AB 1294 (Haney)
HOME sponsors: Abundant Housing LA, California YIMBY
The Problem
The first step to building housing is the filing of a formal “housing application” to local governments, requesting permission to build your project and providing the planning department with the information they need, theoretically, to review it. California currently has a patchwork of wildly varying housing application forms, the requirements of which can sometimes add months or even years to a project’s development time.
Some cities require expensive studies, engineering-level drawings, or multiple meetings before a planning application can even be considered complete. These added steps slow down projects and increase costs, making it harder to build housing.
The Solution
AB 1294 creates a universal application for home building that every city and county must accept, adding clarity and consistency to the housing approvals process. Key provisions include:
Statewide Standardization: A single application format that can be used everywhere.
Clear Completeness Criteria: Identifies exactly what information is needed, preventing arbitrary delays.
No Extra Pre-Application Rules: Cities cannot require unnecessary steps like extra studies or meetings before accepting an application.
Processing Protections: Prevents delays or rejections based on requests for density bonuses or state-granted incentives.
Contact for questions: Scott Epstein, scott@abundanthousingla.org