A new state law is about to establish siting and design standards for industrial warehouses in California—assuming that pushback from interest groups doesn't persuade Gov. Gavin Newsom to veto the measure.

Beginning in 2026, the bill known as AB 98 would prohibit cities and counties from approving large new or expanded distribution centers unless they meet specified standards, including setbacks of loading docks by several hundred feet from "sensitive sites" including homes, schools and health care facilities.

Projects involving warehouses encompassing 250K SF or larger that are within 900 feet of these sensitive sites will require truck loading bays that are located a minimum of 300 feet from the property line in areas zoned for industrial use and 500 feet from the property line in areas not zoned for industrial use.