Bill Text: CA SB330 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Housing Crisis Act of 2019.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-10-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 654, Statutes of 2019. [SB330 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB330-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Senate  April 04, 2019
Amended  IN  Senate  March 25, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill No. 330

Introduced by Senator Skinner

February 19, 2019

An act to amend Sections 65589.5 and 65943 of, to add Sections 65941.1 and 65950.2 to, and Section 65589.5 of, to amend, repeal, and add Section 65943 of, to add and repeal Sections 65358.5, 65452.5, 65850.10, 65905.5, 65913.3, and 65913.10 of, 65913.10, 65941.1, and 65950.2 of, and to add and repeal Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 66300) of Division 1 of Title 7 of, the Government Code, and to add and repeal Section 17921.8 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to housing.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 330, as amended, Skinner. Housing Crisis Act of 2019.

(1)The Planning and Zoning Law, among other things, requires the legislative body of each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city and of any land outside its boundaries that relates to its planning. That law authorizes the legislative body, if it deems it to be in the public interest, to amend all or part of an adopted general plan, as provided. That law also authorizes the legislative body of any county or city, pursuant to specified procedures, to adopt ordinances that, among other things, regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land as between industry, business, residences, open space, and other purposes.

This bill, until January 1, 2030, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, would prohibit the legislative body of a county or city, defined to include the electorate exercising its local initiative or referendum power, in which specified conditions exist, from enacting an amendment to a general plan or specific plan or adopting or amending any zoning ordinance that would have the effect of (A) changing the zoning classification of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive use or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing zoning district below what was allowed under the general plan or specific plan land use designation and zoning ordinances of the county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018; (B) imposing a moratorium on housing development within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the county or city, except as provided; (C) imposing design standards that are more costly than those in effect on January 1, 2019; or (D) establishing or implementing any provision that limits the number of land use approvals or permits necessary for the approval and construction of housing that will be issued or allocated within the county or city. The bill would, notwithstanding these prohibitions, allow a city or county to prohibit the commercial use of land zoned for residential use consistent with the authority of the city or county conferred by other law. The bill would state that these prohibitions would apply to any zoning ordinance adopted or amended on or after January 1, 2018, and that any zoning ordinance adopted, or amendment to an existing ordinance or to an adopted general plan or specific plan, on or after that date that does not comply would be deemed void.

The bill would state that these prohibitions would prevail over any conflicting provision of the Planning and Zoning Law or other law regulating housing development in this state, except as specifically provided. The bill would also require that any exception to these provisions, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, be construed narrowly. The bill would also declare any requirement to obtain local voter approval for specified purposes related to housing development against public policy and void.

(2)Existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act, requires public agencies to approve or disapprove of a development project within certain timeframes, as specified. The act requires a public agency, upon its determination that an application for a development project is incomplete, to include a list and a thorough description of the specific information needed to complete the application. Existing law authorizes the applicant to submit the additional material to the public agency, requires the public agency to determine whether the submission of the application together with the submitted materials is complete within 30 days of receipt, and provides for an appeal process from the public agency’s determination. Existing law requires a final written determination by the agency on the appeal no later than 60 days after receipt of the applicant’s written appeal.

This bill would provide that a housing development project, as defined, shall be deemed to have submitted a complete initial application upon providing specified information about the proposed project to the city or county from which approval for the project is being sought and would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt a standardized form that applicants for housing development projects may use for that purpose, as specified.

The bill would require the lead agency, as defined, if the application is determined to be incomplete, to provide the applicant with an exhaustive list of items that were not complete, as specified.

The bill would provide that all deadlines in the Permit Streamlining Act are mandatory. The bill would prohibit a local agency from requiring more than 3 public hearings in total to consider and take final action on all of the land use approvals and entitlements necessary to approve and complete a proposed housing development project if the project complies with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria, including design review standards, in effect at the time a complete initial application was submitted, as specified.

(3)

(1) The Housing Accountability Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project for very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes specified written findings based on a preponderance of the evidence in the record. The act specifies that one way to satisfy that requirement is to make findings that the housing development project or emergency shelter is inconsistent with both the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance and general plan land use designation as specified in any element of the general plan as it existed on the date the application was deemed complete. The act requires a local agency that proposes to disapprove a housing development project that complies with applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards and criteria that were in effect at the time the application was deemed to be complete, or to approve it on the condition that it be developed at a lower density, to base its decision upon written findings supported by substantial evidence on the record that specified conditions exist, and places the burden of proof on the local agency to that effect. The act requires a court to impose a fine on a local agency under certain circumstances and requires that the fine be at least $10,000 per housing unit in the housing development project on the date the application was deemed complete.

The bill would, instead, provide that one way to satisfy that requirement is for the local agency to make those findings in regard to any element of the general plan as it existed on the date a complete initial application was submitted, as specified.

The act requires a local agency that proposes to disapprove a housing development project that complies with applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards and criteria that were in effect at the time the application was deemed to be complete, or to approve it on the condition that it be developed at a lower density, to base its decision upon written findings supported by substantial evidence on the record that specified conditions exist, and places the burden of proof on the local agency to that effect.

The bill would, instead, require the objective general plan zoning standards and criteria to be determined by what was in effect at the time a complete initial application was submitted, and would make conforming changes in the provisions relating to the burden of proof.

This bill, until January 1, 2030, would specify that an application is deemed complete for these purposes if a complete initial application was submitted, as described below.
Existing law authorizes the applicant, a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the development or emergency shelter, or a housing organization to bring an action to enforce the Housing Accountability Act. If, in that action, a court finds that a local agency failed to satisfy the requirement to make the specified findings described above, existing law requires the court to issue an order or judgment compelling compliance with the act within 60 days, as specified.

The bill

This bill, until January 1, 2030, would additionally require a court to issue the order or judgment previously described if the local agency required or attempted to require certain housing development projects to comply with an ordinance, policy, or standard not adopted and in effect when a complete initial application was submitted.
Existing law authorizes a local agency to require a housing development project to comply with objective, quantifiable, written development standards, conditions, and policies appropriate to, and consistent with, meeting the jurisdiction’s share of the regional housing need, as specified.

The bill

This bill, until January 1, 2030, would, notwithstanding those provisions or any other law, law and with certain exceptions, require that a housing development project only be subject to the ordinances, policies, and standards adopted and in effect when a complete initial application is submitted, except as specified.

(4)

(2) The Planning and Zoning Law, except as provided, requires that a public hearing be held on an application for a variance from the requirements of a zoning ordinance, an application for a conditional use permit or equivalent development permit, a proposed revocation or modification of a variance or use permit or equivalent development permit, or an appeal from the action taken on any of those applications. That law requires that notice of a public hearing be provided in accordance with specified procedures.
This bill, until January 1, 2030, would prohibit a city or county from conducting more than 3 de novo hearings held pursuant to these provisions, or any other law, ordinance, or regulation requiring a public hearing, on an application for a zoning variance or a conditional use permit or equivalent development permit for a housing development project. if a proposed housing development project complies with the applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards in effect at the time a complete initial application was submitted, as described below. The bill would require the city or county to consider and either approve or disapprove the housing development project at any of the 3 hearings consistent with the applicable timelines under the Permit Streamlining Act, but would require the city or county to either approve or disapprove the permit within 12 months from when the date on which the application is deemed complete, as provided.

(5)

(3) The Planning and Zoning Law requires a county or city to designate and zone sufficient vacant land for residential use with appropriate standards, as provided. That law also authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a development that is subject to a specified streamlined, ministerial approval process and not subject to a conditional use permit if the development satisfies certain objective planning standards.
This bill, until January 1, 2030, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, would prohibit a county or city in which specified conditions exist from (A) changing the general plan designation or zoning classification of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive classification or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing zoning district below what was allowed under the general plan land use designation or zoning ordinances of the city or county as in effect on January 1, 2018, with respect to a housing development project for which the application is deemed complete; (B) imposing a moratorium, or enforce an existing moratorium, on housing development within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the county or city, except as provided; (C) (A) imposing any new, increasing or enforcing any existing, requirement that a proposed housing development include parking; (D) parking or (B) charging fees, as defined, for the approval of a housing development project in excess of specified amounts, or charging any fee in connection with the approval of units within the housing development that meet specified affordability criteria; or (E) establishing a maximum number of conditional use or other discretionary permits that the county or city will issue for the development of housing within all or a portion of the county or city or otherwise imposing or enforcing a cap on the number of housing units within or the population of the county or city. The bill would also deem an application for a permit for a proposed housing development project to be consistent and in compliance with the general plan land use designation and zoning ordinances of a city or county, if a reasonable person could have found that the application would have been consistent and in compliance with the general plan land use designation and zoning ordinances of the city or county as in effect on January 1, 2018. criteria. If the city or county grants a conditional use permit approving a proposed housing development project and that project would have been eligible for a higher density under the city’s or county’s general plan land use designation and zoning ordinances as in effect on January 1, 2018, the bill would also require the city or county to allow the project at that higher density. The bill would require a project that requires the demolition of certain types of housing to comply with specified requirements, including the provision of relocation assistance and a right of first refusal in the new housing to displaced occupants.
The bill would state that these provisions would prevail over any conflicting provision of the Planning and Zoning Law or other law regulating housing development in this state, except as specifically provided. The bill would also require that any exception to these provisions, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, be construed narrowly.

