What Is the Permit Streamlining Act?

The Permit Streamlining Act (Gov. Code §§ 65920–65964.1) requires California cities to issue a completeness determination within 30 days of application submission under § 65943(a). This is the one-bite rule — the city must identify ALL missing items in a single letter.

After the application is deemed complete, the approval clock runs: 60 days for CEQA-exempt projects (§ 65952), 105 days for negative declarations, and 180 days for EIR projects (§ 65950). If the city fails to act, the project may be deemed approved under § 65956. Attorney fees are mandatory for prevailing petitioners under § 65943(e).

Common Violations

• Ignoring the 30-day completeness clock entirely — application deemed complete by operation of law on day 31
• Issuing an incomplete notice that omits items then demanding them later — one-bite rule violation
• Continuing hearings past the approval deadline
• Pressuring applicants to sign extension agreements

Remedy

Writ of mandate under CCP § 1085. Deemed-approved remedy under § 65956. Mandatory attorney fee award under § 65943(e).