Amended
IN
Senate
September 07, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Senate
June 21, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
April 13, 2023 |
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 09, 2023 |
Introduced by Assembly Member Lowenthal |
February 16, 2023 |
(a)In the preparation of its housing element, each city and county shall consider the guidelines adopted by the department pursuant to Section 50459 of the Health and Safety Code. Those guidelines shall be advisory to each city or county in the preparation of its housing element.
(b)(1)At least 90 days prior to adoption of a revision of its housing element pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 65588, or at least 60 days prior to the adoption of a subsequent amendment to this element, the planning agency shall submit a draft element revision or draft amendment to the department. The local government of the planning agency shall make the first draft revision of
a housing element available for public comment for at least 30 days and, if any comments are received, the local government shall take at least 10 business days after the 30-day public comment period to consider and incorporate public comments into the draft revision prior to submitting it to the department. For any subsequent draft revision, the local government shall post the draft revision on its internet website and shall email a link to the draft revision to all individuals and organizations that have previously requested notices relating to the local government’s housing element at least seven days before submitting the draft revision to the department.
(2)The planning agency staff shall collect and compile the public comments regarding the housing element received by the city, county, or city and county and provide these comments
to each member of the legislative body before it adopts the housing element.
(3)The department shall review the draft and report its written findings to the planning agency within 90 days of its receipt of the first draft submittal for each housing element revision pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 65588 or within 60 days of its receipt of a subsequent draft amendment or an adopted revision or adopted amendment to an element. The department shall not review the first draft submitted for each housing element revision pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 65588 until the local government has made the draft available for public comment for at least 30 days and, if comments were received, has taken at least 10 business days to consider and incorporate public comments pursuant to paragraph (1).
(c)In the preparation of its findings, the department may consult with any public agency, group, or person. The department shall receive and consider any written comments from any public agency, group, or person regarding the draft or adopted element or amendment under review.
(d)In its written findings, the department shall determine whether the draft element or draft amendment substantially complies with this article.
(e)Prior to the adoption of its draft element or draft amendment, the legislative body shall consider the findings made by the department. If the department’s findings are not available within the time limits set by this section, the legislative body may act without them.
(f)If the
department finds that the draft element or draft amendment does not substantially comply with this article, the legislative body shall take one of the following actions:
(1)Change the draft element or draft amendment to substantially comply with this article.
(2)Adopt the draft element or draft amendment without changes. The legislative body shall include in its resolution of adoption written findings which explain the reasons the legislative body believes that the draft element or draft amendment substantially complies with this article despite the findings of the department.
(g)Promptly following the adoption of its element or amendment, the planning agency shall submit a copy to the department.
(h)The department shall, within 90 days, review adopted housing elements or amendments and report its findings to the planning agency.
(i)(1)(A)The department shall review any action or failure to act by the city, county, or city and county that it determines is inconsistent with an adopted housing element or Section 65583, including any failure to implement any program actions included in the housing element pursuant to Section 65583. The department shall issue written findings to the city, county, or city and county as to whether the action or failure to act substantially complies with this article, and provide a reasonable time no longer than 30 days for the city, county, or city and county to respond to the findings before taking
any other action authorized by this section, including the action authorized by subparagraph (B).
(B)If the department finds that the action or failure to act by the city, county, or city and county does not substantially comply with this article, and if it has issued findings pursuant to this section that an amendment to the housing element substantially complies with this article, the department may revoke its findings until it determines that the city, county, or city and county has come into compliance with this article.
(2)The department may consult with any local government, public agency, group, or person, and shall receive and consider any written comments from any public agency, group, or person, regarding the action or failure to act by the city, county, or city and
county described in paragraph (1), in determining whether the housing element substantially complies with this article.
(j)The department shall notify the city, county, or city and county and may notify the office of the Attorney General that the city, county, or city and county is in violation of state law if the department finds that the housing element or an amendment to this element, or any action or failure to act described in subdivision (i), does not substantially comply with this article or that any local government has taken an action in violation of the following:
(1)Housing Accountability Act (Section 65589.5).
(2)Section 65863.
(3)Chapter 4.3
(commencing with Section 65915).
