text:
(a) A focused environmental impact report is an environmental impact report on a subsequent project identified in a master environmental impact report. A focused environmental impact report may be utilized only if the lead agency finds that the analysis in the master environmental impact report of cumulative impacts, growth inducing impacts, and irreversible significant effects on the environment is adequate for the subsequent project. The focused environmental impact report shall incorporate, by reference, the master environmental impact report and analyze only the subsequent project’s additional significant effects on the environment, as defined in subdivision (d), and any new or additional mitigation measures or alternatives that were not identified and analyzed by the master environmental impact report.

(b) The focused environmental impact report need not examine those effects which the lead agency finds were one of the following:

(1) Mitigated or avoided pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 21081 as a result of mitigation measures identified in the master environmental impact report which will be required as part of the approval of the subsequent project.

(2) Examined at a sufficient level of detail in the master environmental impact report to enable those significant environmental effects to be mitigated or avoided by specific revisions to the project, the imposition of conditions, or by other means in connection with the approval of the subsequent project.

(3) Subject to a finding pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 21081.

(c) A focused environmental impact report on any subsequent project shall analyze any significant effects on the environment where substantial new or additional information shows that the adverse environmental impact may be more significant than was described in the master environmental impact report. The substantial new or additional information may also show that mitigation measures or alternatives identified in the master environmental impact report, which were previously determined to be infeasible, are feasible and will avoid or reduce the significant effects on the environment of the subsequent project to a level of insignificance.

(d) For purposes of this chapter, “additional significant effects on the environment” are those project specific effects on the environment which were not addressed as significant effects on the environment in the master environmental impact report.

(e) Nothing in this chapter is intended to limit or abridge the ability of a lead agency to focus upon the issues that are ripe for decision at each level of environmental review, or to exclude duplicative analysis of environmental effects examined in previous environmental impact reports pursuant to Section 21093.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1294, Sec. 16. Effective October 1, 1994. Note: October 1, 1994, is the date that Ch. 1294 became law without the Governor's signature.)

article: 3. Focused Environmental Impact Report

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 4.5. Streamlined Environmental Review > 3. Focused Environmental Impact Report


kind: section

code: PRC

text: When a lead agency is required to prepare an environmental impact report pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 21157.1 or is authorized to prepare a focused environmental impact report pursuant to Section 21158, the lead agency may not rely on subdivision (a) of Section 21080.5 for that purpose even though the lead agency’s regulatory program is otherwise certified in accordance with Section 21080.5.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 444, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1997.)

division: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

chapter: 4.5. Streamlined Environmental Review

article: 3. Focused Environmental Impact Report


text:
(a) Where a project consists of multiple-family residential development of not more than 100 units or a residential and commercial or retail mixed-use development of not more than 100,000 square feet which complies with all of the following, a focused environmental impact report shall be prepared, notwithstanding that the project was not identified in a master environmental impact report:

(1) Is consistent with a general plan, specific plan, community plan, or zoning ordinance for which an environmental impact report was prepared within five years of the certification of the focused environmental impact report.

(2) The lead agency cannot make the finding described in subdivision (c) of Section 21157.1, a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration cannot be prepared pursuant to Section 21080, 21157.5, or 21158, and Section 21166 does not apply.

(3) Meets one or more of the following conditions:

(A) The parcel on which the project is to be developed is surrounded by immediately contiguous urban development.

(B) The parcel on which the project is to be developed has been previously developed with urban uses.

(C) The parcel on which the project is to be developed is within one-half mile of an existing rail transit station.

(b) A focused environmental impact report prepared pursuant to this section shall be limited to a discussion of potentially significant effects on the environment specific to the project, or which substantial new information shows will be more significant than described in the prior environmental impact report. No discussion shall be required of alternatives to the project, cumulative impacts of the project, or the growth inducing impacts of the project.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1130, Sec. 18. Effective January 1, 1994.)

article: 3. Focused Environmental Impact Report


text:
(a) An agency listed in Section 21159.4 shall perform, at the time of the adoption of a rule or regulation requiring the installation of pollution control equipment, or a performance standard or treatment requirement, including a rule or regulation that requires the installation of pollution control equipment or a performance standard or treatment requirement pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), an environmental analysis of the reasonably foreseeable methods of compliance. In the preparation of this analysis, the agency may utilize numerical ranges or averages where specific data is not available; however, the agency shall not be required to engage in speculation or conjecture. The environmental analysis shall, at minimum, include all of the following:

(1) An analysis of the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts of the methods of compliance.