(6)

(4) The Permit Streamlining Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law Law, requires each state agency and each local agency to compile one or more lists that specify in detail the information that will be required from any applicant for a development project. That law requires the state or local agency to provide copies of this information available to all applicants for development projects and to any persons who request the information.
The bill, with respect to an application for a conditional use permit, zoning variance, or any other discretionary permit for a housing development project that is submitted to any city, including a charter city, or county that is not otherwise subject to the provisions described in (3), above, would (A) prohibit enforcement of any zoning ordinance adopted, amendment to an existing zoning ordinance or general plan, or any other standard adopted or amendment to an existing standard after the date on which the application for that housing development project is deemed complete; (B) prohibit any fee, as defined, in excess of the amount of fees or other exactions that applied to the proposed housing development project at the time the application for that housing development project is deemed complete; and (C) until January 1, 2030, for purposes of any state or local law, ordinance, or regulation that requires a city or county to determine whether the site of a proposed housing development is a historic site, would require the city or county to make that determination, which would remain valid for the pendency of the housing development, at the time the application is deemed complete. The bill bill, until January 1, 2030, would also require that each local agency make copies of any above-described list with respect to information required from an applicant for a housing development project available both (A) in writing to those persons to whom the agency is required to make information available and (B) publicly available on the internet website of the local agency. The bill would repeal these provisions as of January 1, 2030.
(5) The Permit Streamlining Act requires public agencies to approve or disapprove of a development project within certain timeframes, as specified. The act requires a public agency, upon its determination that an application for a development project is incomplete, to include a list and a thorough description of the specific information needed to complete the application. Existing law authorizes the applicant to submit the additional material to the public agency, requires the public agency to determine whether the submission of the application together with the submitted materials is complete within 30 days of receipt, and provides for an appeal process from the public agency’s determination. Existing law requires a final written determination by the agency on the appeal no later than 60 days after receipt of the applicant’s written appeal.
This bill, until January 1, 2030, would provide that a housing development project, as defined, shall be deemed to have submitted a complete initial application upon providing specified information about the proposed project to the city or county from which approval for the project is being sought and would require the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt a standardized form that applicants for housing development projects may use for that purpose, as specified. The bill would provide that a housing development project would not be deemed to have submitted a complete initial application under these provisions if, following the initial application being deemed complete, the development proponent revises the project such that the number of residential units or square footage of construction changes by 20% or more, except as specified.
The bill, until January 1, 2030, would require the lead agency, as defined, if the application is determined to be incomplete, to provide the applicant with an exhaustive list of items that were not complete, as specified.
The bill, until January 1, 2030, would also provide that all deadlines in the Permit Streamlining Act are mandatory.
(6) The Planning and Zoning Law, among other things, requires the legislative body of each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city and of any land outside its boundaries that relates to its planning. That law authorizes the legislative body, if it deems it to be in the public interest, to amend all or part of an adopted general plan, as provided. That law also authorizes the legislative body of any county or city, pursuant to specified procedures, to adopt ordinances that, among other things, regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land as between industry, business, residences, open space, and other purposes.
This bill, until January 1, 2030, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, except as specified, would prohibit a county or city, including the electorate exercising its local initiative or referendum power, in which specified conditions exist, from enacting a development policy, standard, or condition, as defined, that would have the effect of (A) changing the land use designation or zoning of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive use or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing zoning district below what was allowed under the general plan or specific plan land use designation and zoning ordinances of the county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018; (B) imposing or enforcing a moratorium on housing development within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the county or city, except as provided; (C) imposing or enforcing new design standards established on or after January 1, 2018, that are not objective design standards, as defined; or (D) establishing or implementing certain limits on the number of permits issued by, or the population of, the county or city. The bill would, notwithstanding these prohibitions, allow a city or county to prohibit the commercial use of land zoned for residential use consistent with the authority of the city or county conferred by other law. The bill would state that these prohibitions would apply to any zoning ordinance adopted or amended on or after January 1, 2018, and that any zoning ordinance adopted, or amendment to an existing ordinance or to an adopted general plan or specific plan, on or after that date that does not comply would be deemed void.
The bill would state that these prohibitions would prevail over any conflicting provision of the Planning and Zoning Law or other law regulating housing development in this state, except as specifically provided. The bill would also require that any exception to these provisions, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, be construed narrowly. The bill would also declare any requirement to obtain local voter approval for specified purposes related to housing development against public policy and void.
(7) The State Housing Law, among other things, requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of building standards to the California Building Standards Commission, and to adopt, amend, and repeal other rules and regulations for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare of the occupant and the public, governing hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartment houses, and dwellings, and buildings and structures accessory thereto. That law specifies that the provisions of the State Housing Law and the building standards and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to that law apply in all parts of the state and requires specified entities within each city, county, or city and county to enforce within its jurisdiction those pertaining to the maintenance, sanitation, ventilation, use, or occupancy of apartment houses, hotels, or dwellings. A violation of the State Housing Law, or any building standard, rule, or regulation adopted pursuant to that law, is a misdemeanor.
This bill would require the department to propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of building standards to the California Building Standards Commission, and to adopt, amend, or repeal other rules and regulations for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare of the occupant and the public, applicable to occupied substandard buildings, as defined, in lieu of the above-described building standards, rules, and regulations. The bill would provide that an occupied substandard building that complies with these alternative building standards, rules, and regulations is deemed to be in compliance with the State Housing Law, and the building standards, rules, and regulations adopted pursuant to that law, for a period of 7 years following the date on which the enforcement agency finds a violation of the State Housing Law or a related building standard, rule, or regulation. The bill would make these provisions inoperative, except as specified, on January 1, 2030, and repeal these provisions on January 1, 2037.
(8) This bill would include findings that the changes proposed by this bill to the Planning and Zoning Law address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities.
(9) By imposing various new requirements and duties on local planning officials with respect to housing development, and by changing the scope of a crime under the State Housing Law, this 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
(10) This bill would provide that the provisions of the act are severable.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Housing Crisis Act of 2019.

SEC. 2.

 (a) The Legislature finds and declares the following:
(1) California is experiencing a housing supply crisis, with housing demand far outstripping supply. In 2018, California ranked 49th out of the 50 states in housing units per capita.
(2) Consequently, existing housing in this state, especially in its largest cities, has become very expensive. Seven of the 10 most expensive real estate markets in the United States are in California. In San Francisco, the median home prices is $1.6 million.
(3) California is also experiencing rapid year-over-year rent growth with three cities in the state having had overall rent growth of 10% 10 percent or more year-over-year, and of the 50 United States cities with the highest United States rents, 33 are cities in California.
(4) California needs an estimated 180,000 additional homes annually to keep up with population growth, and the Governor has called for 3.5 million new homes to be built over the next 7 years.
(5) The housing crisis has particularly exacerbated the need for affordable homes at prices below market rates.
(6) The housing crisis harms families across California and has resulted in all of the following:
(A) Increased poverty and homelessness, especially first-time homelessness.
(B) Forced lower income residents into crowded and unsafe housing in urban areas.
(C) Forced families into lower cost new housing in greenfields at the urban-rural interface with longer commute times and a higher exposure to fire hazard.
(D) Forced public employees, health care providers, teachers, and others, including critical safety personnel, into more affordable housing farther from the communities they serve, which will exacerbate future disaster response challenges in high-cost, high-congestion areas and increase risk to life.
(E) Driven families out of the state or into communities away from good schools and services, making the ZIP Code where one grew up the largest determinate of later access to opportunities and social mobility, disrupting family life, and increasing health problems due to long commutes that may exceed three hours per day.
(7) The housing crisis has been exacerbated by the additional loss of units due to wildfires in 2017 and 2018, which impacts all regions of the state. The Carr Fire in 2017 alone burned over 1,000 homes, and over 50,000 people have been displaced by the Camp Fire and the Woolsey Fire in 2018. This temporary and permanent displacement has placed additional demand on the housing market and has resulted in fewer housing units available for rent by low-income individuals.
(8) Individuals who lose their housing due to fire or the sale of the property cannot find affordable homes or rental units and are pushed into cars and tents.
(9) Costs for construction of new housing continue to increase. According to the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, the cost of building a 100-unit affordable housing project in the state was almost $425,000 per unit in 2016, up from $265,000 per unit in 2000.
(10) Lengthy permitting processes and approval times, fees and costs for parking, and other requirements further exacerbate cost of residential construction.
(11) The housing crisis is severely impacting the state’s economy as follows:
(A) Employers face increasing difficulty in securing and retaining a workforce.
(B) Schools, universities, nonprofits, and governments have difficulty attracting and retaining teachers, students, and employees, and our schools and critical services are suffering.
(C) According to analysts at McKinsey and Company, the housing crisis is costing California $140 billion a year in lost economic output.
(12) The housing crisis also harms the environment by doing both of the following:
(A) Increasing pressure to develop the state’s farm lands, open space, and rural interface areas to build affordable housing, and increasing fire hazards that generate massive greenhouse gas emissions.
(B) Increasing greenhouse gas emissions from longer commutes to affordable homes far from growing job centers.
(13) Homes, lots, and structures near good jobs, schools, and transportation remain underutilized throughout the state and could be rapidly remodeled or developed to add affordable homes without subsidy where they are needed with state assistance.
(14) Reusing existing infrastructure and developed properties, and building more smaller homes with good access to schools, parks, and services, will provide the most immediate help with the lowest greenhouse gas footprint to state residents.
(b) In light of the foregoing, the Legislature hereby declares a statewide housing emergency, to be in effect until January 1, 2030.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting the Housing Crisis Act of 2019, to do both of the following:
(1) Suspend certain restrictions on the development of new housing during the period of the statewide emergency described in subdivisions (a) and (b).
(2) Work with local governments to expedite the permitting of housing in regions suffering the worst housing shortages and highest rates of displacement.
SEC. 3.Section 65358.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
65358.5.

