Planning and zoning: housing: postentitlement phase permits.

Existing law, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, requires a local agency to compile a list of information needed to approve or deny a postentitlement phase permit, to post an example of a complete, approved application and an example of a complete set of postentitlement phase permits for at least 5 types of housing development projects in the jurisdiction, as specified, and to make those items available to all applicants for these permits no later than January 1, 2024. Existing law establishes time limits for completing reviews regarding whether an application for a postentitlement phase permit is complete and compliant and whether to approve or deny an application, as specified, and makes any failure to meet these time limits a violation of specified law. Existing law defines various terms for these purposes, including "local agency" to mean a city, county, or city and county, and "postentitlement phase permit," among other things, to exclude a permit required and issued by a special district. This bill would require a special district that receives an application from a housing development project for service from a special district or an application from a housing development project for a postentitlement phase permit, as specified, to provide written notice to the applicant of next steps in the review process, including, but not limited to, any additional information that may be required to begin to review the application for service or approval. The bill would require the special district to provide this notice within 30 business days of receipt of the application for a housing development with 25 units or fewer, and within 60 business days for a housing development with 26 units or more. The bill would define various terms for these purposes. By imposing additional duties on special districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.