Permit Streamlining Act: local emergencies.

Assembly Member Ávila Farías, joined by Assembly Member Wicks, proposes streamlining California's housing permit process for properties damaged during local emergencies through modifications to the state's Permit Streamlining Act. The legislation exempts rebuilding projects from solar panel installation requirements and mandates expedited permit processing for temporary housing solutions.

Local agencies must approve building permits within 10 business days for state or federally approved modular homes, prefabricated homes, and qualifying detached structures intended as temporary residences during property reconstruction. Utility providers must outline connection request procedures within 30 days of permit approval, except when disaster conditions make connections unfeasible. The bill also requires local agencies to maintain public information resources, including online checklists for substandard building determinations, third-party inspection options, and permit processing performance metrics by March 2028.

The measure applies to residential properties destroyed or rendered substandard by disasters that prompted local emergency declarations. Local agencies retain authority to levy fees and charges to implement these provisions, with no state reimbursement required. The Legislature's findings specify that these changes constitute a matter of statewide concern, making them applicable to all California cities, including charter cities.