(4)Section 65008.
(5)Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (Chapter 654, Statutes of 2019, Sections 65941.1, 65943, and 66300).
(6)Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12.
(7)Section 8899.50.
(8)Section 65913.4.
(9)Article 11 (commencing with Section 65650).
(10)Article 12 (commencing with Section 65660).
(11)Section 65913.11.
(12)Section 65400.
(13)Section 65863.2.
(14)Chapter 4.1 (commencing with Section 65912.100).
(k)Commencing July 1, 2019, prior to the Attorney General bringing any suit for a violation of the provisions identified in subdivision (j) related to housing element compliance and seeking remedies available pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall offer the jurisdiction the opportunity for two meetings in person or via telephone to discuss the violation, and shall provide the jurisdiction written findings regarding the violation. This paragraph does not affect any action filed prior to the effective date of this section. The requirements set forth in this subdivision do not apply to any suits brought
for a violation or violations of paragraphs (1) and (3) to (9), inclusive, of subdivision (j).
(l)In any action or special proceeding brought by the Attorney General relating to housing element compliance pursuant to a notice or referral under subdivision (j), the Attorney General may request, upon a finding of the court that the housing element does not substantially comply with the requirements of this article pursuant to this section, that the court issue an order or judgment directing the jurisdiction to bring its housing element into substantial compliance with the requirements of this article. The court shall retain jurisdiction to ensure that its order or judgment is carried out. If a court determines that the housing element of the jurisdiction substantially complies with this article, it shall have the same force and effect, for purposes
of eligibility for any financial assistance that requires a housing element in substantial compliance and for purposes of any incentives provided under Section 65589.9, as a determination by the department that the housing element substantially complies with this article.
(1)If the jurisdiction has not complied with the order or judgment after 12 months, the court shall conduct a status conference. Following the status conference, upon a determination that the jurisdiction failed to comply with the order or judgment compelling substantial compliance with the requirements of this article, the court shall impose fines on the jurisdiction, which shall be deposited into the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund. Any fine levied pursuant to this paragraph shall be in a minimum amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per month, but shall not exceed
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) per month, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). In the event that the jurisdiction fails to pay fines imposed by the court in full and on time, the court may require the Controller to intercept any available state and local funds and direct such funds to the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to correct the jurisdiction’s failure to pay. The intercept of the funds by the Controller for this purpose shall not violate any provision of the California Constitution.
(2)If the jurisdiction has not complied with the order or judgment after three months following the imposition of fees described in paragraph (1), the court shall conduct a status conference. Following the status conference, if the court finds that the fees imposed pursuant to paragraph (1) are insufficient to bring the jurisdiction
into compliance with the order or judgment, the court may multiply the fine determined pursuant to paragraph (1) by a factor of three. In the event that the jurisdiction fails to pay fines imposed by the court in full and on time, the court may require the Controller to intercept any available state and local funds and direct such funds to the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to correct the jurisdiction’s failure to pay. The intercept of the funds by the Controller for this purpose shall not violate any provision of the California Constitution.
(3)If the jurisdiction has not complied with the order or judgment six months following the imposition of fees described in paragraph (1), the court shall conduct a status conference. Upon a determination that the jurisdiction failed to comply with the order or judgment, the court may impose the
following:
(A)If the court finds that the fees imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) are insufficient to bring the jurisdiction into compliance with the order or judgment, the court may multiply the fine determined pursuant to paragraph (1) by a factor of six. In the event that the jurisdiction fails to pay fines imposed by the court in full and on time, the court may require the Controller to intercept any available state and local funds and direct such funds to the Building Homes and Jobs Trust Fund to correct the jurisdiction’s failure to pay. The intercept of the funds by the Controller for this purpose shall not violate any provision of the California Constitution.
(B)The court may order remedies available pursuant to Section 564 of the Code of Civil Procedure, under
which the agent of the court may take all governmental actions necessary to bring the jurisdiction’s housing element into substantial compliance pursuant to this article in order to remedy identified deficiencies. The court shall determine whether the housing element of the jurisdiction substantially complies with this article and, once the court makes that determination, it shall have the same force and effect, for all purposes, as the department’s determination that the housing element substantially complies with this article. An agent appointed pursuant to this paragraph shall have expertise in planning in California.
