Back to California

AB-2601 • 2026

Planning and zoning: housing development: streamlined approval and subdivisions.

Planning and zoning: housing development: streamlined approval and subdivisions.

Housing Land
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Lee
Last action
2026-04-23
Official status
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22).
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details about the health and safety standards that must be met by exempted housing development projects.

Streamlining Housing Development Approvals

This law allows cities and counties to process applications for small housing projects and urban lot splits concurrently, making the approval process faster.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires local agencies to consider applications for proposed housing developments containing no more than two residential units within a single-family zone concurrently with an application for a parcel map for an urban lot split.
  • Authorizes local agencies to condition issuance of building permits, grading permits, or certificates of occupancy on the applicant obtaining approval and recording a parcel map for eligible parcels.
  • Allows primary dwellings in an urban lot split to be developed as condominiums upon request by the developer.
  • Exempts certain housing development projects from needing a public report from the Department of Real Estate if they meet health and safety standards.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Local government agencies responsible for planning and zoning
  • Housing developers proposing small housing projects

Terms To Know

Parcel Map
A map that shows the boundaries of a piece of land, used when dividing or subdividing property.
Urban Lot Split
Dividing an existing lot into smaller lots within urban areas.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much faster the approval process will be.
  • It is unclear if this law will lead to more housing being built in affected areas.
  • The exact health and safety standards that must be met are not detailed in the summary.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 22).

  2. 2026-04-20 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on L. GOV.

  3. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    (Pending re-refer to Com. on L. GOV.)

  4. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    Assembly Rule 56 suspended.

  5. 2026-04-16 California Legislative Information

    Read second time and amended.

  6. 2026-04-15 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. GOV. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 15).

  7. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.

  8. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  9. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2601, as amended, Lee.
Planning and zoning: housing development: streamlined approval and subdivisions.
Under the Planning and Zoning Law, the legislative body of a city or county may adopt ordinances that, among other things, regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land, as provided. The Subdivision Map Act vests the authority to regulate and control the design and improvement of subdivisions in the legislative body of a local agency and sets forth procedures governing the local agency’s processing, approval, conditional approval or disapproval, and filing of tentative, final, and parcel maps.
Existing law requires a local agency to consider ministerially a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone, without discretionary review or a hearing, if the proposed housing development meets specified requirements. Existing law requires a local agency to ministerially approve
a parcel map for an urban lot split if the parcel meets specified requirements.
This bill would require that an application for a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone, as described above, be eligible for concurrent processing with an application for a parcel map for an urban lot split, as provided. The bill would authorize a local agency to condition issuance of building permits, grading permits, or certificates of occupancy for a proposed housing development upon the applicant first obtaining approval and recording a parcel map for eligible parcels pursuant to the above-described urban lot split provisions. The bill would allow the primary dwellings in an urban lot split under these provisions to be developed or converted to condominiums upon request of the applicant, as specified, or, if the housing development includes an existing unit, allow the applicant to request a condominium
conversion for that unit pursuant to state and local law. The bill would specify that a “parcel map” for purposes of these provisions means a parcel map prepared in accordance with specified provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and may include a condominium plan if proposed by the subdivider, as specified.
Existing law authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a housing development project on a subdivided lot, as specified, that meets specified requirements, and requires a local agency to ministerially consider that application, as specified. Existing law requires a local agency to issue a building permit for one or more residential units on a lot proposed to be subdivided, as specified, if the applicant for the permit meets prescribed requirements. Existing law requires a local agency to ministerially consider, without discretionary review or a hearing, a parcel map or a tentative and final map for a housing development project that meets
specified requirements, including that the proposed subdivision will result in 10 or fewer parcels and the housing development project on the lot proposed to be subdivided will contain 10 or fewer residential units, except as provided.
This bill would require an application for a housing development project on a subdivided lot or an application for a building permit for one or more residential units on a lot proposed to be subdivided, as described above, to be eligible for concurrent processing with an application for a parcel map or a tentative and final map under the above-described subdivision provisions, as provided. The bill would authorize a local agency to condition issuance of building permits, grading permits, or certificates of occupancy for a proposed housing development under these provisions upon the applicant first obtaining approval and recording a parcel map for eligible parcels pursuant to the above-described subdivision provisions.
Existing law generally requires any person who intends to offer subdivided lands within this state for sale or lease to file with the Department of Real Estate an application for a public report consisting of a notice of intention and a completed questionnaire on a form prepared by the department. Existing law requires the Real Estate Commissioner to make an examination of any subdivision and, unless there are grounds for denial, issue the subdivider a public report authorizing the sale or lease in this state of the lots or parcels within the subdivision, as provided.
This bill would exempt an urban lot split or a parcel map or a tentative and final map for a housing development project under the above-described provisions from the requirement to obtain a public report from the Department of Real Estate pursuant to the above-described provisions, provided that the development otherwise complies with applicable state and local
health and safety standards.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Download Bill PDF