Permit Streamlining Act: housing development projects.

Assembly Member Caloza's proposal to standardize housing development applications across California jurisdictions marks a new approach to streamlining the state's permit approval process. The legislation directs the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to create a uniform application template that all local jurisdictions must adopt for housing development projects.

The measure builds upon the existing Permit Streamlining Act, which establishes timeframes for public agencies to approve or deny development projects. Under the proposed changes, local governments would be required to process applications using the HCD-developed standard form, limiting their ability to impose additional documentation requirements or studies beyond the uniform template. The bill's findings note that excessive local requirements and studies can delay housing production under current practices.

While the legislation mandates the creation and adoption of the standardized application, it does not require new funding appropriations or establish a fiscal committee. The implementation would rely on existing resources within HCD and local jurisdictions to develop and integrate the new application system into their permitting processes.