(4)This subdivision does not limit a court’s discretion to apply any and all remedies in an action or special proceeding for a violation of any law identified in subdivision (j).
(m)In determining the application of the remedies available under subdivision (l), the court shall consider whether there are any mitigating circumstances delaying the jurisdiction from coming into compliance with state housing law. The court may consider whether a city, county, or city and county is making a good faith effort to come into substantial compliance or is facing substantial undue hardships.
(n)Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the office of the Attorney General to bring a suit to enforce state law in an independent capacity. The office of the Attorney General may seek all remedies available under law including those set forth in this section.
(o)Notwithstanding Sections 11040 and 11042, if
the Attorney General declines to represent the department in any action or special proceeding brought pursuant to a notice or referral under subdivision (j) the department may appoint or contract with other counsel for purposes of representing the department in the action or special proceeding.
(p)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the statute of limitations set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 338 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to any action or special proceeding brought by the Office of the Attorney General or pursuant to a notice or referral under subdivision (j), or by the department pursuant to subdivision
(o).
(a)(1)If the local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is consistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall approve the development.
(2)If a local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is in conflict with any of the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall provide the development proponent written documentation of which standard or standards the development conflicts with, and an explanation for the reason or reasons the development conflicts with that standard or standards, within the following timeframes:
(A)Within 60 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(B)Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains more than 150 housing units.
(b)If the local government fails to provide the required documentation pursuant to subdivision (a), the development shall be deemed to satisfy the required objective planning standards.
(c)(1)For purposes of this section, a development is consistent with the objective planning standards if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to
conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.
(2)For purposes of this section, a development is not in conflict with the objective planning standards solely on the basis that application materials are not included, if the application contains substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.
(d)The determination of whether a proposed project submitted pursuant to this section is or is not in conflict with the objective planning standards is not a “project” as defined in Section 21065 of the Public Resources Code.
(e)Design review of the development may be conducted by the local
government’s planning commission or any equivalent board or commission responsible for review and approval of development projects, or the city council or board of supervisors, as appropriate. That design review shall be objective and be strictly focused on assessing compliance with criteria required for streamlined, ministerial review of projects, as well as any reasonable objective design standards published and adopted by ordinance or resolution by a local jurisdiction before submittal of the development to the local government, and shall be broadly applicable to developments within the jurisdiction. That design review shall be completed as follows and shall not in any way inhibit, chill, or preclude the ministerial approval provided by this section or its effect, as applicable:
(1)Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal
to
the local government pursuant to this section if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(2)Within 180 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government pursuant to this section if the development contains more than 150 housing units.
(f)A development proposed pursuant to this article shall be eligible for a density bonus, incentives or concessions, waivers or reductions of development standards, and parking ratios pursuant to Section 65915.
(g)The local government shall ensure that the project satisfies the requirements specified in Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12 regardless of whether the development is within or not within an affected city or
within or not within an affected county.
(h)If the development is consistent with all objective subdivision standards in the local subdivision ordinance, an application for a subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)) shall be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(i)A local government may exempt a parcel from this section before a development proponent submits a development application on a parcel pursuant to this article if the local government makes written findings establishing all of the following:
(1)The local government has identified one or more
parcels that meet the criteria described in subdivisions (b) through (f) of Section 65912.111.
(2)(A)If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would not otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the local government has permitted the parcel to be developed pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.
(B)If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the local government has permitted residential densities above the residential density required in subdivision (b) of Section 65912.113.
(3)The development of the parcel or parcels pursuant to paragraph (3) will result in all of the following:
(A)No net loss of the total potential residential density in the jurisdiction.
(B)No net loss of the potential residential density of housing affordable to lower income households in the jurisdiction.
(C)Affirmative furthering of fair housing.
(j)A local government’s approval of a development pursuant to this section shall, notwithstanding any other law, be subject to the expiration timeframes specified in subdivision (f) of Section 65913.4.
(k)Any proposed modifications to a development project approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section
65913.4.
