Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) celebrated the successful passage through the Assembly Local Government Committee of Assembly Bill 2433, which addresses the prolonged delays in the building permit process across California. The bill introduces reforms to expedite construction and development projects while ensuring adherence to safety.

“Unpredictable building permit processing times have created undue hardships and costs on Californians,” stated Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva. “AB 2433 cuts through the red tape in the building permit process by setting reasonable, common-sense deadlines for plan-checking and inspections. It is all about keeping projects moving forward smoothly and relieving our local agencies facing challenges in timely permit processing.”

Recently, the building permit process has faced substantial hurdles, worsened by a combination of challenges, including the fallout from the Great Recession, the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the departure of seasoned personnel from the workforce. These delays have inflicted notable burdens and expenses on applicants, notably impacting small businesses and initiatives focused on bolstering affordable housing and rejuvenating marginalized neighborhoods.

“Reforming the building permitting process is a practical approach to making our state more economically competitive, creating jobs, and keeping businesses in California,” said Matthew Hargrove, President and CEO of the California Business Properties Association. Navigating bureaucratic hurdles is a key challenge not just for the commercial real estate industry but for anyone trying to do business in California. AB 2433 will address this problem head-on.”

AB 1297 received bipartisan support in its vote in the Local Government Committee. It will now advance to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee for consideration.

Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva represents the 67th Assembly District, which includes the Orange County communities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, and La Palma, as well as the Los Angeles County communities of Artesia, Cerritos, and Hawaiian Gardens.