(2) An analysis of reasonably foreseeable feasible mitigation measures.

(3) An analysis of reasonably foreseeable alternative means of compliance with the rule or regulation.

(4) For a rule or regulation that requires the installation of pollution control equipment adopted pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code), the analysis shall also include reasonably foreseeable greenhouse gas emission impacts of compliance with the rule or regulation.

(b) The preparation of an environmental impact report at the time of adopting a rule or regulation pursuant to this division shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section.

(c) The environmental analysis shall take into account a reasonable range of environmental, economic, and technical factors, population and geographic areas, and specific sites.

(d) This section does not require the agency to conduct a project-level analysis.

(e) For purposes of this article, the term “performance standard” includes process or raw material changes or product reformulation.

(f) This section is not intended, and may not be used, to delay the adoption of any rule or regulation for which an analysis is required to be performed pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 195, Sec. 2. (AB 1846) Effective January 1, 2011.)

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 4.5. Streamlined Environmental Review > 4. Expedited Environmental Review for Environmentally Mandated Projects


text:
(a) A focused environmental impact report may be utilized if a project meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The project consists solely of the installation of either of the following:

(A) Pollution control equipment required by a rule or regulation of an agency listed in subdivision (a) of Section 21159.4 and other components necessary to complete the installation of that equipment.

(B) Pollution control equipment and other components necessary to complete the installation of that equipment that reduces greenhouse gases required by a rule or regulation of an agency listed in Section 21159.4 pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).

(2) The agency certified an environmental impact report on the rule or regulation or reviewed it pursuant to a certified regulatory program, and, in either case, the review included an assessment of growth inducing impacts and cumulative impacts of, and alternatives to, the project.

(3) The environmental review required by paragraph (2) was completed within five years of certification of the focused environmental impact report.

(4) An environmental impact report is not required pursuant to Section 21166.

(b) The discussion of significant effects on the environment in the focused environmental impact report shall be limited to project-specific potentially significant effects on the environment of the project that were not discussed in the environmental analysis of the rule or regulation required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 21159. A discussion of growth-inducing impacts or cumulative impacts shall not be required in the focused environmental impact report, and the discussion of alternatives shall be limited to a discussion of alternative means of compliance, if any, with the rule or regulation.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 195, Sec. 3. (AB 1846) Effective January 1, 2011.)

article: 4. Expedited Environmental Review for Environmentally Mandated Projects


text:
(a) If a project consists solely of compliance with a performance standard or treatment requirement imposed by an agency listed in Section 21159.4, the lead agency for the compliance project shall, to the greatest extent feasible, utilize the environmental analysis required pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 21159 in the preparation of a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or environmental impact report on the compliance project or in otherwise fulfilling its responsibilities under this division. The use of numerical averages or ranges in an environmental analysis shall not relieve a lead agency of its obligations under this division to identify and evaluate the environmental effects of a compliance project.

(b) If the lead agency determines that an environmental impact report on the compliance project is required, the lead agency shall prepare an environmental impact report which addresses only the project-specific issues related to the compliance project or other issues that were not discussed in sufficient detail in the environmental analysis to enable the lead agency to fulfill its responsibilities under Section 21100 or 21151, as applicable. The mitigation measures imposed by the lead agency for the project shall relate only to the significant effects on the environment to be mitigated. The discussion of alternatives shall be limited to a discussion of alternative means of compliance, if any, with the rule or regulation.


text:
In the preparation of any environmental impact report pursuant to Section 21159.1 or 21159.2, the following deadlines shall apply:

(a) A lead agency shall determine whether an environmental impact report should be prepared within 30 days of its determination that the application for the project is complete.

(b) If the environmental impact report will be prepared under contract to the lead agency pursuant to Section 21082.1, the lead agency shall issue a request for proposals for preparation of the environmental impact report as soon as it has enough information to prepare a request for proposals, and in any event, not later than 30 days after the time for response to the notice of preparation has expired. The contract shall be awarded within 30 days of the response date for the request for proposals.


text:
(a) This article shall apply to all of the following agencies:

(1) The State Air Resources Board.

(2) A district as defined in Section 39025 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) The State Water Resources Control Board.