(a)As used in this section:

(1)“Affected county or city” means a county or city, including a charter city, for which the Department of Housing and Community Development determines, in any calendar year, that both of the following conditions apply:

(A)The average rate of rent is ____ percent higher than the fair market rent for the state, for the year.

(B)The vacancy rate for residential rental units is less than ____ percent.

(2)Notwithstanding any other law, “legislative body of an affected county or city” includes the electorate of an affected county or city exercising its local initiative or referendum power, whether that power is derived from the California Constitution, statute, or the charter or ordinances of the affected county or city.

(b)(1)Notwithstanding any other law, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, the legislative body of an affected county or city shall not enact an amendment to an adopted general plan that would have any of the following effects:

(A)Changing the general plan land use designation of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive use or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing general plan land use designation below what was allowed under the land use designation of the affected county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018. For purposes of this subparagraph, “less intensive use” is broadly defined to include, but is not limited to, reductions to height, density, or floor area ratio, or new or increased open space or lot size requirements, for property designated for residential use in the affected county’s or city’s general plan or other land use planning document.

(B)Imposing design standards that are more costly than those in effect on January 1, 2018.

(C)Imposing a moratorium on housing development, including mixed-use development, within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the affected county or city, except pursuant to an urgency zoning ordinance that, in addition to the requirements of Section 65858, complies with the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65850.10.

(D)Establishing or implementing any provision that:

(i)Limits the number of land use approvals or permits necessary for the approval and construction of housing that will be issued or allocated within all or a portion of the affected county or city.

(ii)Acts as a cap on the number of housing units that can be approved or constructed either annually or for some other time period.

(iii)Limits the population of the affected county or city.

(2)This section shall apply to any amendment to an adopted general plan on or after January 1, 2018. Any amendment to a general plan on or after that date that does not comply with this section shall be deemed void.

(c)Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (d), the legislative body of an affected county or city may enact an amendment to an adopted general plan that would have the effect of prohibiting the commercial use of land that is zoned for residential use, including, but not limited to, short-term occupancy of a residence, consistent with the authority of the city or county conferred by or authorized by other law.

(d)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (3), this section shall prevail over any conflicting provision of this title or other law regulating housing development in this state.

(2)It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be broadly construed so as to maximize the development of housing within this state. Any exception to the requirements of this section, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, shall be construed narrowly.

(3)This section shall not be construed as prohibiting the amendment of an adopted general plan in a manner that allows greater density, facilitates the development of housing, reduces the costs to a housing development project, or as otherwise necessary to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

(e)For purposes of this section, an “objective standard” is one that involves no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and is uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official before submittal of an application.

(f)Notwithstanding Section 9215, 9217, or 9323 of the Elections Code or any other provision of law, except the California Constitution, any requirement that local voter approval be obtained to increase the allowable density or intensity of housing, to establish housing as an allowable use, or to provide services and infrastructure necessary to develop housing, is hereby declared against public policy and void.

(g)Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

(h)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 4.Section 65452.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
65452.5.

(a)(1)For purposes of this section “affected county or city” means a county or city, and includes a charter city for which the Department of Housing and Community Development determines, in any calendar year, that both of the following conditions apply:

(A)The average rate of rent is ____ percent higher than the fair market rent for the state, for the year.

(B)The vacancy rate for residential rental units is less than ____ percent.

(2)Notwithstanding any other law, “legislative body of an affected county or city” includes the electorate of an affected county or city exercising its local initiative or referendum power, whether that power is derived from the California Constitution, statute, or the charter or ordinances of the affected county or city.

(b)(1)Notwithstanding any other law, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, the legislative body of an affected county or city shall not enact an amendment to an adopted specific plan that would have any of the following effects:

(A)Changing the specific plan land use designation of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive use or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing specific plan land use designation below what was allowed under the land use designation of the affected county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018. For purposes of this subparagraph, “less intensive use” is broadly defined to include, but is not limited to, reductions to height, density, or floor area ratio, or new or increased open space or lot size requirements, for property designated for residential use in the affected county’s or city’s specific plan or other land use planning document.

(B)Imposing design standards that are not objective or that are more costly than those in effect on January 1, 2018.

(C)Imposing a moratorium on housing development, including mixed-use development, within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the affected county or city, except pursuant to an urgency zoning ordinance that, in addition to the requirements of Section 65858, complies with the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65850.10.

(D)Establishing or implementing any provision that:

(i)Limits the number of land use approvals or permits necessary for the approval and construction of housing that will be issued or allocated within all or a portion of the affected county or city.

(ii)Acts as a cap on the number of housing units that can be approved or constructed either annually or for some other time period.

(iii)Limits the population of the affected county or city.

(2)This section shall apply to any amendment to a specific plan adopted on or after January 1, 2018. Any amendment to a specific plan on or after that date that does not comply with this section shall be deemed void.

(c)Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (d), the legislative body of an affected county or city may enact an amendment to an adopted specific plan that would have the effect of prohibiting the commercial use of land that is zoned for residential use, including, but not limited to, short-term occupancy of a residence, consistent with the authority of the city or county conferred by or authorized by other law.

(d)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (3), this section shall prevail over any conflicting provision of this title or other law regulating housing development in this state.

(2)It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be broadly construed so as to maximize the development of housing within this state. Any exception to the requirements of this section, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, shall be construed narrowly.

(3)This section shall not be construed as prohibiting the amendment of an adopted specific plan in a manner that:

(A)Allows greater density.

(B)Facilitates the development of housing.

(C)Reduces the costs to a housing development project.

(D)Imposes mitigation measures as otherwise necessary to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

(e)For purposes of this section, an “objective standard” is one that involves no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and is uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official before submittal of an application.

(f)Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

(g)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 5.SEC. 3.

 Section 65589.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:

