Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans.

Assembly Member Harabedian's housing legislation mandates local agencies establish preapproval programs for residential housing plans by July 2026, creating a standardized process for expediting single-family and multifamily housing approvals across California. The programs require agencies to review submitted housing plans against existing regulations, post approved plans online with applicant contact information, and process qualifying applications within 30 days through ministerial review.

The bill establishes specific parameters for implementation, allowing agencies to charge standard permitting fees while requiring applicants to demonstrate proper authority over submitted plans. Local agencies must approve or deny applications utilizing preapproved plans within 30 days, provided the proposed lots meet soil, topography, flood zone, and zoning requirements. The preapproval process applies to single-family homes and multifamily buildings containing 2-10 residential units, though master-planned communities and large-scale developments are excluded from the program.

While mandating these basic requirements, the legislation preserves local agency discretion to expand their programs by accepting additional plans at higher densities or in different zoning districts. The bill's provisions apply uniformly across all California cities, including charter cities, reflecting the Legislature's determination that housing availability constitutes a matter of statewide concern rather than solely municipal affairs. Local agencies may fund program implementation through standard permitting fees without state reimbursement.