(l)A local government shall not adopt or impose any requirement, including, but not limited to, increased fees or inclusionary housing requirements, that applies to a project solely or partially on the basis that the project is eligible to receive streamlined, ministerial review pursuant to this section.
(m)A local government shall issue a subsequent permit required for a development approved under this section pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 65913.4.
(n)A public improvement that is necessary to implement a development that is approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 65913.4.
(o)A local government may adopt an ordinance to implement the provisions of this article. An ordinance adopted to implement this section shall not be considered a “project” under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(a)(1)If the local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is consistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall approve the development.
(2)If a local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is in conflict with any of the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall provide the development proponent written documentation of which standard or standards the development conflicts with, and an explanation for the reason or reasons the development conflicts with that standard or standards, within the following timeframes:
(A)Within 60 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(B)Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains more than 150 housing units.
(b)If the local government fails to provide the required documentation pursuant to subdivision (a), the development shall be deemed to satisfy the required objective planning standards.
(c)(1)For purposes of this section, a development is consistent with the objective planning standards if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to
conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.
(2)For purposes of this section, a development is not in conflict with the objective planning standards solely on the basis that application materials are not included, if the application contains substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.
(d)The determination of whether a proposed project submitted pursuant to this section is or is not in conflict with the objective planning standards is not a “project” as defined in Section 21065 of the Public Resources Code.
(e)Design review of the development may be conducted by the local
government’s planning commission or any equivalent board or commission responsible for review and approval of development projects, or the city council or board of supervisors, as appropriate. That design review shall be objective and be strictly focused on assessing compliance with criteria required for streamlined, ministerial review of projects, as well as any reasonable objective design standards published and adopted by ordinance or resolution by a local jurisdiction before submittal of the development to the local government, and shall be broadly applicable to developments within the jurisdiction. That design review shall be completed as follows and shall not in any way inhibit, chill, or preclude the ministerial approval provided by this section or its effect, as applicable:
(1)Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal
to the local government pursuant to this section if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(2)Within 180 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government pursuant to this section if the development contains more than 150 housing units.
(f)A housing development proposed pursuant to this article shall be eligible for a density bonus, incentives or concessions, waivers or reductions of development standards, and parking ratios pursuant to Section 65915, except that the project shall not use a concession to reduce a local government requirement for the provision of ground floor retail that is consistent with the allowance contained in paragraph (3) of subdivision (j) of Section 65912.123.
(g)The local government shall ensure that the project satisfies the requirements specified in Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12, regardless of whether the development is within or not within an affected city or within or not within an affected county.
(h)If the development is consistent with all objective subdivision standards in the local subdivision ordinance, an application for a subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)) shall be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(i)A local government may exempt a parcel from this section before a development proponent submits a development
application on a parcel pursuant to this article if the local government makes written findings establishing all of the following:
(1)The local government has identified a parcel or parcels that meet the criteria described in subdivisions (b) and (e) to (h), inclusive, of Section 65912.121.
(2)(A)If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would not otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the local government has permitted the parcel to be developed pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.
(B)If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the local government has permitted residential densities above the
residential density required in subdivision (b) of Section 65912.123 and heights required in subdivision (c) of Section 65912.123.
(3)The development of the parcel or parcels pursuant to paragraph (3) will result in all of the following:
(A)No net loss of the total potential residential density in the jurisdiction.
(B)No net loss of the potential residential density of housing affordable to lower income households in the jurisdiction.
(C)Affirmative furthering of fair housing.
(j)A local government’s approval of a development pursuant to this section shall, notwithstanding any other law, be
subject to the expiration timeframes specified in subdivision (f) of Section 65913.4.
(k)Any proposed modifications to a development project approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 65913.4.
(l)A local government shall not adopt or impose any requirement, including, but not limited to, increased fees or inclusionary housing requirements, that applies to a project solely or partially on the basis that the project is eligible to receive streamlined, ministerial review pursuant to this section.
(m)A local government shall issue a subsequent permit required for a development approved under this section pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section
65913.4.
(n)A public improvement that is necessary to implement a development that is approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 65913.4.
(o)A local government may adopt an ordinance to implement the provisions of this article. An ordinance adopted to implement this section shall not be considered a “project” under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.