Bill > AB748

This bill requires local agencies, which include cities and counties, to create programs for pre-approving plans for single-family and multifamily housing units, defined as buildings with 2 to 10 units. Large jurisdictions, generally cities with 25,000 or more residents or any county, must establish these programs by July 1, 2027, while small jurisdictions, typically smaller cities or counties with fewer than 250,000 residents, have until January 1, 2029. Once a plan is pre-approved, the local agency must post it and the applicant's contact information on its website. Crucially, if a housing unit application uses a pre-approved plan or a plan identical to one previously approved, and the lot meets specific conditions, the local agency must approve or deny the application within 30 days without further discretionary review, effectively exempting these projects from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which normally requires environmental impact reviews for projects that could significantly affect the environment. The bill also mandates that large jurisdictions report the number of units approved using pre-approved plans starting April 1, 2028, and small jurisdictions starting April 1, 2030, in their annual progress reports. This initiative aims to streamline housing development by creating a standardized, faster approval process for certain housing projects.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB748