Plain English Breakdown
The official text is truncated at the end of section (3), leaving uncertainty about how 'disapprove' is fully defined in this context.
AB-660: Rules for Housing Permit Reviews and Appeals
This law limits local agencies to two plan check reviews before denying a permit, shortens appeal deadlines, and updates rules on when review clocks pause.
What This Bill Does
- Limits local agencies to no more than two plan check and specification reviews for a building permit application unless specific exceptions apply.
- Allows local agencies to deny an application that is not compliant with standards after the second submittal of plans.
- Authorizes applicants to request additional chances to fix non-compliant applications even if they have already submitted twice.
- Stops local agencies from requiring changes based on building inspections that differ from previously approved plans, unless specific exceptions apply.
- Changes rules so review time limits only pause when federal or state laws require an independent public agency to review the application first.
- Requires local agencies to tell applicants within 3 business days if a review clock pauses and again within 3 business days when it starts back up.
- Shortens deadlines for final written decisions on permit appeals from 60 or 90 business days down to 30 or 45 business days, depending on project size.
Who It Names or Affects
- Local agencies that issue building permits and review housing applications.
- Applicants seeking postentitlement phase permits for housing development projects.
- Independent public agencies required by state or federal law to review permit applications before local approval.
Terms To Know
- Postentitlement phase permit
- A building permit issued after a project has already received initial land use approvals like zoning changes.
- Plan check review
- An inspection of the construction drawings and specifications to ensure they meet safety and code standards.
- Tolling
- Pausing or stopping a deadline clock while waiting for an outside group to finish their work on an application.
Limits and Unknowns
- The official text provided ends abruptly in section (3), so details about specific conditions under the Housing Accountability Act are incomplete.
- The bill does not specify which exact exceptions allow local agencies to require more than two plan check reviews or request deviations from approved plans.