(4) A California regional water quality control board.

(5) The Department of Toxic Substances Control.

(6) The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

(b) This article shall apply to the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission for rules and regulations requiring the installation of pollution control equipment adopted pursuant to the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 195, Sec. 4. (AB 1846) Effective January 1, 2011.)


text:
The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation shall implement a public assistance and information program to ensure efficient and effective implementation of this division and to do both of the following:

(a) Establish a public education and training program for planners, developers, and other interested parties to assist them in implementing this division.

(b) (1) (A) Establish and maintain a database for the collection, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of environmental documents, notices of exemption, notices of preparation, notices of determination, and notices of completion provided to the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. The database shall be available online to the public through the internet. The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may coordinate with another state agency to host and maintain the online database.

(B) The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may phase in the submission of electronic documents and use of the database by state and local public agencies.

(C) The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may include additional information in the database, including, but not limited to, information related to planning, permitting, grants, and procurement, for the purposes of facilitating efficient and informed decisionmaking by public agencies and members of the public.

(2) (A) The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation may charge a fee upon the submission of electronic documents pursuant to this division to the database for the reasonable costs incurred in implementing this subdivision.

(B) (i) The State Clearinghouse Administrative Fund is hereby created in the State Treasury to be administered by the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.

(ii) The fees received pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be deposited into the fund and shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation for purposes of implementing this subdivision.

(C) A fee charged pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), and shall be adopted in accordance with a formal rulemaking process.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2026, Ch. 84, Sec. 35. (SB 172) Effective July 13, 2026.)

article: 5. Public Assistance Program

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 4.5. Streamlined Environmental Review > 5. Public Assistance Program


text:
For the purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Census-defined place” means a specific unincorporated land area within boundaries determined by the United States Census Bureau in the most recent decennial census.

(b) “Community-level environmental review” means either of the following:

(1) An environmental impact report certified on any of the following:

(A) A general plan.

(B) A revision or update to the general plan that includes at least the land use and circulation elements.

(C) An applicable community plan.

(D) An applicable specific plan.

(E) A housing element of the general plan, if the environmental impact report analyzed the environmental effects of the density of the proposed project.

(2) Pursuant to this division and the implementing guidelines adopted pursuant to this division that govern subsequent review following a program environmental impact report, or pursuant to Section 21157.1, 21157.5, or 21166, a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration was adopted as a subsequent environmental review document, following and based upon an environmental impact report on any of the projects listed in subparagraphs (A), (C), or (D) of paragraph (1).

(c) “Low-income households” means households of persons and families of very low and low income, as defined in Sections 50093 and 50105 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) “Low- and moderate-income households” means households of persons and families of low or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1039, Sec. 12. Effective January 1, 2003.)

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 4.5. Streamlined Environmental Review > 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text:
A housing project qualifies for an exemption from this division pursuant to Section 21159.22, 21159.23, or 21159.24 if it meets the criteria in the applicable section and all of the following criteria:

(a) The project is consistent with any applicable general plan, specific plan, and local coastal program, including any mitigation measures required by a plan or program, as that plan or program existed on the date that the application was deemed complete and with any applicable zoning ordinance, as that zoning ordinance existed on the date that the application was deemed complete, except that a project shall not be deemed to be inconsistent with the zoning designation for the site if that zoning designation is inconsistent with the general plan only because the project site has not been rezoned to conform with a more recently adopted general plan.

(b) Community-level environmental review has been adopted or certified.

(c) The project and other projects approved prior to the approval of the project can be adequately served by existing utilities, and the project applicant has paid, or has committed to pay, all applicable in-lieu or development fees.

(d) The site of the project does not contain wetlands, does not have any value as a wildlife habitat, and the project does not harm any species protected by the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.) or by the Native Plant Protection Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1900) of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code), the California Endangered Species Act (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code), and the project does not cause the destruction or removal of any species protected by a local ordinance in effect at the time the application for the project was deemed complete. For the purposes of this subdivision, “wetlands” has the same meaning as in Section 328.3 of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations and “wildlife habitat” means the ecological communities upon which wild animals, birds, plants, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates depend for their conservation and protection.

(e) The site of the project is not included on any list of facilities and sites compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.

(f) The site of the project is subject to a preliminary endangerment assessment prepared by an environmental assessor to determine the existence of any release of a hazardous substance on the site and to determine the potential for exposure of future occupants to significant health hazards from any nearby property or activity.

