Gov. Code § 65913.4

Gov. Code § 65913.4

Streamlined, ministerial approval process (SB 35)TITLE 7. PLANNING AND LAND USE › DIVISION 1. PLANNING AND ZONING › CHAPTER 4.2. Housing Development Approvals

Amendments not yet in effect. AB 2390 (Ch. 799, Stats. 2026) amended this section, effective January 1, 2027. The text below is the current Code text (current law). Open the History tab and choose a bill to see the section as that bill leaves it. Not legal advice.

Key provisions · Claude summary, not statute text

Lets a development proponent submit a qualifying multifamily development for streamlined, ministerial approval, not subject to a conditional use permit or other nonlegislative discretionary approval, if it meets listed objective planning standards and completes tribal scoping consultation. The section sets review deadlines, limits on parking and local requirements, approval duration, modification and subsequent-permit rules, and is repealed January 1, 2036.

  • Eligible sites. Multifamily development of two or more units on a legal parcel in a city whose boundaries include part of a Census urbanized area or urban cluster (or, in unincorporated areas, wholly within one), with at least 75% of the perimeter adjoining parcels developed with “urban uses.” The site must be zoned or general-planned for residential or residential mixed use, or meet § 65852.24, and at least two-thirds of the square footage (including density bonus space, excluding underground space) must be residential. (a)(1)–(2)
  • Affordability. Eligibility depends on HCD’s determination that the locality has under-permitted its RHNA share or lacks a substantially compliant housing element. Projects of more than 10 units must dedicate at least 10% of units (before density bonus) to households at or below 50% AMI for rentals or 80% AMI for for-sale units, or 20% below 100% AMI (averaging 80%) in the San Francisco Bay area; where lower-income permitting lags, 50% of units at or below 80% AMI. A greater local requirement applies, and affordable units may also count toward other state or local affordability requirements. (a)(4)
  • Deed restrictions. Before the first building permit, the proponent must record a covenant keeping required lower- or moderate-income units affordable for 55 years (rental) or 45 years (owned), recorded for each parcel or unit. (a)(3)
  • Objective standards. Excluding density bonus allowances, the development must be consistent with objective zoning, subdivision, and design review standards in effect at submittal or notice of intent, whichever is earlier. Density is consistent if it meets the designation’s maximum density; where standards conflict, consistency with the general plan controls; § 65852.24 projects with no transient lodging (except a “residential hotel”) are deemed consistent. (a)(5)
  • Excluded sites. Ineligible sites include specified coastal zone areas, prime farmland or farmland of statewide importance, wetlands, very high fire hazard severity zones or the state responsibility area (unless fire mitigation standards are adopted), listed hazardous waste sites, earthquake fault zones, 100-year flood areas and floodways (subject to FEMA exceptions), conservation plan lands, protected species habitat, conservation easements, and sites governed by mobilehome or RV park laws. (a)(6), (a)(10)
  • Demolition limits. Not eligible if it would demolish affordability-restricted or rent-controlled housing, housing occupied by tenants within the past 10 years, or a historic structure on a national, state, or local register; or if tenant-occupied housing on the site was demolished within 10 years, or tenant-occupied units were offered for sale. (a)(7)
  • Labor standards. Proponents must require and certify prevailing wages, with enforcement by the Labor Commissioner, workers, or joint labor-management committees. Developments of 50 or more units must also meet apprenticeship and health care expenditure requirements with monthly reporting and civil penalties, and projects over 85 feet must use a “skilled and trained workforce,” unless a project labor agreement or 100% lower-income exception applies. Projects of 10 or fewer units that are not public works are exempt. (a)(8)–(9), (s)
  • Tribal consultation. Before applying, the proponent submits a notice of intent (a § 65941.1 preliminary application), and the local government must notify affiliated tribes within 30 days. Tribes have 30 days to accept scoping consultation, which must start within 30 days of acceptance and follows confidentiality rules. A project is ineligible if a registered tribal cultural resource is on site, or if the parties do not reach an enforceable agreement or do not agree whether a resource is affected; the local government must then explain in writing how to seek discretionary approval. (b)
  • Ministerial review. If the planning director finds the development consistent with the objective standards, the local government must approve it. Written documentation of any conflicts is due within 60 days (150 or fewer units), 90 days (more than 150 units), or 30 days for resubmittals; otherwise the development is deemed consistent. Consistency is met if substantial evidence would allow a reasonable person to conclude so. (c)
  • Design review. Any design review must be objective and completed, with approval, within 90 days (150 or fewer units) or 180 days (more than 150 units). Subdivisions consistent with this section are CEQA-exempt if the project uses low-income housing tax credits or is in specified urbanized areas. (d)
  • Parking. No automobile parking standards may be imposed within one-half mile of public transit, in an architecturally and historically significant historic district, where on-street permits are required but not offered, or within one block of a car share vehicle; otherwise parking may not exceed one space per unit. (e)
  • Prohibited requirements. Before approval, a local government may not require studies unrelated to objective standards or compliance with postentitlement permit standards. It may not impose fees, inclusionary, or other requirements because a project is eligible for streamlining, and must issue “subsequent permits” and approve needed public improvements without unreasonable delay under the standards in effect at original submittal. (f), (i)
  • Approval expiration. Approvals with public investment beyond tax credits and at least 50% of units at or below 80% AMI do not expire. Other approvals last three years (with construction “in progress” keeping them valid), with a possible one-time, one-year extension and an extension for the first modification request. (g)
  • Modifications. Before the final building permit, a proponent may request a modification, which must be approved within 60 days (90 with design review) if consistent with the standards in effect at original submittal. Newer standards may apply only when square footage increases or unit counts decrease by 15% (or 5% for a specific, adverse impact), or for Building Standards Code requirements. (h)
  • CEQA. CEQA does not apply to specified state, local, or BART actions to lease, convey, encumber, finance, or approve improvements for streamlined affordable developments, and the eligibility determination is not a “project.” (k), (o)
  • Public meeting. For developments in moderate resource, low resource, or high segregation and poverty areas on the CTCAC/HCD Opportunity Map, a public meeting must be held within 45 days after the notice of intent (by the planning commission in jurisdictions over 250,000), or the proponent must hold one. (q)
  • Definitions. Defines “affordable housing cost,” “affordable rent,” “department,” “development proponent,” “completed entitlements,” “health care expenditures,” “housing development project,” “locality,” “moderate-income housing units,” “production report,” “state agency,” “reporting period,” and “urban uses”; unit counts include all projects on a site and adjacent sites subdivided after January 1, 2023. (l), (m)
  • Other provisions. Does not limit alternative by-right processing or Housing Accountability Act protections; HCD may adopt guidelines; the Department of General Services may act for state-owned property; equestrian-district sites are excluded for applications from January 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025; coastal zone projects require a coastal development permit approved on objective standards; and the section is to be interpreted to favor increased housing supply. (j), (n), (p), (r), (t), (u)
  • Sunset. Remains in effect only until January 1, 2036, and is then repealed. (v)

