Bill > SB499

This bill amends existing California law regarding fees and charges for residential development projects by expanding when local agencies can collect utility service charges and fees. Specifically, the bill allows local agencies to collect utility service charges related to connections at the time an application is received, provided these charges do not exceed the actual costs incurred by the utility provider. The bill also clarifies that fees for public improvements can be collected earlier than the first certificate of occupancy if they are related to specific services like water, sewer, fire, public safety, and emergency services. Notably, the bill now explicitly includes parkland and recreational facilities identified in a local agency's safety element or hazard mitigation plan as eligible for early fee collection, but only if these facilities serve an emergency purpose beyond general recreational use. The legislation maintains existing protections for affordable housing developments, ensuring that certain fees cannot be collected early for projects where at least 49 percent of units are reserved for lower-income households. This amendment is part of the Mitigation Fee Act and aims to provide more flexibility for local agencies while maintaining reasonable constraints on fee collection for residential development projects.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB499