Ban on Wood Shake, Shingle Roofs Upheld

A federal judge, rejecting a challenge by five business groups, has ruled that the city of Los Angeles’ ban on new wood shake and shingle roofs is constitutional.

U.S. District Court Judge Robert M. Takasugi, in a decision made public Wednesday, held that the 1989 ordinance “is rationally related to the interests of the city in reducing the danger of widespread structure fires. . . .”

The judge rejected the claims of the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau, a trade association, and four companies that said the ban violated their rights to equal and due process.

Takasugi agreed with the contention of Deputy City Atty. L. Wayne Mooney that it was legally insignificant that the ordinance did not apply to other roofing materials such as fiberglass “because the city may strike one evil at a time.”