Existing law relating to housing development approval requires a local agency to compile a list of information needed to approve or deny a postentitlement phase permit, to post an example of a complete, approved application and an example of a complete set of postentitlement phase permits for at least 5 types of housing development projects in the jurisdiction, as specified, and to make those items available to all applicants for these permits no later than January 1, 2024.23 residential, excluding discretionary and ministerial planning permits, entitlements, and certain other permits and reviews. Existing law excludes from the definition of "postentitlement phase permit" permits required and issued by the California Coastal Commission, a special district, a utility that is not owned and operated by a local agency, or any other entity that is not a city, county, or city and county."?> This bill would require an electrical corporation, as defined, to compile a list of information needed to approve or deny a postentitlement phase permit, to post an example of a complete, approved application and an example of a complete set of postentitlement phase permits for a housing development project, and to make those items available to all applicants for these permits no later than July 1, 2026. The bill would also require an electrical corporation to determine if an application for those permits is complete and provide notice or otherwise provide certain information under a specified procedure. The bill would define various terms for its purposes. The Housing Accountability Act, among other things, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, specified housing development projects, including projects for very low, low, or moderate-income households and projects for emergency shelters, that comply with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria in effect at the time the application for the project is deemed complete, unless the local agency makes specified written findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence in the record. The act authorizes a project applicant, a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the housing development or emergency shelter, or a housing organization to bring a lawsuit to enforce its provisions. This bill would establish time limits for completing reviews regarding whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit is complete and compliant, and whether to approve or deny an application, as specified, and would make any failure to meet these time limits a violation of the Housing Accountability Act. The California Coastal Act of 1976 provides for the planning and regulation of development, under a coastal development permit process, within the coastal zone, as defined, based on various coastal resources planning and management policies set forth in the act. This bill would provide that the above provisions would not apply to permits required and issued by specified government agencies, including permits required and issued by the California Coastal Commission.

Statutes affected:
AB 1026: 65913.3 GOV
02/20/25 - Introduced: 65913.3 GOV
03/24/25 - Amended Assembly: 65913.3 GOV
04/10/25 - Amended Assembly: 65913.3 GOV