CALBO’s Position: Oppose
CALBO’s Opposition Letter: Click Here

Location:  Dual Referral:  Senate Housing & Senate Local Government Committees 

Bill Summary: The State Housing Law establishes statewide construction and occupancy standards for buildings used for human habitation. Current law authorizes a county’s or city’s governing body to prescribe fees for permits, certificates, or other forms or documents required or authorized under the State Housing Law. This bill, the California Residential Private Permitting Review Act, would require a county’s or city’s building department to prepare a residential building permit fee schedule and post the schedule on the county’s or city’s internet website, if the county or city prescribes residential building permit fees. (Based on 01/15/2025 text).  Further, for any projects that will take longer than 30 days to permit, the measure allows the applicant to engage with a private third-party consultant, of their choice, to plan check.

CALBO’s Opposition:

• Public safety concerns.  AB 253 is based upon a model approved for accessory-dwelling unit (ADU) permitting (AB 1332, 2023).  The residential occupancy standards for much smaller structures, ADUs, are drastically different than larger, complex single and multi-family residential projects.  Carbon/smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, exiting, etc.
• No oversight on private-party consultants.  AB 253 allows permit applicants to self-select third parties to check their plans.  Without proper public sector oversight and approval of competent plan check review firms, there is minimal consumer protection or assistance. 
• Unintended consequences.  AB 253 is meant to accelerate housing, but given the lack of public sector oversight and input on the competency of self-selected consultants, delays will likely occur on the approval of plans by local jurisdictions.  This will slow approvals down, not accelerate housing.