65589.5.
 (a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(A) The lack of housing, including emergency shelters, is a critical problem that threatens the economic, environmental, and social quality of life in California.
(B) California housing has become the most expensive in the nation. The excessive cost of the state’s housing supply is partially caused by activities and policies of many local governments that limit the approval of housing, increase the cost of land for housing, and require that high fees and exactions be paid by producers of housing.
(C) Among the consequences of those actions are discrimination against low-income and minority households, lack of housing to support employment growth, imbalance in jobs and housing, reduced mobility, urban sprawl, excessive commuting, and air quality deterioration.
(D) Many local governments do not give adequate attention to the economic, environmental, and social costs of decisions that result in disapproval of housing development projects, reduction in density of housing projects, and excessive standards for housing development projects.
(2) In enacting the amendments made to this section by the act adding this paragraph, the Legislature further finds and declares the following:
(A) California has a housing supply and affordability crisis of historic proportions. The consequences of failing to effectively and aggressively confront this crisis are hurting millions of Californians, robbing future generations of the chance to call California home, stifling economic opportunities for workers and businesses, worsening poverty and homelessness, and undermining the state’s environmental and climate objectives.
(B) While the causes of this crisis are multiple and complex, the absence of meaningful and effective policy reforms to significantly enhance the approval and supply of housing affordable to Californians of all income levels is a key factor.
(C) The crisis has grown so acute in California that supply, demand, and affordability fundamentals are characterized in the negative: underserved demands, constrained supply, and protracted unaffordability.
(D) According to reports and data, California has accumulated an unmet housing backlog of nearly 2,000,000 units and must provide for at least 180,000 new units annually to keep pace with growth through 2025.
(E) California’s overall homeownership rate is at its lowest level since the 1940s. The state ranks 49th out of the 50 states in homeownership rates as well as in the supply of housing per capita. Only one-half of California’s households are able to afford the cost of housing in their local regions.
(F) Lack of supply and rising costs are compounding inequality and limiting advancement opportunities for many Californians.
(G) The majority of California renters, more than 3,000,000 households, pay more than 30 percent of their income toward rent and nearly one-third, more than 1,500,000 households, pay more than 50 percent of their income toward rent.
(H) When Californians have access to safe and affordable housing, they have more money for food and health care; they are less likely to become homeless and in need of government-subsidized services; their children do better in school; and businesses have an easier time recruiting and retaining employees.
(I) An additional consequence of the state’s cumulative housing shortage is a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the displacement and redirection of populations to states with greater housing opportunities, particularly working- and middle-class households. California’s cumulative housing shortfall therefore has not only national but international environmental consequences.
(J) California’s housing picture has reached a crisis of historic proportions despite the fact that, for decades, the Legislature has enacted numerous statutes intended to significantly increase the approval, development, and affordability of housing for all income levels, including this section.
(K) The Legislature’s intent in enacting this section in 1982 and in expanding its provisions since then was to significantly increase the approval and construction of new housing for all economic segments of California’s communities by meaningfully and effectively curbing the capability of local governments to deny, reduce the density for, or render infeasible housing development projects and emergency shelters. That intent has not been fulfilled.
(L) It is the policy of the state that this section should be interpreted and implemented in a manner to afford the fullest possible weight to the interest of, and the approval and provision of, housing.
(3) It is the intent of the Legislature that the conditions that would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health and safety, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (j), arise infrequently.
(b) It is the policy of the state that a local government not reject or make infeasible housing development projects, including emergency shelters, that contribute to meeting the need determined pursuant to this article without a thorough analysis of the economic, social, and environmental effects of the action and without complying with subdivision (d).
(c) The Legislature also recognizes that premature and unnecessary development of agricultural lands for urban uses continues to have adverse effects on the availability of those lands for food and fiber production and on the economy of the state. Furthermore, it is the policy of the state that development should be guided away from prime agricultural lands; therefore, in implementing this section, local jurisdictions should encourage, to the maximum extent practicable, in filling existing urban areas.
(d) A local agency shall not disapprove a housing development project, including farmworker housing as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code, for very low, low-, or moderate-income households, or an emergency shelter, or condition approval in a manner that renders the housing development project infeasible for development for the use of very low, low-, or moderate-income households, or an emergency shelter, including through the use of design review standards, unless it makes written findings, based upon a preponderance of the evidence in the record, as to one of the following:
(1) The jurisdiction has adopted a housing element pursuant to this article that has been revised in accordance with Section 65588, is in substantial compliance with this article, and the jurisdiction has met or exceeded its share of the regional housing need allocation pursuant to Section 65584 for the planning period for the income category proposed for the housing development project, provided that any disapproval or conditional approval shall not be based on any of the reasons prohibited by Section 65008. If the housing development project includes a mix of income categories, and the jurisdiction has not met or exceeded its share of the regional housing need for one or more of those categories, then this paragraph shall not be used to disapprove or conditionally approve the housing development project. The share of the regional housing need met by the jurisdiction shall be calculated consistently with the forms and definitions that may be adopted by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to Section 65400. In the case of an emergency shelter, the jurisdiction shall have met or exceeded the need for emergency shelter, as identified pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583. Any disapproval or conditional approval pursuant to this paragraph shall be in accordance with applicable law, rule, or standards.
(2) The housing development project or emergency shelter as proposed would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, and there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific adverse impact without rendering the development unaffordable to low- and moderate-income households or rendering the development of the emergency shelter financially infeasible. As used in this paragraph, a “specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete. Inconsistency with the zoning ordinance or general plan land use designation shall not constitute a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety.
(3) The denial of the housing development project or imposition of conditions is required in order to comply with specific state or federal law, and there is no feasible method to comply without rendering the development unaffordable to low- and moderate-income households or rendering the development of the emergency shelter financially infeasible.
(4) The housing development project or emergency shelter is proposed on land zoned for agriculture or resource preservation that is surrounded on at least two sides by land being used for agricultural or resource preservation purposes, or which does not have adequate water or wastewater facilities to serve the project.
(5) The housing development project or emergency shelter is inconsistent with both the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance and general plan land use designation as specified in any element of the general plan as it existed on the date a complete initial application was submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1, the application was deemed complete, and the jurisdiction has adopted a revised housing element in accordance with Section 65588 that is in substantial compliance with this article. For purposes of this section, a change to the zoning ordinance or general plan land use designation subsequent to the date a complete initial application was submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1 the application was deemed complete shall not constitute a valid basis to disapprove or condition approval of the housing development project or emergency shelter.
(A) This paragraph cannot be utilized to disapprove or conditionally approve a housing development project if the housing development project is proposed on a site that is identified as suitable or available for very low, low-, or moderate-income households in the jurisdiction’s housing element, and consistent with the density specified in the housing element, even though it is inconsistent with both the jurisdiction’s zoning ordinance and general plan land use designation.
(B) If the local agency has failed to identify in the inventory of land in its housing element sites that can be developed for housing within the planning period and are sufficient to provide for the jurisdiction’s share of the regional housing need for all income levels pursuant to Section 65584, then this paragraph shall not be utilized to disapprove or conditionally approve a housing development project proposed for a site designated in any element of the general plan for residential uses or designated in any element of the general plan for commercial uses if residential uses are permitted or conditionally permitted within commercial designations. In any action in court, the burden of proof shall be on the local agency to show that its housing element does identify adequate sites with appropriate zoning and development standards and with services and facilities to accommodate the local agency’s share of the regional housing need for the very low, low-, and moderate-income categories.
(C) If the local agency has failed to identify a zone or zones where emergency shelters are allowed as a permitted use without a conditional use or other discretionary permit, has failed to demonstrate that the identified zone or zones include sufficient capacity to accommodate the need for emergency shelter identified in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583, or has failed to demonstrate that the identified zone or zones can accommodate at least one emergency shelter, as required by paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583, then this paragraph shall not be utilized to disapprove or conditionally approve an emergency shelter proposed for a site designated in any element of the general plan for industrial, commercial, or multifamily residential uses. In any action in court, the burden of proof shall be on the local agency to show that its housing element does satisfy the requirements of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve the local agency from complying with the congestion management program required by Chapter 2.6 (commencing with Section 65088) of Division 1 of Title 7 or the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code). Neither shall anything in this section be construed to relieve the local agency from making one or more of the findings required pursuant to Section 21081 of the Public Resources Code or otherwise complying with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (o), nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a local agency from requiring the housing development project to comply with objective, quantifiable, written development standards, conditions, and policies appropriate to, and consistent with, meeting the jurisdiction’s share of the regional housing need pursuant to Section 65584. However, the development standards, conditions, and policies shall be applied to facilitate and accommodate development at the density permitted on the site and proposed by the development.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (o), nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a local agency from requiring an emergency shelter project to comply with objective, quantifiable, written development standards, conditions, and policies that are consistent with paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583 and appropriate to, and consistent with, meeting the jurisdiction’s need for emergency shelter, as identified pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583. However, the development standards, conditions, and policies shall be applied by the local agency to facilitate and accommodate the development of the emergency shelter project.
(3) Except as provided in subdivision (o), nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a local agency from imposing fees and other exactions otherwise authorized by law that are essential to provide necessary public services and facilities to the housing development project or emergency shelter.
(4) For purposes of this section, a housing development project or emergency shelter shall be deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the housing development project or emergency shelter is consistent, compliant, or in conformity.
(g) This section shall be applicable to charter cities because the Legislature finds that the lack of housing, including emergency shelter, is a critical statewide problem.
(h) The following definitions apply for the purposes of this section:
(1) “Feasible” means capable of being accomplished in a successful manner within a reasonable period of time, taking into account economic, environmental, social, and technological factors.
(2) “Housing development project” means a use consisting of any of the following:
(A) Residential units only.
(B) Mixed-use developments consisting of residential and nonresidential uses with at least two-thirds of the square footage designated for residential use.
(C) Transitional housing or supportive housing.
(3) “Housing for very low, low-, or moderate-income households” means that either (A) at least 20 percent of the total units shall be sold or rented to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or (B) 100 percent of the units shall be sold or rented to persons and families of moderate income as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or persons and families of middle income, as defined in Section 65008 of this code. Housing units targeted for lower income households shall be made available at a monthly housing cost that does not exceed 30 percent of 60 percent of area median income with adjustments for household size made in accordance with the adjustment factors on which the lower income eligibility limits are based. Housing units targeted for persons and families of moderate income shall be made available at a monthly housing cost that does not exceed 30 percent of 100 percent of area median income with adjustments for household size made in accordance with the adjustment factors on which the moderate-income eligibility limits are based.
(4) “Area median income” means area median income as periodically established by the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code. The developer shall provide sufficient legal commitments to ensure continued availability of units for very low or low-income households in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision for 30 years.
(5) Notwithstanding any other law, until January 1, 2030, “deemed complete” means that the applicant has submitted a complete initial application pursuant to Section 65941.1.

(5)

(6) “Disapprove the housing development project” includes any instance in which a local agency does either of the following:
(A) Votes on a proposed housing development project application and the application is disapproved, including any required land use approvals or entitlements necessary for the issuance of a building permit.
(B) Fails to comply with the time periods specified in subdivision (a) of Section 65950. An extension of time pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 65950) shall be deemed to be an extension of time pursuant to this paragraph.

(6)

(7) “Lower density” includes any conditions that have the same effect or impact on the ability of the project to provide housing.

