2 0 2 5 S T A T E L E G I S L A T I O N
SB 79
TRANIST ORIENTED HOUSING
Streamlines residential housing development near transit-oriented zones by authorizing local governments to adopt alternative TOD (transit-oriented development) plans and by exempting transit-zone developments from certain local constraints.
AB 253
PRIVATE PLAN CHECK
Creates a statewide right for applicants to use a private professional provider for residential plan check if the city’s post-completeness estimate exceeds 30 business days; the city then has 10 business days to issue or cite specific noncompliance. Also requires local fee schedules to be posted online, adds annual reporting starting April 1, 2027, and includes a 60-day post-completion inspection refund protection. Also known as the California Residential Private Permitting Review Act.
AB 301
PERMIT DEADLINE
Extends the post-entitlement completeness/compliance timelines to state agencies and deems permits approved if a state agency misses the deadlines; requires state agencies to post required lists and complete-application examples by Jan 1, 2026.
In counties under a state of emergency (on/after Feb 1, 2025), allows issuance of a certificate of occupancy for an ADU even if the primary dwelling’s CofO is pending, where the primary was damaged/destroyed and other criteria are met.
AB 462
ADU ISSUANCE
Establishes a ministerial, by-right pathway for qualifying adaptive reuse (with objective standards, labor requirements, and parking relief where no existing on-site parking), limits certain industrial zones, ties fees to impact of change of use, and allows local adaptive reuse investment incentive programs funded by incremental property-tax growth to subsidize required affordable units.
AB 507
ADAPTIVE REUSE PATHWAY
Requires jurisdictions with 150,000+ population to host a centralized application portal for housing development projects under the Permit Streamlining Act.
AB 920
CENTRAL PERMIT PORTAL
Cuts the decision deadline for responsible agencies on specified projects from 90 days to 45 days (with limited exceptions), tightening inter-agency timing after the lead agency acts.
AB 1007
AGENCY RESPONSE TIME
Streamlines the process to modify/clear private restrictive covenants that unlawfully limit housing on sites used for affordable housing developments, including faster county counsel determinations and recording steps.
AB 1050
HOUSING COVENANTS
Requires local agencies to conduct final inspections within 10 business days for qualifying 1–10 unit, ≤40-ft projects and certain additions; missing the deadline can constitute a Housing Accountability Act violation.
AB 1308
FINAL INSPECTION
Clarifies that incentives/concessions cannot produce a project with a specified commercial FAR, and that Density Bonus Law does not require approval of transient lodging elements within a housing development (with limited exceptions).
SB 92
DENSITY BONUS
Establishes statewide policy that all dwelling units must be able to attain and maintain a safe maximum indoor temperature and directs agencies to align policies and, beginning Jan 1, 2027, relevant regulations with that policy.
SB 655
DWELLING UNIT POLICY
Expands the definition of “campus development zone” to include properties within a mile of a main campus of UC/CSU/CCC/private institutions and allows use of the Affordable Housing & AB 2011 in those zones.
AB 893
CAMPUS ZONE DEFINITION
Freezes adoption of new building standards affecting residential units for six years (from Oct 1, 2025 to June 1, 2031) unless the standard is deemed an emergency health or safety measure. Also known as the Housing Accountability Act.
AB 130
BUILDING CODE FREEZE
Introduces a “near-miss” CEQA exemption mechanism: if a housing or mixed-use project meets all but one of the criteria required for a CEQA exemption, CEQA review may be limited to that single missing criterion rather than full EIR.
SB 131
CEQA STREAMLINING