The Inland Empire remains one of the most sought-after industrial markets in the country, and a San Bernardino California lawmaker is looking to place restrictions on where those warehouses can be built. Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes plans to reintroduce a bill that would create a 1,000-foot buffer zone between new warehouses and homes, schools, day care centers, hospitals and churches.

A similar bill authored by Reyes failed in the senate in 2022, but the Press-Enterprise reports that Reyes says the need remains. Chamber spokesperson Denise Davis says, however, that the bill would once again have the practical effect of banning critically needed warehouses throughout the state. Davis added the law would eliminate tens of thousands of jobs and increase the cost-of-living.

Specifics of AB 1000 state the new rules would apply to new facilities that are 100,000 square feet or larger and the buffer could be reduced to 750’ if developers commit to using zero-emission vehicles.

The new bill follows a signed letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom in January from environmental and other groups, urging him to declare a public health emergency and impose a moratorium on new Inland Empire warehouses.