(7)“Objective

(8) Until January 1, 2030, “objective standard or criteria” means one that involves no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and is uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official before submittal of an application.
(i) If any city, county, or city and county denies approval or imposes conditions, including design changes, lower density, or a reduction of the percentage of a lot that may be occupied by a building or structure under the applicable planning and zoning in force at the time a complete initial application was submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1, the housing development project’s application is deemed complete, that have a substantial adverse effect on the viability or affordability of a housing development for very low, low-, or moderate-income households, and the denial of the development or the imposition of conditions on the development is the subject of a court action which challenges the denial or the imposition of conditions, then the burden of proof shall be on the local legislative body to show that its decision is consistent with the findings as described in subdivision (d) and that the findings are supported by a preponderance of the evidence in the record.
(j) (1) When a proposed housing development project complies with applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria, including design review standards, in effect at the time that a complete initial application was submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1, but the local agency proposes to disapprove the project or to impose a condition that the project be developed at a lower density, the local agency shall base its decision regarding the proposed housing development project upon written findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence on the record that both of the following conditions exist:
(A) The housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety unless the project is disapproved or approved upon the condition that the project be developed at a lower density. As used in this paragraph, a “specific, adverse impact” means a significant, quantifiable, direct, and unavoidable impact, based on objective, identified written public health or safety standards, policies, or conditions as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete.
(B) There is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact identified pursuant to paragraph (1), other than the disapproval of the housing development project or the approval of the project upon the condition that it be developed at a lower density.
(2) (A) If the local agency considers a proposed housing development project to be inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision as specified in this subdivision, it shall provide the applicant with written documentation identifying the provision or provisions, and an explanation of the reason or reasons it considers the housing development to be inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity as follows:
(i) Within 30 days of the date that the application for the housing development project is determined to be complete, if the housing development project contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(ii) Within 60 days of the date that the application for the housing development project is determined to be complete, if the housing development project contains more than 150 units.
(B) If the local agency fails to provide the required documentation pursuant to subparagraph (A), the housing development project shall be deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with the applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision.
(3) For purposes of this section, the receipt of a density bonus pursuant to Section 65915 shall not constitute a valid basis on which to find a proposed housing development project is inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity, with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision specified in this subdivision.
(4) For purposes of this section, a proposed housing development project is not inconsistent with the applicable zoning standards and criteria, and shall not require a rezoning, if the housing development project is consistent with the objective general plan standards and criteria but the zoning for the project site is inconsistent with the general plan. If the local agency has complied with paragraph (2), the local agency may require the proposed housing development project to comply with the objective standards and criteria of the zoning which is consistent with the general plan, however, the standards and criteria shall be applied to facilitate and accommodate development at the density allowed on the site by the general plan and proposed by the proposed housing development project.
(k) (1) (A) (i) The applicant, a person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the development or emergency shelter, or a housing organization may bring an action to enforce this section. If, in any action brought to enforce this section, a court finds that any of the following are met, the court shall issue an order pursuant to clause (ii):
(I) The local agency, in violation of subdivision (d), disapproved a housing development project or conditioned its approval in a manner rendering it infeasible for the development of an emergency shelter, or housing for very low, low-, or moderate-income households, including farmworker housing, without making the findings required by this section or without making findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence.
(II) The local agency, in violation of subdivision (j), disapproved a housing development project complying with applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards and criteria, or imposed a condition that the project be developed at a lower density, without making the findings required by this section or without making findings supported by a preponderance of the evidence.
(III) The (ia) Subject to sub-subclause (ib), the local agency, in violation of subdivision (o), required or attempted to require a housing development project to comply with an ordinance, policy, or standard not adopted and in effect when a complete initial application was submitted.
(ib) This subclause shall become inoperative on January 1, 2030.
(ii) If the court finds that one of the conditions in clause (i) is met, the court shall issue an order or judgment compelling compliance with this section within 60 days, including, but not limited to, an order that the local agency take action on the housing development project or emergency shelter. The court may issue an order or judgment directing the local agency to approve the housing development project or emergency shelter if the court finds that the local agency acted in bad faith when it disapproved or conditionally approved the housing development or emergency shelter in violation of this section. The court shall retain jurisdiction to ensure that its order or judgment is carried out and shall award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of suit to the plaintiff or petitioner, except under extraordinary circumstances in which the court finds that awarding fees would not further the purposes of this section.
(B) (i) Upon a determination that the local agency has failed to comply with the order or judgment compelling compliance with this section within 60 days issued pursuant to subparagraph (A), the court shall impose fines on a local agency that has violated this section and require the local agency to deposit any fine levied pursuant to this subdivision into a local housing trust fund. The local agency may elect to instead deposit the fine into the Building Homes and Jobs Fund, if Senate Bill 2 of the 2017–18 Regular Session is enacted, or otherwise in the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund. The fine shall be in a minimum amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per housing unit in the housing development project on the date the application was deemed complete pursuant to Section 65943. In determining the amount of fine to impose, the court shall consider the local agency’s progress in attaining its target allocation of the regional housing need pursuant to Section 65584 and any prior violations of this section. Fines shall not be paid out of funds already dedicated to affordable housing, including, but not limited to, Low and Moderate Income Housing Asset Funds, funds dedicated to housing for very low, low-, and moderate-income households, and federal HOME Investment Partnerships Program and Community Development Block Grant Program funds. The local agency shall commit and expend the money in the local housing trust fund within five years for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households. After five years, if the funds have not been expended, the money shall revert to the state and be deposited in the Building Homes and Jobs Fund, if Senate Bill 2 of the 2017–18 Regular Session is enacted, or otherwise in the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund, for the sole purpose of financing newly constructed housing units affordable to extremely low, very low, or low-income households.
(ii) If any money derived from a fine imposed pursuant to this subparagraph is deposited in the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Fund, then, notwithstanding Section 50661 of the Health and Safety Code, that money shall be available only upon appropriation by the Legislature.
(C) If the court determines that its order or judgment has not been carried out within 60 days, the court may issue further orders as provided by law to ensure that the purposes and policies of this section are fulfilled, including, but not limited to, an order to vacate the decision of the local agency and to approve the housing development project, in which case the application for the housing development project, as proposed by the applicant at the time the local agency took the initial action determined to be in violation of this section, along with any standard conditions determined by the court to be generally imposed by the local agency on similar projects, shall be deemed to be approved unless the applicant consents to a different decision or action by the local agency.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “housing organization” means a trade or industry group whose local members are primarily engaged in the construction or management of housing units or a nonprofit organization whose mission includes providing or advocating for increased access to housing for low-income households and have filed written or oral comments with the local agency prior to action on the housing development project. A housing organization may only file an action pursuant to this section to challenge the disapproval of a housing development by a local agency. A housing organization shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs if it is the prevailing party in an action to enforce this section.
(l) If the court finds that the local agency (1) acted in bad faith when it disapproved or conditionally approved the housing development or emergency shelter in violation of this section and (2) failed to carry out the court’s order or judgment within 60 days as described in subdivision (k), the court, in addition to any other remedies provided by this section, shall multiply the fine determined pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (k) by a factor of five. For purposes of this section, “bad faith” includes, but is not limited to, an action that is frivolous or otherwise entirely without merit.
(m) Any action brought to enforce the provisions of this section shall be brought pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and the local agency shall prepare and certify the record of proceedings in accordance with subdivision (c) of Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure no later than 30 days after the petition is served, provided that the cost of preparation of the record shall be borne by the local agency, unless the petitioner elects to prepare the record as provided in subdivision (n) of this section. A petition to enforce the provisions of this section shall be filed and served no later than 90 days from the later of (1) the effective date of a decision of the local agency imposing conditions on, disapproving, or any other final action on a housing development project or (2) the expiration of the time periods specified in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h). Upon entry of the trial court’s order, a party may, in order to obtain appellate review of the order, file a petition within 20 days after service upon it of a written notice of the entry of the order, or within such further time not exceeding an additional 20 days as the trial court may for good cause allow, or may appeal the judgment or order of the trial court under Section 904.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure. If the local agency appeals the judgment of the trial court, the local agency shall post a bond, in an amount to be determined by the court, to the benefit of the plaintiff if the plaintiff is the project applicant.
(n) In any action, the record of the proceedings before the local agency shall be filed as expeditiously as possible and, notwithstanding Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure or subdivision (m) of this section, all or part of the record may be prepared (1) by the petitioner with the petition or petitioner’s points and authorities, (2) by the respondent with respondent’s points and authorities, (3) after payment of costs by the petitioner, or (4) as otherwise directed by the court. If the expense of preparing the record has been borne by the petitioner and the petitioner is the prevailing party, the expense shall be taxable as costs.
(o) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), Subject to paragraphs (2) and (5), a housing development project shall be subject only to the ordinances, policies, and standards adopted and in effect when a complete initial application is submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not prohibit a housing development project from being subject to ordinances, policies, and standards adopted after the initial application is submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1 in the following circumstances:
(A) In the case of a fee, charge, or other monetary exaction, to an increase resulting from an automatic annual adjustment based on an independently published cost index that is referenced in the ordinance or resolution establishing the fee or other monetary exaction.
(B) A preponderance of the evidence in the record establishes that subjecting the housing development project to an ordinance, policy, or standard beyond those in effect when a complete initial application is submitted is necessary to mitigate or avoid a specific, adverse impact upon the public health or safety, as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (j), and there is no feasible alternative method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the adverse impact.
(C) Subjecting the housing development project to an ordinance, policy, or standard beyond those in effect when a complete initial application is submitted is necessary to mitigate an impact of the project to a less than significant level pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(D) The housing development project has not commenced construction within three years following the date that the project received final approval. For purposes of this subparagraph, “final approval” means that the housing development project has received all necessary approvals to be eligible to apply for, and obtain, a building permit or permits and either of the following is met:
(i) The expiration of all applicable appeal periods, petition periods, reconsideration periods, or statute of limitations for challenging that final approval without an appeal, petition, request for reconsideration, or legal challenge having been filed.
(ii) If a challenge is filed, that challenge is fully resolved or settled in favor of the housing development project.
(E) The housing development project is revised following submittal of a complete initial application pursuant to Section 65941.1 such that the number of residential units or square footage of construction increases changes by 20 percent or more, exclusive of any increase resulting from the receipt of a density bonus, incentive, concession, waiver or similar provision.
(3) This subdivision does not prevent a local agency from subjecting additional units or square footage that result from project revisions occurring after a complete initial application is submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1 to the ordinances, policies, and standards adopted and in effect when the complete initial application was submitted.
(4) For purposes of this subdivision, “ordinances, policies, and standards” means general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria, and any other rules, regulations, requirements, and policies of a local agency, as defined in Section 66000, including those relating to development impact fees, capacity or connection fees or charges, permit or processing fees, and other exactions.
(5) This subdivision shall become inoperative on January 1, 2030.
(p) This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the Housing Accountability Act.

SEC. 6.Section 65850.10 is added to the Government Code, to read:
65850.10.

(a)As used in this section:

(1)“Affected county or city” means a county or city, including a charter city, for which the department determines, in any calendar year, that both of the following conditions apply:

(A)The average rate of rent is ____ percent higher than the fair market rent for the state, for the year.

(B)The vacancy rate for residential rental units is less than ____ percent.