(1) If a release of a hazardous substance is found to exist on the site, the release shall be removed, or any significant effects of the release shall be mitigated to a level of insignificance in compliance with state and federal requirements.

(2) If a potential for exposure to significant hazards from surrounding properties or activities is found to exist, the effects of the potential exposure shall be mitigated to a level of insignificance in compliance with state and federal requirements.

(g) The project does not have a significant effect on historical resources pursuant to Section 21084.1.

(h) The project site is not subject to any of the following:

(1) A wildland fire hazard, as determined by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, unless the applicable general plan or zoning ordinance contains provisions to mitigate the risk of a wildland fire hazard.

(2) An unusually high risk of fire or explosion from materials stored or used on nearby properties.

(3) Risk of a public health exposure at a level that would exceed the standards established by any state or federal agency.

(4) Within a delineated earthquake fault zone, as determined pursuant to Section 2622, or a seismic hazard zone, as determined pursuant to Section 2696, unless the applicable general plan or zoning ordinance contains provisions to mitigate the risk of an earthquake fault or seismic hazard zone.

(5) Landslide hazard, flood plain, flood way, or restriction zone, unless the applicable general plan or zoning ordinance contains provisions to mitigate the risk of a landslide or flood.

(i) (1) The project site is not located on developed open space.

(2) For the purposes of this subdivision, “developed open space” means land that meets all of the following criteria:

(A) Is publicly owned, or financed in whole or in part by public funds.

(B) Is generally open to, and available for use by, the public.

(C) Is predominantly lacking in structural development other than structures associated with open spaces, including, but not limited to, playgrounds, swimming pools, ballfields, enclosed child play areas, and picnic facilities.

(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, “developed open space” includes land that has been designated for acquisition by a public agency for developed open space, but does not include lands acquired by public funds dedicated to the acquisition of land for housing purposes.

(j) The project site is not located within the boundaries of a state conservancy.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 39, Sec. 96. (SB 1018) Effective June 27, 2012.)

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text:
(a) This division does not apply to any development project that meets the requirements of subdivision (b), and meets either of the following criteria:

(1) Consists of the construction, conversion, or use of residential housing for agricultural employees, and meets all of the following criteria:

(A) Is affordable to lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(B) Lacks public financial assistance.

(C) The developer of the development project provides sufficient legal commitments to the appropriate local agency to ensure the continued availability and use of the housing units for lower income households for a period of at least 15 years.

(2) Consists of the construction, conversion, or use of residential housing for agricultural employees and meets all of the following criteria:

(A) Is housing for very low, low-, or moderate-income households as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code.

(B) Public financial assistance exists for the development project.

(C) The developer of the development project provides sufficient legal commitments to the appropriate local agency to ensure the continued availability and use of the housing units for low- and moderate-income households for a period of at least 15 years.

(b) (1) If the development project is proposed within incorporated city limits or within a census defined place with a minimum population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile, it is located on a project site that is adjacent, on at least two sides, to land that has been developed, and consists of not more than 45 units, or is housing for a total of 45 or fewer agricultural employees if the housing consists of dormitories, barracks, or other group living facilities.

(2) If the development project is located on a project site zoned for general agricultural use, and consists of not more than 20 units, or is housing for a total of 20 or fewer agricultural employees if the housing consists of dormitories, barracks, or other group living facilities.

(3) The project satisfies the criteria in Section 21159.21.

(4) The development project is not more than five acres in area, except that a project site located in an area with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile shall not be more than two acres in area.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a project satisfies the criteria described in subdivisions (a) and (b), but does not satisfy the criteria described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), this division does not apply to the project if the project meets all of the following criteria:

(1) Is located within either an incorporated city or a census-defined place.

(2) The population density of the incorporated city or census-defined place has a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile.

(3) The project site is adjacent on at least two sides to land that has been developed and the project consists of not more than 45 units, or the project consist of dormitories, barracks, or other group housing facilities for a total of 45 or fewer agricultural employees.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), this division shall apply to a project that meets the criteria described in subdivision (c) if a public agency that is carrying out or approving the project determines that there is a reasonable possibility that the project, if completed, would have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances or that the cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same area, over time, would be significant.

For the purposes of this section, “agricultural employee” has the same meaning as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code.

