(a) (1) If the local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is consistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall approve the development.

(2) If a local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is in conflict with any of the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall provide the development proponent written documentation of which standard or standards the development conflicts with, and an explanation for the reason or reasons the development conflicts with that standard or standards, within the following timeframes:

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(A) Within 60 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.

(B) Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains more than 150 housing units.

(b) If the local government fails to provide the required documentation pursuant to subdivision (a), the development shall be deemed to satisfy the required objective planning standards.

(c) (1) For purposes of this section, a development is consistent with the objective planning standards if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.

(2) For purposes of this section, a development is not in conflict with the objective planning standards solely on the basis that application materials are not included, if the application contains substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.

(d) The determination of whether a proposed project submitted pursuant to this section is or is not in conflict with the objective planning standards is not a “project” as defined in § 21065 of the Public Resources Code.

(e) Design review of the development may be conducted by the local government’s planning commission or any equivalent board or commission responsible for review and approval of development projects, or the city council or board of supervisors, as appropriate. That design review shall be objective and be strictly focused on assessing compliance with criteria required for streamlined, ministerial review of projects, as well as any reasonable objective design standards published and adopted by ordinance or resolution by a local jurisdiction before submittal of the development to the local government, and shall be broadly applicable to developments within the jurisdiction. That design review shall be completed as follows and shall not in any way inhibit, chill, or preclude the ministerial approval provided by this section or its effect, as applicable:

(1) Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government pursuant to this section if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.

(2) Within 180 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government pursuant to this section if the development contains more than 150 housing units.

(f) A development proposed pursuant to this article shall be eligible for a density bonus, incentives or concessions, waivers or reductions of development standards, and parking ratios pursuant to Section 65915.

(g) The local government shall ensure that the project satisfies the requirements specified in Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12, regardless of whether the development is within or not within an affected city or within or not within an affected county.

(h) If the development is consistent with all objective subdivision standards in the local subdivision ordinance, an application for a subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)) shall be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

(i) A local government may, by ordinance adopted to implement this article, exempt a parcel from this section before a development proponent submits a development application on a parcel pursuant to this article if the local government makes written findings establishing all of the following:

(1) The local government has identified one or more parcels that meet the criteria described in subdivisions (b) through (f) of Section 65912.111.

(2) (A) If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would not otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the implementing ordinance authorizes the parcel to be developed pursuant to the requirements of this chapter. A parcel reclassified for development pursuant to this subparagraph shall be suitable for residential development. For purposes of this subparagraph, a parcel suitable for residential development shall have the same meaning as “land suitable for residential development,” as defined in Section 65583.2.

(B) If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the implementing ordinance authorizes the parcel to be developed ministerially at residential densities above the residential density required in subdivision (b) of Section 65912.113.

(3) The substitution of the parcel or parcels identified in this subdivision for parcels reclassified pursuant to paragraph (2) will result in all of the following:

(A) No net loss of the total potential residential capacity in the jurisdiction relative to the total capacity that existed in the jurisdiction through the combined effect of this chapter and local law as of the date of the adoption of the ordinance. In making the no net loss calculation specified by this subparagraph, the local government need only factor in the parcels substituted and reclassified pursuant to this subdivision.

(B) No net loss of the total potential residential capacity of housing affordable to lower income households in the jurisdiction relative to the total capacity that existed in the jurisdiction through the combined effect of this chapter and local law as of the date of the adoption of the ordinance. In making the no net loss calculation specified by this subparagraph, the local government need only factor in the parcels substituted and reclassified pursuant to this subdivision.

(C) Affirmative furthering of fair housing.

(4) A parcel or parcels reclassified for development pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) shall be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any contrary provision of the local government’s charter, general plan, or ordinances, and a parcel or parcels reclassified for development pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) shall be developed ministerially at the densities and heights specified in the ordinance notwithstanding any contrary provision of the local government’s charter, general plan, or ordinances.

(5) The local government has completed all of the rezonings required pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583 for the sixth revision of its housing element.

(j) A local government’s approval of a development pursuant to this section shall, notwithstanding any other law, be subject to the expiration timeframes specified in subdivision (f) of Section 65913.4.

(k) Any proposed modifications to a development project approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 65913.4.

(l) A local government shall not adopt or impose any requirement, including, but not limited to, increased fees or inclusionary housing requirements, that applies to a project solely or partially on the basis that the project is eligible to receive streamlined, ministerial review pursuant to this section.

(m) A local government shall issue a subsequent permit required for a development approved under this section pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 65913.4.

(n) A public improvement that is necessary to implement a development that is approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 65913.4.

(o) A local government may adopt an ordinance to implement the provisions of this article. An ordinance adopted to implement this section shall not be considered a “project” under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 754, Sec. 1. (AB 1218) Effective January 1, 2024. Repealed as of January 1, 2033, pursuant to Sec. 65912.105.)