Simi Valley planning staff briefed on sweeping 2025 state housing laws, tighter timelines for approvals

Elena Jerley, a representative from the Simi Valley City Attorney’s Office, told the Planning Commission on Feb. 19 that a large set of state housing measures that took effect in 2025 will change how the city reviews and approves many housing projects.

Jerley summarized about 45 housing-related bills this year and focused on a set of changes she said are most likely to affect local planning practice: amendments to the Housing Accountability Act, expanded ministerial approval categories (including SB 35, SB 9 and new small‑housing development rules), changes to ADU/JADU law, updates to density bonus and fee rules, and new requirements for elements of the general plan.

"This is not friendly to cities — that's the short version," Jerley told commissioners, adding the Legislature and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) have increased enforcement tools and potential penalties for local actions found in violation of the Housing Accountability Act (Government Code 65589.5).

Why it matters: Jerley said the changes narrow local discretion in high-priority housing pathways and speed review timelines. Examples she cited include a 60‑day target for ministerial review of many multiunit or commercial-area projects, a 30‑day window to review resubmittals, and a 60‑ to 90‑day deadline pattern for larger projects. For some project types, failure to meet statutory timelines can result in a project being deemed approved under state law.

Key provisions Jerley outlined

- Housing Accountability Act (AB 1893…