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text:
(a) This division does not apply to any development project that consists of the construction, conversion, or use of residential housing consisting of 100 or fewer that is affordable to low-income households if both of the following criteria are met:

(1) The developer of the development project provides sufficient legal commitments to the appropriate local agency to ensure the continued availability and use of the housing units for lower income households, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, for a period of at least 30 years, at monthly housing costs, as determined pursuant to Section 50053 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) The development project meets all of the following requirements:

(A) The project satisfies the criteria described in Section 21159.21.

(B) The project site meets one of the following conditions:

(i) Has been previously developed for qualified urban uses.

(ii) The parcels immediately adjacent to the site are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses, and the site has not been developed for urban uses and no parcel within the site has been created within 10 years prior to the proposed development of the site.

(C) The project site is not more than five acres in area.

(D) The project site is located within an urbanized areaor within a census-defined place with a population density of at least 5,000 persons per square mile or, if the project consists of 50 or fewer units, within an incorporated city with a population density of at least 2,500 persons per square mile and a total population of at least 25,000 persons.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a project satisfies all of the criteria described in subdivision (a) except subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of that subdivision, this division does not apply to the project if the project is located within either an incorporated city or a census defined place with a population density of at least 1,000 persons per square mile.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), this division applies to a project that meets the criteria of subdivision (b), if there is a reasonable possibility that the project would have a significant effect on the environment or the residents of the project due to unusual circumstances or due to the related or cumulative impacts of reasonably foreseeable projects in the vicinity of the project.

(d) For the purposes of this section, “residential” means a use consisting of either of the following:

(1) Residential units only.

(2) Residential units and primarily neighborhood-serving goods, services, or retail uses that do not exceed 15 percent of the total floor area of the project.

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), this division does not apply to a project if all of the following criteria are met:

(1) The project is a residential project on an infill site.

(2) The project is located within an urbanized area.

(3) The project satisfies the criteria of Section 21159.21.

(4) Within five years of the date that the application for the project is deemed complete pursuant to Section 65943 of the Government Code, community-level environmental review was certified or adopted.

(5) The site of the project is not more than four acres in total area.

(6) The project does not contain more than 100 residential units.

(7) Either of the following criteria are met:

(A) (i) At least 10 percent of the housing is sold to families of moderate income, or not less than 10 percent of the housing is rented to families of low income, or not less than 5 percent of the housing is rented to families of very low income.

(ii) The project developer provides sufficient legal commitments to the appropriate local agency to ensure the continued availability and use of the housing units for very low, low-, and moderate-income households at monthly housing costs determined pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code.

(B) The project developer has paid or will pay in-lieu fees pursuant to a local ordinance in an amount sufficient to result in the development of an equivalent number of units that would otherwise be required pursuant to subparagraph (A).

(8) The project is within one-half mile of a major transit stop.

(9) The project does not include any single level building that exceeds 100,000 square feet.

(10) The project promotes higher density infill housing. A project with a density of at least 20 units per acre shall be conclusively presumed to promote higher density infill housing. A project with a density of at least 10 units per acre and a density greater than the average density of the residential properties within 1,500 feet shall be presumed to promote higher density housing unless the preponderance of the evidence demonstrates otherwise.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this division shall apply to a development project that meets the criteria described in subdivision (a), if any of the following occur:

(1) There is a reasonable possibility that the project will have a project-specific, significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.

(2) Substantial changes with respect to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken that are related to the project have occurred since community-level environmental review was certified or adopted.

(3) New information becomes available regarding the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken and that is related to the project, that was not known, and could not have been known, at the time that community-level environmental review was certified or adopted.

(c) If a project satisfies the criteria described in subdivision (a), but is not exempt from this division as a result of satisfying the criteria described in subdivision (b), the analysis of the environmental effects of the project in the environmental impact report or the negative declaration shall be limited to an analysis of the project-specific effect of the projects and any effects identified pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (b).

(d) For the purposes of this section, “residential” means a use consisting of either of the following:

(1) Residential units only.

(2) Residential units and primarily neighborhood-serving goods, services, or retail uses that do not exceed 25 percent of the total building square footage of the project.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 549, Sec. 1. (SB 674) Effective January 1, 2015.)

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text:
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Residential or mixed-use housing project” means a project consisting of multifamily residential uses only or a mix of multifamily residential and nonresidential uses, with at least two-thirds of the square footage of the development designated for residential use.

