California Residential Private Permitting Review Act: residential building permits.

Assembly Members Ward, Quirk-Silva, and Rivas propose new options for residential building permit reviews through legislation that allows applicants to engage private professionals when local agencies face processing delays. The California Residential Private Permitting Review Act establishes a framework for applicants to retain licensed engineers or architects for plan checks if a local agency's estimated review timeline exceeds 30 business days or fails to complete the review within that period.

Under the new provisions, which would remain in effect until 2036, local agencies must provide applicants with estimated timeframes for permit compliance reviews. When delays occur, applicants can notify the agency of their intent to use a qualified private provider, who must submit a detailed report and affidavit confirming plan compliance. Agencies then have 10 business days to either issue the permit or specify necessary corrections. The legislation requires private providers to hold specific certifications and prohibits them from having financial interests in the permits they review.

The act includes new transparency and reporting requirements, mandating that local agencies post residential permit fee schedules online and annually report the number of permits reviewed both internally and by private providers. While applicants bear the costs of private reviews and must indemnify local agencies against construction-related damages, the legislation shields public entities from liability for permit-related decisions. These provisions apply uniformly across all California jurisdictions, including charter cities, reflecting the Legislature's determination that streamlining permit reviews addresses a matter of statewide concern.