Assemblymember Ward Introduces Bill to Streamline Building Permit Process

In a response to California’s continuing housing crisis, San Diego Assemblymember Chris Ward has introduced legislation to streamline the review and issuance of permits needed to build new homes.

Ward introduced Assembly Bill 253 — the Residential Private Permitting Review Act — last week to allow developers and homeowners to enlist licensed third-party professionals to expedite the permitting process in cases where it would take a local building department longer than 30 days to conduct a review.

“We need to accelerate the permitting process,” said Ward, a Democrat who represents the 78th District. “Streamlining post-entitlement permitting is crucial to addressing key bottlenecks at the local level and turning approved projects into much-needed homes.”

In California, a project must first secure initial land use approvals and entitlements, granting a developer the right to use a parcel for a specific purpose, such as building homes. However, construction cannot then commence until the necessary permits are obtained. This process is often subject to delays caused by fluctuating workloads and limited resources in local building departments.

The bill is jointly authored by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, a Democrat from Fullerton.

“The housing crisis in California demands bold, thoughtful solutions,” said Quirk-Silva. “AB 253 empowers local governments and applicants alike by cutting unnecessary delays, holding everyone accountable, and moving projects forward with urgency. By streamlining the permitting process, we can reduce delays, boost housing production, and ultimately make California a more affordable place to live.”

Ward’s office said that on average, fully-entitled apartment buildings in the state take approximately nine months to secure post-entitlement permits, slowing construction and increasing costs

“California’s cost of living crisis demands immediate action — and that includes expediting housing reviews to build homes faster,” said Brian Hanlon, CEO of California YIMBY. “Assemblymember Ward’s bill is a game-changer, saving builders time and money by streamlining approvals.”

Phoenix has reported success with a similar law that lets licensed building professionals approve permits.