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Bill would require agencies to publish post-approval and completeness requirements online to speed housing approvals
Summary
Sen. Areguin said SB 489 would update the Permit Streamlining Act to require public agencies to publish online the information applicants need for completeness determinations; the committee moved the bill to Housing and Community Development with broad support from building industry groups.
Sen. Areguin told the Assembly Local Government Committee SB 489 would require public agencies that have a role in approving housing developments to publish online the documents and information needed for a housing application to be deemed complete. The bill would also add related publication requirements for Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) with respect to their application information.
Supporters, including the California Building Industry Association, the California Housing Consortium and multiple housing and builder groups, described the bill as a transparency measure intended to reduce delay and improve predictability in the permitting process. Silvio Ferrari of the California Building Industry Association, the bill sponsor, summarized the approach: "If you have a role, post it — make it easy and accessible for all builders."
Committee members asked technical questions about prior LAFCO provisions; the author said recent amendments narrowed the LAFCO-related language to submittal requirements and addressed concerns. The committee voted to pass SB 489 to the Housing and Community Development Committee.
