Why this matters: No matter where you live in California, addressing the housing shortage requires new residential construction permitting to move forward efficiently without local disruption. With each community having an accessible online portal, the easier an uptick in residential development permits will be.
A stronger connection
Consumers don’t just use the internet for everything; they rely on instant results to keep up to date. Californian builders can track their pizza delivery online, but they are kept in the dark for some of their most important local requests — permits.
Assembly bill 920 sets in motion the availability of online housing development applications starting January 1, 2028, complete with the ability to track the status of an application. [GC §65940.3(c)]
Centralized application portals are required for all cities or counties with a population over 150,000. [GC §65940.3(a)]
Unlike other legislative changes to the permit process, the ability to apply online improves processing without changing any standards or requirements to pull a permit.
As accessory dwelling units (ADUs) continue to be popular builds, a friendlier process for the average homeowner is even more important. ADUs in California represented 21.3% of total new housing in 2024. They represent a fast-growing mode of investing by owners of property looking to expand into rental units on their property. Meanwhile, projects for single and multi-family residential construction starts remain stagnant.
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Internet delays
Communities have the option to extend the January 1, 2028 deadline two more years until the online portal must be up and available. The later January 1, 2030 deadline can only be chosen when the local legislative body:
- makes a finding in writing before the 2028 deadline that providing a central portal requires a substantial increase in permitting fees; and
- initiates the procurement process before January 1, 2028, to make the centralized portal available. [GC §65940.3(b)]
The portal does not need to show the status of permits or inspections required for the project by other agencies or utility providers. [GC §65940.3(d)]
Cities and counties are already required to provide a website with a fee estimation tool to consolidate information for a proposed housing development project. So, with two years’ notice, an online tracking and application portal is the next step for cities to expand access and speed up all aspects of the permitting process. [GC §§65940.2; 65940.3]
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