(2) “Substantially surrounded” means at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the project site adjoins, or is separated only by an improved public right-of-way from, parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses. The remainder of the perimeter of the site adjoins, or is separated only by an improved public right-of-way from, parcels that have been designated for qualified urban uses in a zoning, community plan, or general plan for which an environmental impact report was certified.

(b) Without limiting any other statutory exemption or categorical exemption, this division does not apply to a residential or mixed-use housing project if all of the following conditions described in this section are met:

(1) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations.

(2) (A) The public agency approving or carrying out the project determines, based upon substantial evidence, that the density of the residential portion of the project is not less than the greater of the following:

(i) The average density of the residential properties that adjoin, or are separated only by an improved public right-of-way from, the perimeter of the project site, if any.

(ii) The average density of the residential properties within 1,500 feet of the project site.

(iii) Six dwelling units per acre.

(B) The residential portion of the project is a multifamily housing development that contains six or more residential units.

(3) The proposed development occurs within an unincorporated area of a county on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by qualified urban uses.

(4) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species.

(5) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to transportation, noise, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, or water quality.

(6) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.

(7) The project is located on a site that is a legal parcel or parcels wholly within the boundaries of an urbanized area or urban cluster, as designated by the United States Census Bureau.

(c) Subdivision (b) does not apply to a residential or mixed-use housing project if any of the following conditions exist:

(1) The cumulative impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place over time is significant.

(2) There is a reasonable possibility that the project will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances.

(3) The project may result in damage to scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway.

(4) The project is located on a site which is included on any list compiled pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.

(5) The project may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.

(6) The project may cause a substantial adverse impact to tribal cultural resources, as defined in Section 21074.

(d) If the lead agency determines that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to this section and it determines to approve or carry out the project, the lead agency shall file a notice with the Office of Planning and Research and with the county clerk in the county in which the project will be located in the manner specified in subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 21152.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2032, and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 271, Sec. 1. (AB 2199) Effective January 1, 2025. Repealed as of January 1, 2032, by its own provisions.)

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text: With respect to a project that includes a housing development, a public agency may not reduce the proposed number of housing units as a mitigation measure or project alternative for a particular significant effect on the environment if it determines that there is another feasible specific mitigation measure or project alternative that would provide a comparable level of mitigation. This section does not affect any other requirement regarding the residential density of that project.

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text: A project may not be divided into smaller projects to qualify for one or more exemptions pursuant to this article.

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text:
(a) If a residential or mixed-use residential project is consistent with the use designation, density, building intensity, and applicable policies specified for the project area in either a sustainable communities strategy or an alternative planning strategy, for which the State Air Resources Board pursuant to subparagraph (I) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 65080 of the Government Code has accepted the metropolitan planning organization’s determination that the sustainable communities strategy or the alternative planning strategy would, if implemented, achieve the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and if the project incorporates the mitigation measures required by an applicable prior environmental document, then any findings or other determinations for an exemption, a negative declaration, a mitigated negative declaration, a sustainable communities environmental assessment, an environmental impact report, or addenda prepared or adopted for the project pursuant to this division shall not be required to reference, describe, or discuss (1) growth inducing impacts; or (2) any project specific or cumulative impacts from cars and light-duty truck trips generated by the project on global warming or the regional transportation network.

(b) Any environmental impact report prepared for a project described in subdivision (a) shall not be required to reference, describe, or discuss a reduced residential density alternative to address the effects of car and light-duty truck trips generated by the project.

(c) “Regional transportation network,” for purposes of this section, means all existing and proposed transportation system improvements, including the state transportation system, that were included in the transportation and air quality conformity modeling, including congestion modeling, for the final regional transportation plan adopted by the metropolitan planning organization, but shall not include local streets and roads. Nothing in the foregoing relieves any project from a requirement to comply with any conditions, exactions, or fees for the mitigation of the project’s impacts on the structure, safety, or operations of the regional transportation network or local streets and roads.

(d) A residential or mixed-use residential project is a project where at least 75 percent of the total building square footage of the project consists of residential use or a project that is a transit priority project as defined in Section 21155.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 728, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2009.)

article: 6. Special Review of Housing Projects


text: The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the interest of the state to ensure that California’s environmental review processes are streamlined and optimized to ensure the most efficient process to approve clean infrastructure projects in a manner that does not weaken environmental protections or public participation.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 119, Sec. 17. (SB 254) Effective September 19, 2025.)

