Permit Streamlining Act: local emergencies.

Assembly Member Ávila Farías, with Assembly Member Wicks as coauthor, proposes new permitting requirements to expedite housing recovery after local disasters. The legislation exempts rebuilding projects from solar panel installation mandates and requires local agencies to process temporary housing permits within 10 business days once properties are deemed safe for development.

The bill establishes specific timelines for utility providers and local agencies responding to disaster recovery projects. Utility companies must outline next steps for service connections within 30 days of receiving connection requests, unless the disaster makes connection impossible. Local agencies must approve or deny permits within 10 business days for state or federally approved modular homes, prefabricated homes, and structures meeting accessory dwelling unit requirements when used as temporary housing during rebuilding.

Local agencies must maintain public information resources about these provisions, including online checklists detailing substandard building conditions, notices about third-party inspections, and dashboards tracking permit processing times. These information requirements take effect March 31, 2028, with updates required every four years thereafter. The legislation applies to all California cities, including charter cities, with local agencies authorized to levy fees and assessments to cover implementation costs.