Single-family and multifamily housing units: preapproved plans.

Assembly Member Harabedian's proposal to streamline California's residential construction approval process would require local agencies to establish preapproval programs for single-family and multifamily housing plans by July 2026. The legislation mandates that cities and counties accept and review standardized plans for residential units, maintaining an online repository of approved designs that developers can reference and utilize.

Under the proposed system, local agencies must process applications using preapproved plans within 30 days when projects meet specified criteria for soil conditions, topography, flood zones, and zoning requirements. The bill defines eligible projects as single-family homes and multifamily buildings containing 2-10 residential units. Local agencies retain authority to charge standard permitting fees and may voluntarily expand their preapproval programs to include higher-density projects or additional zoning districts.

The measure requires local agencies to post approved plans and applicant contact information on their websites, though agencies bear no responsibility for contact detail accuracy and must remove listings within 30 days upon applicant request. The bill's findings classify housing availability as a matter of statewide concern, making these requirements applicable to all California cities, including charter cities. Local agencies may fund implementation through existing fee authority without state reimbursement.