(2)Notwithstanding any other law, “legislative body of an affected county or city” includes the electorate of an affected county or city exercising its local initiative or referendum power, whether that power is derived from the California Constitution, statute, or the charter or ordinances of the affected county or city.

(b)(1)Notwithstanding any other law, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, the legislative body of an affected county or city shall not adopt or amend any zoning ordinance that would have any of the following effects:

(A)Changing the zoning of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive use or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing zoning district below what was allowed under the zoning ordinances of the affected county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018. For purposes of this subparagraph, “less intensive use” includes, but is not limited to, reductions to height, density, or floor area ratio, or new or increased open space or lot size requirements, or new or increased setback requirements, minimum frontage requirements, or maximum lot coverage limitations, for property zoned for residential use in the affected county’s or city’s zoning ordinance.

(B)(i)Imposing a moratorium or similar restriction or limitation on housing development, including mixed-use development, within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the affected county or city, other than to specifically protect against an imminent threat to the health and safety of persons residing in, or within the immediate vicinity of, the area subject to the moratorium or for projects specifically identified as existing restricted affordable housing.

(ii)The affected county or city shall not enforce a zoning ordinance imposing a moratorium or other similar restriction on or limitation of housing development until it has submitted the ordinance to, and received approval from, the department. The department shall approve a zoning ordinance submitted to it pursuant to this subparagraph only if it determines that the zoning ordinance satisfies the requirements of this subparagraph. If the department denies approval of a zoning ordinance imposing a moratorium or similar restriction or limitation on housing development as inconsistent with this subparagraph, that ordinance shall be deemed void.

(C)Imposing design standards that are not objective or that are more costly than those in effect on January 1, 2018.

(D)Establishing or implementing any provision that:

(i)Limits the number of land use approvals or permits necessary for the approval and construction of housing that will be issued or allocated within all or a portion of the affected county or city.

(ii)Acts as a cap on the number of housing units that can be approved or constructed either annually or for some other time period.

(iii)Limits the population of the affected county or city.

(2)This section shall apply to any zoning ordinance adopted, or amendment to an existing ordinance, on or after January 1, 2018. Any zoning ordinance adopted, or amendment to an existing ordinance, on or after that date that does not comply with this section shall be deemed void.

(c)Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (d), the legislative body of an affected county or city may adopt or amend a zoning ordinance to prohibit the commercial use of land that is zoned for residential use, including, but not limited to, short-term occupancy of a residence, consistent with the authority conferred on the county or city by other law.

(d)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (3), this section shall prevail over any conflicting provision of this title or other law regulating housing development in this state.

(2)It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be broadly construed so as to maximize the development of housing within this state. Any exception to the requirements of this section, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, shall be construed narrowly.

(3)This section shall not be construed as prohibiting the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance in a manner that:

(A)Allows greater density.

(B)Facilitates the development of housing.

(C)Reduces the costs to a housing development project.

(D)Imposes mitigation measures as necessary to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

(e)For purposes of this section, an “objective standard” is one that involves no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and is uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official before submittal of an application.

(f)Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

(g)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 7.SEC. 4.

 Section 65905.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65905.5.
 (a) A (1) Notwithstanding any other law, if a proposed housing development project complies with the applicable, objective general plan and zoning standards in effect at the time a complete initial application was submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1, a city or county shall not conduct more than three de novo hearings pursuant to Section 65905, or any other law, ordinance, or regulation requiring a public hearing in connection with the approval of an application for a zoning variance or development permit, on an application for a zoning variance, conditional use permit, or equivalent development permit for a housing development project. hearing. The city or county shall consider and either approve or disapprove the application at any of the three hearings allowed under this section consistent with the applicable timelines under the Permit Streamlining Act (Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 65920)), except that that, subject to paragraph (2), the city or county shall act to either approve or disapprove the permit within 12 months from when the date on which the application is deemed complete.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the 12-month period shall be extended for a time period equal to the amount of time that elapses after a public agency has transmitted a determination regarding the sufficiency of an application until the applicant submits revised materials.
(b) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Deemed complete” means that the application has met all of the requirements specified in the relevant list compiled pursuant to Section 65940 that was available at the time when the application was submitted.
(2) “Hearing” includes any public hearing conducted by the city or county with respect to the housing development project, whether by the legislative body of the city or county, the planning agency established pursuant to Section 65100, or any other agency, department, board, or commission of the city or county or any committee or subcommittee thereof.
(c) A housing development project shall not be found to be inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity with the zoning, and the project shall not require rezoning, if the zoning does not allow the maximum residential use, density, and intensity allowable on the site by the land use or housing element of the general plan.

(c)

(d) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

(d)

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 8.SEC. 5.

 Section 65913.3 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65913.3.
 (a) (1) As used in this section, “affected county or section:
(A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), “affected city” means a county or city, including a charter city, for which the Department of Housing and Community Development determines, in any calendar year, that both of the following conditions apply: the average of both of the following amounts exceeds ___:

(A)The average rate of rent is ____ percent higher than the fair market rent for the state, for the year.

(B)The vacancy rate for residential rental units is less than ____ percent.

(i) The percentage by which the city’s average rate of rent exceeded 130 percent of the national median rent in 2017, based on the federal 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.
(ii) The percentage by which the vacancy rate for residential rental units is less than the national vacancy rate, based on the federal 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), “affected city” does not include any city that has a population of 5,000 or less and is not located within an urban core.
(2) “Affected county” means a county in which at least 50 percent of the cities located within the territorial boundaries of the county are affected cities.

(2)

(3) Notwithstanding any other law, for purposes of any action that this section prohibits an affected city or county or an affected city from doing, “affected county or affected city” includes the electorate of the affected county or city affected city, as applicable, exercising its local initiative or referendum power with respect to any act that is subject to that power by other law, whether that power is derived from the California Constitution, statute, or the charter or ordinances of the affected county or affected city.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, an affected county or city an affected city, as applicable, shall not do any either of the following:

(1)With respect to a proposed housing development project for which the affected county or city has received an application for a permit and once that application is deemed complete, change the general plan designation or zoning classification of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive classification or reduce the intensity of land use within an existing zoning district below what was allowed under the general plan land use designation or zoning ordinances of the affected county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018. For purposes of this paragraph:

(A)“Deemed complete” means that the application for a housing development has met all of the requirements specified in the relevant list compiled pursuant to Section 65940 that was available at the time when the application was submitted.

(B)“Less intensive use” includes, but is not limited to, reductions to height, density, or floor area ratio, or new or increased open space or lot size requirements, for property zoned for residential use in the affected county’s or city’s general plan or other planning document.

(2)Impose a moratorium, or enforce an existing moratorium, on housing development, including mixed-use development, within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the affected county or city, except pursuant to a zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65850.10.

(3)

(1) Impose any new, or increase or enforce any existing, requirement that a proposed housing development include parking.

(4)

(2) (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), subparagraphs (B) and (C), charge any fee, as that term is defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66000, or impose any other exaction imposed in connection with the approval of a development project for the approval of a housing development project in excess of the amount of fees or other exactions that would have applied to the proposed housing development project as of January 1, 2018. For purposes of this subparagraph, “other exaction” includes, but is not limited to, sewer and water connection charges, community benefit charges, and requirements that the project include public art.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), (A) and except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (C), the affected county or affected city shall not charge any fee, as that term is defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66000, in connection with the approval of any unit within a housing development that meets the following criteria:
(i) The unit is affordable to persons and families with a household income equal to or less than 80 percent of the area median income.
(ii) The unit is subject to a recorded affordability restriction for at least 55 years.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an affected city or affected county may impose an increase in a fee, charge, or other monetary exaction resulting from an automatic annual adjustment based on an independently published cost index that is referenced in the ordinance or resolution establishing the fee, charge, or other monetary exaction.

(C)

(D) Notwithstanding any provision of this paragraph to the contrary, an affected county or affected city may charge a fee that is in lieu of a housing development’s compliance with any requirement imposed by the affected county or affected city, as applicable, to include a certain percentage of affordable units.
(E) An affected county or affected city shall not deny or refuse to approve a housing development project on the basis of an applicant’s failure or refusal to pay an amount of fee or other exaction that exceeds the amount allowed under subparagraph (A) or any fee that the affected county or affected city is prohibited from charging pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(5)Establish or enforce a maximum number of conditional use or other discretionary permits that the affected county or city will issue for the development of housing within all or a portion of the affected county or city, or otherwise impose or enforce any cap on the maximum number of housing units within or population of the affected county or city.

(c)(1)Notwithstanding any other law, a housing development project shall be deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the housing development project would have been consistent, compliant, or in conformity with the plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision of the affected county or city as in effect on January 1, 2018.

