I say this as a former California resident all too familiar with the liberal lunacy out there. Got out in 2005 and have no intention of ever returning.
“No good deed goes unpunished”
Bui purposely built to a higher standard than code; he had worked in Germany where buildings are intended last for centuries and he used what he had learned to build his own home, which he apparently did on his own.
Those homes weren’t very old when the fire went through. Bui started building his in 1989, only four years before the fire. Even if Laguna Beach dramatically increased their own requirements they probably wouldn’t exceed what he had done.
“The reconstructed houses around him would have to conform to newer building codes, making his house less desirable on the market and possibly subject to increased insurance costs.”
From the article is appears the Bui house became the poster child for new building codes.