Paraphrased from the statute text; each point cites its subdivision. Check the text before relying on it.

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§ 65913.422 subdivisions

Source. California Code text from the Legislature's bulk download (the same data as leginfo), reproduced character for character (spacing normalized). Current page on leginfo ↗

History. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 774, Sec. 2. (SB 597) Effective January 1, 2026. Repealed as of January 1, 2036, by its own provisions.)

Cites, in this navigator. Gov. Code § 65580, Gov. Code § 65583.2, Gov. Code § 65588, Gov. Code § 65400, Gov. Code § 65589.5, Gov. Code § 65912.110, Gov. Code § 65912.120, Gov. Code § 65915, Gov. Code § 65852.24, Gov. Code § 65913.3, Gov. Code § 65941.1, Health & Saf. Code § 50052.5, Health & Saf. Code § 50053, Health & Saf. Code § 50106, Health & Saf. Code § 50079.5, Health & Saf. Code § 50093, Pub. Resources Code § 21080.3.1, Pub. Resources Code § 21082.3

Cited by, in this navigator. Gov. Code § 65582.1, Gov. Code § 65585, Gov. Code § 65400, Gov. Code § 65589.5, Gov. Code § 65589.5.1, Gov. Code § 65589.5.2, Gov. Code § 65912.121, Gov. Code § 65912.124, Gov. Code § 65852.21, Gov. Code § 65863.10, Gov. Code § 65852.24, Gov. Code § 65913.3, Gov. Code § 65913.16, Gov. Code § 65913.13, Gov. Code § 65914.5, Gov. Code § 65912.157, Gov. Code § 65912.158, Gov. Code § 65912.159, Gov. Code § 66411.7, Pub. Resources Code § 21080.40, Pub. Resources Code § 21080.66

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