housing after a specified date that is sold or offered for sale to first users within the state to bear insignia of approval issued by the department, deems that housing to comply with the requirements of all ordinances or regulations enacted by any city, city and county, county, or district that may be applicable to the construction of housing, as specified, and prohibits a city, city and county, county, and district from requiring submittal of plans for any factory-built housing manufactured, or to be manufactured pursuant to these provisions, as specified. Existing law requires the department to provide by regulation for the qualification and disqualification of design approval agencies to perform approval of factory-built housing plans and specifications and makes approval by these agencies the equivalent of department approval. The law provides that any person who violates any of these provisions and other specified law is guilty of a misdemeanor, as specified.

This bill would require plans or specifications of factory-built housing approved pursuant to these provisions to be approved by unit serial number and would authorize the approved plans or specifications to be used in subsequent development projects unless building standards relating to factory-built housing are modified, as specified. The bill would require the department and the design approval agencies to limit their review to the portions of a plan or specification that has not already received approval, as specified. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. July 9, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2. June 11, 2025Referred to Com. on HOUSING.
3. June 3, 2025In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
4. June 2, 2025Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 1837.)
5. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
6. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (May 23).
7. May 21, 2025Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
8. May 21, 2025In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
9. May 14, 2025In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
10. April 28, 2025Re-referred to Com. on APPR. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
11. April 28, 2025Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.
12. April 24, 2025From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. Read second time and amended.