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Committee advances AB 253 to allow licensed third‑party plan checks when local building departments are delayed
Summary
AB 253 would permit homeowners and small developers to hire licensed, insured third‑party reviewers to complete post‑entitlement plan checks if a local building department cannot do so within 30 days. Proponents said the change would speed small projects and disaster rebuilds; counties and cities raised concerns and sought more dialogue.
Assemblymember Burke Silva presented AB 253, which would let applicants for small residential projects (one to ten units) hire licensed third‑party professionals to perform post‑entitlement plan checks when a local building department cannot complete its review within 30 days.
Proponents said permit delays drive costs and make small‑scale housing and missing‑middle projects financially infeasible. Nolan Gray, senior director of legislation and research for California YIMBY, told the committee that the average fully entitled apartment building takes about nine months to secure post‑entitlement permits and that smaller missing‑middle projects average around six months — delays that can stall construction and raise financing costs.
Wesley Sagewalker, an infill developer, said third‑party plan checkers already operate in several jurisdictions and can speed projects while preserving thorough technical review. Supporters included multiple housing and business organizations, including the California Association of Realtors, California YIMBY, California Business Properties Association and the Housing Action Coalition.
The California State Association of Counties and Cal Cities offered concerns rather than formal opposition and said they were engaged in productive discussions with the author's office. Committee members suggested expanding transparency for special‑district fees and the bill’s scope; one speaker asked that the bill consider special districts that can add significant per‑unit costs for connections.
Assemblymember Quirk Silva moved the bill forward; the committee recorded an affirmative vote to send AB 253 to the Assembly Committee on Local Government.
Outcome and next steps: AB 253 passed out of the committee to Local Government. The author and interested local government associations indicated further talks would continue on implementation details, fee transparency and the role of special districts.
Votes at a glance: Roll call recorded affirmative votes from members present; committee roll shows a majority in favor (record in hearing reflects 11 yes votes at the roll referenced).
