NAHB, Other Groups File Suit Against Southern California Gas Bans
NAHB and nine other business and housing groups seeking to overturn a regulation that would ban gas appliances have filed a lawsuit against Southern California air regulators.
In their complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the groups contended that South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) regulation violates the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975.
NAHB and the other plaintiffs argued that SCAQMD’s effective ban on certain gas appliances will harm their members.
“Plaintiffs face significant costs in having to replace gas appliances with electric appliances in existing buildings, which may also necessitate building modifications, disrupt business operations, or require the temporary relocation of tenants,” the lawsuit stated. “The increased cost of retrofitting or building for electric appliances will raise the cost of housing and limit supply. Plaintiffs also have members that include plumbers and pipefitters who will see a decrease in the amount of gas plumbing work, affecting their hours, job opportunities, and hiring and training in the industry. In short, the District’s rule will impose enormous financial costs and disruption on businesses and individuals, including Plaintiffs.”
The lawsuit seeks to void the SCAQMD’s rule to ban certain gas appliances because it is pre-empted by federal law since it concerns the energy use of appliances covered by the EPCA. The suit cites an appellate court decision last year that stated the city of Berkeley’s ban on natural gas connections in new construction was prohibited by the EPCA, which forbids state and local governments from setting efficiency standards for appliances.
Therefore, the lawsuit asserts that SCAQMD’s regulation is “void and unenforceable.”
Latest from NAHBNow
Jan 13, 2026
Release of 2026 Committee and Council AppointmentsLetters for 2026 Committee and Council appointments are tentatively scheduled to be released on Friday, Feb. 6. A list of appointees will be posted on nahb.org on Monday, Feb. 9.
Jan 12, 2026
State Supreme Court to Review NAHB-Supported Case on Subcontractor LiabilityThe South Carolina Supreme Court granted a petition for certiorari review in a case with serious consequences for general contractor liability for subcontractor negligence.
Latest Economic News
Jan 13, 2026
New Home Sales Rise Year-Over-Year as Prices StabilizeThe new home sector has played an increasingly important role in meeting housing demand as resale inventory remains constrained in many regions. The latest data released today (and delayed because of the government shutdown in fall of 2025) indicate that new single-family home sales continue to reflect a stabilizing market after a period of heightened volatility.
Jan 13, 2026
Inflation Steady in DecemberInflation held steady in December, matching November’s reading, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) latest report. This December report was the first report to include a month-to-month figure since the government shutdown.
Jan 12, 2026
Household Real Estate Asset Values Fall in the Third QuarterThe market value of household real estate assets fell to $48.0 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, according to the most recent release of U.S. Federal Reserve Z.1 Financial Accounts. The third quarter value is 0.7% lower than the second quarter but is 1.5% higher than a year ago.