Holland & Knight Alert
November 5, 2024
https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2024/11/californias-2025-housing-laws-what-you-need-to-know
“Builder’s Remedy 2.0,” Reforms to Streamlining Laws, Focus on Impact Fee Transparency and New Laws Promoting ADUs and Small Subdivisions Are Highlights of 2024 Legislative Session
Highlights
• As previously reported by Holland & Knight, reforms to the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) have set new standards for “Builder’s Remedy” projects beginning in 2025.
• The California Legislature returned to the scene of its previous work on streamlined ministerial permitting, expanding the applicability of AB 2011 of 2022 (sites zoned for commercial development) and SB 684 of 2023 (up to 10-unit housing subdivisions on small sites).
• The Legislature attempted to acknowledge the difficult economic conditions facing housing by adopting an 18-month entitlement extension for qualifying projects, allowing housing development applicants to defer applicable fees until certificate of occupancy and increasing transparency on impact fees.
• Recognizing that the need for California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) streamlining is as important as ever, the Legislature extended the sunset date of several common CEQA exemptions, as well as showed particular interest in reforming the increasingly productive laws related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Junior ADUs (JADUs), SB 9 lot splits and duplexes.