Today, legislation sponsored by California Business Properties Association (CBPA) and NAIOP of California cleared the Assembly with a vote of 54-0. Earlier this year, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva (D – Fullerton) introduced Assembly Bill 2433, the Private Permitting Review and Inspection Act, designed to address the bureaucratic delays that frequently obstruct construction and development projects. 

“As California faces our affordable housing crisis, delays in the permit process unnecessarily burden those addressing this urgent issue. AB 2433 offers a common-sense solution by streamlining the inspection process,” said Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva. “By making permitting more efficient, we can both save money and support our communities and businesses, creating an opportunity to make tangible improvements in the lives of countless Californians.”

AB 2433 builds on current law to provide flexible fee structures, expedited inspection timelines, and conditional employment of external professional services. The bill would enhance the speed and predictability of permit processing, alleviating the unnecessary burdens, particularly those in small business sectors and entities working on affordable housing in underserved communities.

“This marks an important milestone in our industry’s effort to reform the building permit process and in turn make our state more economically competitive, create jobs, and keep businesses in California,” said Matthew Hargrove, President & CEO of CBPA. “On behalf of the commercial real estate industry, I’d like to thank Assemblymember Quirk-Silva for working closely with us to address this critical issue impacting our ability to do business and create jobs in California,” Hargrove added. 

If passed, the bill would improve the efficiency of local government operations by establishing clear timelines for permit processing. The bill would also establish the conditional use of private professionals for plan-checking if a local agency fails to meet the set deadlines. 

Prior to the vote on the Assembly floor, AB 2433 passed through the Assembly Local Government, Housing and Community Development, and Appropriations Committees with bipartisan support. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.