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 4.5. Streamlined Environmental Review > 7. Program Environmental Impact Report for Clean Infrastructure Projects


text:
For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:

(a) “Energy Commission” means the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.

(b) “Facility” has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 25545, except for paragraph (4).

article: 7. Program Environmental Impact Report for Clean Infrastructure Projects


text:
(a) The Energy Commission shall prepare a program environmental impact report to analyze the development of a class or classes of facility for which the Energy Commission has received an application under the certification program established by Chapter 6.2 (commencing with Section 25545) of Division 15.

(b) The program environmental impact report shall comply with all requirements of this division, and shall contain all of the following:

(1) A description of the class or classes of facility being analyzed.

(2) A description of potential project locations.

(3) An analysis, to the extent feasible, of the potential environmental impacts of developing the class or classes of facility identified in paragraph (1).

(4) A description of potentially feasible mitigation measures to avoid or minimize the impacts identified in paragraph (3).

(5) An identification of trustee and potential responsible agencies with regulatory authority over the class or classes of facility identified in paragraph (1).

(6) An analysis of cumulative impacts and project alternatives.

(c) The Energy Commission shall consult with the public agencies identified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) in conducting the analysis of environmental impacts and identification of potentially feasible mitigation measures and alternatives.

(d) The development of a class or classes of facility constitutes a program for the purposes of Section 21094.


text: A public agency considering approval of a specific facility that is within the class or classes of facility described in the program environmental impact report prepared pursuant to Section 21159.32 may tier from that program environmental impact report pursuant to Section 21094 only if the project meets the requirements of Sections 25545.3.3 and 25545.3.5.


text:
(a) Whenever any person applies to any public agency for a lease, permit, license, certificate, or other entitlement for use, the public agency may require that person to submit data and information that may be necessary to enable the public agency to determine whether the proposed project may have a significant effect on the environment or to prepare an environmental impact report.

(b) If any or all of the information so submitted is a “trade secret” as defined in Section 7924.510 of the Government Code by those submitting that information, it shall not be included in the impact report or otherwise disclosed by any public agency. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the exchange of properly designated trade secrets between public agencies who have lawful jurisdiction over the preparation of the impact report.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 380. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)

chapter: 5. Submission of Information

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 5. Submission of Information


text: Whenever a public agency has completed an environmental document, it shall cause a notice of completion of that report to be filed with the Office of Planning and Research using the Office of Planning and Research’s online process. The public agency is not required to mail a printed copy of the notice of completion to the Office of Planning and Research. The notice of completion shall briefly identify the project and shall indicate that an environmental document has been prepared. The notice of completion shall identify the project location by latitude and longitude. Failure to file the notice required by this section shall not affect the validity of a project.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 97, Sec. 9. (AB 819) Effective January 1, 2022.)


text: For purposes of this chapter, “No Place Like Home project” means a permanent supportive housing project that meets the criteria for funding pursuant to the No Place Like Home Program (Part 3.9 (commencing with Section 5849.1) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) and for which a public agency applies for, or receives, funding from the Department of Housing and Community Development.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 346, Sec. 5. (SB 744) Effective January 1, 2020. Repealed on date prescribed by Section 21163.4)

chapter: 5.5. No Place Like Home Projects

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 5.5. No Place Like Home Projects


text: A decision by a public agency to seek funding from, or the Department of Housing and Community Development’s awarding of funds pursuant to, the No Place Like Home Program (Part 3.9 (commencing with Section 5849.1) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) does not constitute a “project” for purposes of this division.


text: If a No Place Like Home project is not eligible for approval as a use by right pursuant to Article 11 (commencing with Section 65650) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code and is subject to this division, the development applicant may request, within 10 days after the lead agency determines the type of environmental documentation required for the project pursuant to this division, that the lead agency prepare and certify the record of proceeding for the environmental review of the No Place Like Home project in accordance with Section 21186.


text:
(a) (1) If a local agency approves or determines to carry out a No Place Like Home project that is subject to this division, the local agency shall file notice of that approval or determination in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 21152, except that the notice shall be filed within two working days after the approval or determination becomes final.

