Planning and Zoning Law: housing elements: rezoning.

Assembly Member Wallis proposes extending the deadline for local governments to complete mandatory rezoning when they fail to adopt a compliant housing element, allowing jurisdictions 18 months rather than the current 12-month timeframe to fulfill these requirements.

The bill modifies existing law that requires cities and counties to rezone properties within one year of missing the statutory deadline for adopting a housing element deemed substantially compliant by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Under the proposed change, local governments would have one year and six months to complete the rezoning process in cases where they do not adopt a compliant housing element within 120 days of the statutory deadline.

The amendment maintains other existing provisions unchanged, including requirements for coastal jurisdictions to complete Local Coastal Program amendments within one year and the availability of additional extensions under specific circumstances such as infrastructure constraints or the need for major general plan revisions. The bill preserves current enforcement mechanisms while providing more time for jurisdictions to implement required zoning changes.