(2)

(c) A housing development project shall not be found to be inconsistent, not in compliance, or not in conformity with the zoning in effect as of January 1, 2018, and the project shall not require rezoning, if the zoning did not allow the maximum residential use, density, and intensity allowable on the site by the land use or housing element of the general plan as of that date.
(d) If the affected county or affected city approves an application for a conditional use permit for a proposed housing development project and that project would have been eligible for a higher density under the affected county’s or affected city’s general plan land use designation and zoning ordinances as in effect prior to January 1, 2018, the affected county or affected city shall allow the project at that higher density.
(e) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a proposed housing development project subject to this section would require the demolition of residential property as described in paragraph (2), an affected county or an affected city may only approve that housing development if all of the following apply:
(A) The proposed housing development project is at least as dense as the existing residential use of the property.
(B) The developer agrees to provide both of the following:
(i) Relocation benefits to the occupants of those affordable residential rental units.
(ii) A right of first refusal for units available in the new housing development project at rents commensurate with the occupants’ previous rent or compensation to previous occupants who will be displaced.
(C) The affected county or city is not otherwise prohibited from approving the demolition of the affordable rental units pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “residential property” means:
(A) Residential rental units that are any of the following:
(i) Assisted pursuant to Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.
(ii) Subject to any form of rent or price control through a public entity’s valid exercise of its police power.
(iii) Affordable to persons with a household income equal to or less than 80 percent of the area median income.
(B) A residential structure containing residential dwelling units currently occupied by tenants, or were previously occupied by tenants if those dwelling units were withdrawn from rent or lease in accordance with Chapter 12.75 (commencing with Section 7060) of Division 7 of Title 1 and subsequently offered for sale by the subdivider or subsequent owner of the property.
(f) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), paragraphs (3) and (4), this section shall prevail over any conflicting provision of this title or other law regulating housing development in this state.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be construed so as to maximize the development of housing within this state. Any exception to the requirements of this section, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, shall be construed narrowly.
(3) This section shall not be construed as prohibiting planning standards that allow greater density in or reduce the costs to a housing development project or are necessary to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(4) This section shall not apply to a housing development project located within a very high fire hazard severity zone. For purposes of this paragraph, “very high fire hazard severity zone” has the same meaning as provided in Section 51177.
(g) (1) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(2) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code).
(h)  This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 9.Section 65913.10 is added to the Government Code, to read:
65913.10.

(a)Each city and each county shall make copies of any list compiled pursuant to Section 65940 with respect to information required from an applicant for a housing development project available both (1) in writing to those persons to whom the agency is required to make information available under subdivision (a) of that section, and (2) publicly available on the internet website of the city or county.

(b)With respect to an application for a conditional use permit, zoning variance, or any other discretionary permit for a housing development project that is submitted to any city, including a charter city, or county that is not otherwise subject to Section 65913.3, the following shall apply:

(1)The city or county shall not, with respect to the housing development project for which the application is filed, enforce or require the applicant to comply with any zoning ordinance adopted, an amendment to an existing zoning ordinance or general plan, or any other standard adopted or amendment to an existing standard after the date on which the application for that housing development project is deemed complete.

(2)(A)The city or county shall not, with respect to the housing development project for which the application is filed, charge any fee, as that term is defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66000, in excess of the amount of fees or other exactions that applied to the proposed housing development project at the time the application for that housing development project is deemed complete.

(B)The county or city shall not deny or refuse to approve a housing development project on the basis of an applicant’s failure or refusal to pay an amount or fee that exceeds the amount allowed under this paragraph.

(3)For purposes of any state or local law, ordinance, or regulation that requires the city or county to determine whether the site of a proposed housing development project is a historic site, the city or county shall make that determination at the time the application for the housing development project is deemed complete. A determination as to whether a parcel of property is a historic site shall remain valid during the pendency of the housing development project for which the application was made.

(c)For purposes of this section, “deemed complete” means that the application has met all of the requirements specified in the relevant list compiled pursuant to Section 65940 that was available at the time when the application was submitted.

(d)Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

(e)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 6.

 Section 65913.10 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65913.10.
 (a) For purposes of any state or local law, ordinance, or regulation that requires the city or county to determine whether the site of a proposed housing development project is a historic site, the city or county shall make that determination at the time the application for the housing development project is deemed complete. A determination as to whether a parcel of property is a historic site shall remain valid during the pendency of the housing development project for which the application was made.
(b) For purposes of this section, “deemed complete” means that the application has met all of the requirements specified in the relevant list compiled pursuant to Section 65940 that was available at the time when the application was submitted.
(c) (1) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(2) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code).
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 10.SEC. 7.

 Section 65941.1 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65941.1.
 (a) A housing development project, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5, shall be deemed to have submitted a complete initial application upon providing the following information about the proposed project to the city, county, or city and county from which approval for the project is being sought:
(1) The specific location.
(2) The major physical alterations to the property on which the project is to be located.
(3) A site place showing the location on the property, as well as the massing, height, and approximate square footage, of each building that is to be occupied.
(4) The proposed land uses by number of units or square feet using the categories in the applicable zoning ordinance.
(5) The proposed number of parking spaces.
(6) Any proposed point sources of air or water pollutants.
(7) Any species of special concern known to occur on the property.
(8) Any historic or cultural resources known to exist on the property.
(9) The number of below market rate units and their affordability levels.
(b) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall adopt a standardized form that applicants for housing development projects may use for the purpose of satisfying the requirements for submittal of a complete initial application. Adoption of the standardized form shall not be subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(c) A housing development project shall not be deemed as having submitted a completed initial application if, following the initial application being deemed complete, the development proponent revises the project such that the number of residential units or square footage of construction changes by 20 percent or more, exclusive of any increase resulting from the receipt of a density bonus, incentive, concession, waiver, or similar provision.
(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 11.SEC. 8.

 Section 65943 of the Government Code is amended to read:

65943.
 (a) Not later than 30 calendar days after any public agency has received an application for a development project, the agency shall determine in writing whether the application is complete and shall immediately transmit the determination to the applicant for the development project. If the application is determined to be incomplete, the lead agency shall provide the applicant with an exhaustive list of items that were not complete. That list shall be limited to those items actually required on the lead agency’s submittal requirement checklist. In any subsequent review of the application determined to be incomplete, the local agency shall not request the applicant to provide any new information that was not stated in the initial list of items that were not complete. If the written determination is not made within 30 days after receipt of the application, and the application includes a statement that it is an application for a development permit, the application shall be deemed complete for purposes of this chapter. Upon receipt of any resubmittal of the application, a new 30-day period shall begin, during which the public agency shall determine the completeness of the application. If the application is determined not to be complete, the agency’s determination shall specify those parts of the application which are incomplete and shall indicate the manner in which they can be made complete, including a list and thorough description of the specific information needed to complete the application. The applicant shall submit materials to the public agency in response to the list and description.
(b) Not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of the submitted materials described in subdivision (a), the public agency shall determine in writing whether the application as supplemented or amended by the submitted materials is complete and shall immediately transmit that determination to the applicant. In making this determination, the public agency is limited to determining whether the application as supplemented or amended includes the information required by the list and a thorough description of the specific information needed to complete the application required by subdivision (a). If the written determination is not made within that 30-day period, the application together with the submitted materials shall be deemed complete for purposes of this chapter.
(c) If the application together with the submitted materials are determined not to be complete pursuant to subdivision (b), the public agency shall provide a process for the applicant to appeal that decision in writing to the governing body of the agency or, if there is no governing body, to the director of the agency, as provided by that agency. A city or county shall provide that the right of appeal is to the governing body or, at their option, the planning commission, or both.
There shall be a final written determination by the agency on the appeal not later than 60 calendar days after receipt of the applicant’s written appeal. The fact that an appeal is permitted to both the planning commission and to the governing body does not extend the 60-day period. Notwithstanding a decision pursuant to subdivision (b) that the application and submitted materials are not complete, if the final written determination on the appeal is not made within that 60-day period, the application with the submitted materials shall be deemed complete for the purposes of this chapter.
(d) Nothing in this section precludes an applicant and a public agency from mutually agreeing to an extension of any time limit provided by this section.
(e) A public agency may charge applicants a fee not to exceed the amount reasonably necessary to provide the service required by this section. If a fee is charged pursuant to this section, the fee shall be collected as part of the application fee charged for the development permit.
(f) Each city and each county shall make copies of any list compiled pursuant to Section 65940 with respect to information required from an applicant for a housing development project available both (1) in writing to those persons to whom the agency is required to make information available under subdivision (a) of that section, and (2) publicly available on the internet website of the city or county.
(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 9.

 Section 65943 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65943.
 (a) Not later than 30 calendar days after any public agency has received an application for a development project, the agency shall determine in writing whether the application is complete and shall immediately transmit the determination to the applicant for the development project. If the written determination is not made within 30 days after receipt of the application, and the application includes a statement that it is an application for a development permit, the application shall be deemed complete for purposes of this chapter. Upon receipt of any resubmittal of the application, a new 30-day period shall begin, during which the public agency shall determine the completeness of the application. If the application is determined not to be complete, the agency’s determination shall specify those parts of the application which are incomplete and shall indicate the manner in which they can be made complete, including a list and thorough description of the specific information needed to complete the application. The applicant shall submit materials to the public agency in response to the list and description.
(b) Not later than 30 calendar days after receipt of the submitted materials, the public agency shall determine in writing whether they are complete and shall immediately transmit that determination to the applicant. If the written determination is not made within that 30-day period, the application together with the submitted materials shall be deemed complete for purposes of this chapter.
(c) If the application together with the submitted materials are determined not to be complete pursuant to subdivision (b), the public agency shall provide a process for the applicant to appeal that decision in writing to the governing body of the agency or, if there is no governing body, to the director of the agency, as provided by that agency. A city or county shall provide that the right of appeal is to the governing body or, at their option, the planning commission, or both.
There shall be a final written determination by the agency on the appeal not later than 60 calendar days after receipt of the applicant’s written appeal. The fact that an appeal is permitted to both the planning commission and to the governing body does not extend the 60-day period. Notwithstanding a decision pursuant to subdivision (b) that the application and submitted materials are not complete, if the final written determination on the appeal is not made within that 60-day period, the application with the submitted materials shall be deemed complete for the purposes of this chapter.
(d) Nothing in this section precludes an applicant and a public agency from mutually agreeing to an extension of any time limit provided by this section.
(e) A public agency may charge applicants a fee not to exceed the amount reasonably necessary to provide the service required by this section. If a fee is charged pursuant to this section, the fee shall be collected as part of the application fee charged for the development permit.
(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2030.

SEC. 12.SEC. 10.

 Section 65950.2 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65950.2.
 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the deadlines specified in this article are mandatory.

(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of law,  if a proposed housing development project complies with the applicable, objective general plan, zoning, and subdivision standards and criteria, including design review standards specified in subdivision (j) of Section 65589.5, in effect at the time a complete initial application was submitted pursuant to Section 65941.1, the local agency shall not require more than three public hearings in total to consider and take final action on all of the land use approvals and entitlements necessary to approve and complete the project. This consideration and final action shall take no longer than 12 months from the date of the application being deemed complete.

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 11.

 Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 66300) is added to Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, to read:
CHAPTER  12. Housing Crisis Act of 2019

66300.
 (a) As used in this section:
(1) (A) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (B), “affected city” means a city, including a charter city, for which the department determines, in any calendar year, that the average of both of the following amounts exceeds ___:
(i) The percentage by which the city’s average rate of rent exceeded 130 percent of the national median rent in 2017, based on the federal 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.
(ii) The percentage by which the vacancy rate for residential rental units is less than the national vacancy rate, based on the federal 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), “affected city” does not include any city that has a population of 5,000 or less and is not located within an urban core.
(2) “Affected county” means a county in which at least 50 percent of the cities located within the territorial boundaries of the county are affected cities.
(3) Notwithstanding any other law, “affected county“ and “affected city” includes the electorate of an affected county or city exercising its local initiative or referendum power, whether that power is derived from the California Constitution, statute, or the charter or ordinances of the affected county or city.
(4) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.
(5) “Development policy, standard, or condition” means any of the following:
(A) A provision of, or amendment to, a general plan.
(B) A provision of, or amendment to, a specific plan.
(C) A provision of, or amendment to, a zoning ordinance.
(D) A subdivision standard or criterion.
(6) “Objective design standard” means a design standard that involve no personal or subjective judgment by a public official and is uniformly verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion available and knowable by both the development applicant or proponent and the public official before submittal of an application.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, with respect to land where housing is an allowable use, an affected county or an affected city shall not enact a development police, standard, or condition that would have any of the following effects:
(A) Changing the general plan land use designation, specific plan land use designation, or zoning of a parcel or parcels of property to a less intensive use or reducing the intensity of land use within an existing general plan land use designation, specific plan land use designation, or zoning district below what was allowed under the land use designation and zoning ordinances of the affected county or affected city, as applicable, as in effect on January 1, 2018, except as otherwise provided in clause (ii) of subparagraph (B). For purposes of this subparagraph, “less intensive use” includes, but is not limited to, reductions to height, density, or floor area ratio, new or increased open space or lot size requirements, or new or increased setback requirements, minimum frontage requirements, or maximum lot coverage limitations, for property zoned for residential use in the affected county’s or city’s zoning ordinance.
(B) (i) Imposing a moratorium or similar restriction or limitation on housing development, including mixed-use development, within all or a portion of the jurisdiction of the affected county or city, other than to specifically protect against an imminent threat to the health and safety of persons residing in, or within the immediate vicinity of, the area subject to the moratorium or for projects specifically identified as existing restricted affordable housing.
(ii) The affected county or affected city, as applicable, shall not enforce a zoning ordinance imposing a moratorium or other similar restriction on or limitation of housing development until it has submitted the ordinance to, and received approval from, the department. The department shall approve a zoning ordinance submitted to it pursuant to this subparagraph only if it determines that the zoning ordinance satisfies the requirements of this subparagraph. If the department denies approval of a zoning ordinance imposing a moratorium or similar restriction or limitation on housing development as inconsistent with this subparagraph, that ordinance shall be deemed void.
(C) Imposing or enforcing design standards established on or after January 1, 2018, that are not objective design standards.
(D) Establishing or implementing any provision that:
(i) Limits the number of land use approvals or permits necessary for the approval and construction of housing that will be issued or allocated within all or a portion of the affected county or affected city, as applicable.
(ii) Acts as a cap on the number of housing units that can be approved or constructed either annually or for some other time period.
(iii) Limits the population of the affected county or affected city, as applicable.
(2) Any development policy, standard, or condition enacted on or after January 1, 2018, that does not comply with this section shall be deemed void.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (b) and (d), an affected county or affected city may enact a development policy, standard, or condition to prohibit the commercial use of land that is designated for residential use, including, but not limited to, short-term occupancy of a residence, consistent with the authority conferred on the county or city by other law.
(d) (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), this section shall prevail over any conflicting provision of this title or other law regulating housing development in this state.
(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section be broadly construed so as to maximize the development of housing within this state. Any exception to the requirements of this section, including an exception for the health and safety of occupants of a housing development project, shall be construed narrowly.
(3) This section shall not be construed as prohibiting the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance in a manner that:
(A) Allows greater density.
(B) Facilitates the development of housing.
(C) Reduces the costs to a housing development project.
(D) Imposes or implements mitigation measures as necessary to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(4) This section shall not apply to a housing development project located within a very high fire hazard severity zone. For purposes of this paragraph, “very high fire hazard severity zone” has the same meaning as provided in Section 51177.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 9215, 9217, or 9323 of the Elections Code or any other provision of law, except the California Constitution, any requirement that local voter approval be obtained to increase the allowable intensity of housing, to establish housing as an allowable use, or to provide services and infrastructure necessary to develop housing, is hereby declared against public policy and void. For purposes of this subdivision, “intensity of housing” is broadly defined to include, but is not limited to, height, density, or floor area ratio, or open space or lot size requirements, or setback requirements, minimum frontage requirements, or maximum lot coverage limitations.
(f) (1) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of, or the standards of review pursuant to, Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(2) Nothing in this section supersedes, limits, or otherwise modifies the requirements of the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000) of the Public Resources Code).
(g) This section does not prohibit an affected county or an affected city from changing a land use designation or zoning ordinance to a less intensive use if the city or county concurrently changes the development standards, policies, and conditions applicable to other parcels within the jurisdiction to ensure that there is no net loss in residential capacity.

66301.
 This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2030, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 13.SEC. 12.

 Section 17921.8 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

17921.8.
 (a) As used in this section, “occupied substandard building” means a building in which one or more persons reside that an enforcement agency finds is in violation of any provision of this part, any building standards published in the State Building Standards Code, or any other rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this part, other than the building standards and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section.
(b) (1) (A) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the department shall propose the adoption, amendment, or repeal of building standards to the California Building Standards Commission pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5, and shall adopt, amend, or repeal other rules and regulations for the protection of the public health, safety, and general welfare of the occupant and the public, applicable to occupied substandard buildings in lieu of those building standards, rules, and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 17921.
(B) The building standards proposed, and the rules and regulations adopted or amended, pursuant to this paragraph shall establish minimum health and safety standards for occupied substandard buildings, as follows:
(i) The building standards, rules, and regulations shall require that an occupied substandard building include adequate sanitation and exit facilities and comply with seismic safety standards.
(ii) The building standards, rules, and regulations shall permit those conditions proscribed by Section 17920.3 which do not endanger the life, limb, health, property, safety, or welfare of the public or the occupant.
(iii) Notwithstanding Section 17922, the building standards, rules, and regulations need not be substantially the same as those contained in the most recent editions of the international or uniform industry codes specified by that section.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the building standards proposed to be adopted or amended, and the rules and regulations adopted or amended, by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 17921 shall apply to an occupied substandard building.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, an occupied substandard building that complies with the building standards, rules, and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be deemed to be in compliance with this part, the building standards published in the State Building Standards Code relating to this part, or any other rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to this part, for a period of seven years following the date on which an enforcement agency finds that the occupied substandard building is otherwise in violation of this part or any building standard, rule, or regulation adopted pursuant to this part. If, at the end of this seven-year period, the enforcement agency finds that the occupied substandard building is still in violation of any provision of this part, any building standards published in the State Building Standards Code, or any other rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this part, the occupied substandard building shall be subject to enforcement as provided in this part.
(d) (1) This section, other than subdivision (c), shall become inoperative on January 1, 2030.
(2) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2037, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 14.SEC. 13.

 The Legislature finds and declares that the provision of adequate housing, in light of the severe shortage of housing at all income levels in this state, is a matter of statewide concern and is not a municipal affair as that term is used in Section 5 of Article XI of the California Constitution. Therefore, the provisions of this act apply to all cities, including charter cities.

SEC. 15.SEC. 14.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.
However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

SEC. 16.SEC. 15.

 The provisions of this act are severable. If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

LegiScan Search

View Top 50 Searches

Select area of search.
Find an exact bill number.
Search bill text and data. [help]
Reset

LegiScan Trends

View Top 50 National

TX SB901 Relating to the declaration of a candidate's ineligibility on the basis...
NM SB200 State Holiday To Vote
PA HB158 Providing for sport activities in public institutions of higher education...
OR HB2388 Relating to easements; declaring an emergency.
OR HB3095 Relating to rebuttable presumptions regarding parenting; prescribing an...
NJ S4008 Imposes locational restriction on construction of a new crematory.
TX SB869 Relating to the deadline for the Texas Ethics Commission to resolve certain...
TN HB0552 AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 49; Title 50...
RI H5116 Directs the state board of pharmacy to annually identify up to fifteen...
TX SB883 Relating to patient access to prescription drugs for off-label use for...
feedback