(2) If a local agency approves or determines to carry out a No Place Like Home project that is not subject to this division, the local agency shall file a notice of exemption in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 21152, except that the notice shall be filed within two working days after the approval or determination becomes final.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 21167, an action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the acts or decision of a public agency on the grounds of noncompliance with this division for a No Place Like Home project shall commence within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c) If the local agency fails to comply with the applicable timing requirements set forth in subdivision (a), an action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the acts or decision of a public agency on the grounds of noncompliance with this division for a No Place Like Home project shall commence within 30 days from the date of the local agency’s late filing of the notice required pursuant to subdivision (a) or 90 days from the date that the notice was required to be filed pursuant to subdivision (a), whichever is earlier.


text:
(a) (1) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall notify the Speaker of the Assembly and the President pro Tempore of the Senate when the funding provided pursuant to the No Place Like Home Program (Part 3.9 (commencing with Section 5849.1) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code) is fully allocated and disbursed. Notification from the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to this subdivision shall be printed in the journal of each of the respective houses of the Legislature.

(2) The Department of Housing and Community Development shall post a copy of the notification provided pursuant to this subdivision on its internet website.

(b) This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1 of the year following notification from the Department of Housing and Community Development pursuant to subdivision (a), and as of that date is repealed.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 346, Sec. 5. (SB 744) Effective January 1, 2020. Repealed on date prescribed by its own provisions. Note: Repeal affects Chapter 5.5, commencing with Section 21163.)


text:
(a) When a project is to be carried out or approved by two or more public agencies, the determination of whether the project may have a significant effect on the environment shall be made by the lead agency, and that agency shall prepare, or cause to be prepared by contract, the environmental impact report for the project, if a report is required by this division. In the event that a dispute arises as to which is the lead agency, any of the disputing public agencies, or in the case of a project described in subdivision (c) of Section 21065 the applicant for such project, may submit the question to the Office of Planning and Research, and the Office of Planning and Research shall designate, within 21 days of receiving the request, the lead agency, giving due consideration to the capacity of that agency to adequately fulfill the requirements of this division.

(b) For the purposes of this section, a “dispute” means a contested, active difference of opinion between two or more public agencies as to which of those agencies shall prepare any necessary environmental document. A dispute exists where each of those agencies claims that it either has or does not have the obligation to prepare that environmental document. The Office of Planning and Research shall not designate a lead agency in the absence of such a dispute.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 267, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2006.)

chapter: 6. Limitations

path: 13. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY > 6. Limitations


text:
When an environmental impact report has been prepared for a project pursuant to this division, no subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report shall be required by the lead agency or by any responsible agency, unless one or more of the following events occurs:

(a) Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the environmental impact report.

(b) Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken which will require major revisions in the environmental impact report.

(c) New information, which was not known and could not have been known at the time the environmental impact report was certified as complete, becomes available.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1200.)


text: The decision of a lead agency to prepare an environmental impact report with respect to environmental impacts within a geographic area or for a group of projects shall not be a basis for determining that an environmental document prepared for an individual project within that area or group is inadequate.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1514, Sec. 11.)


text:
Notwithstanding Section 21166, the environmental review set forth in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Lower Klamath Project License Surrender (State Clearinghouse No. 2016122047) issued in April 2020 in combination with other environmental review documents related to removal of facilities on the Klamath River prepared and adopted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pursuant to the federal National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 321 et seq.) shall be conclusively presumed to satisfy the requirements of this division for any project for the removal of hydroelectric dams and associated facilities, along with associated restoration of formerly inundated lands, hatchery modifications, and implementation of mitigation measures in the Klamath River Basin, undertaken or approved by a public agency if all of the following apply:

(a) The dams proposed to be removed are upstream of a river segment designated as a wild river, a scenic river, or a recreational river pursuant to the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Chapter 1.4 (commencing with Section 5093.50) of Division 5).

(b) There are no downstream dams on the same river, other than the dams proposed to be removed as a part of the same project that are significant barriers to fish passage.

(c) The lead agency certified or adopted the environmental review document prepared under this division and approved the project at least 180 days before the effective date of this section and no action or proceeding challenging the lead agency’s approval was commenced within the applicable statute of limitations.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 258, Sec. 24. (SB 155) Effective September 23, 2021.)


text: Notwithstanding Section 21166, the environmental review set forth in the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Report for the Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program, in combination with other environmental review documents related to the provision of public access to, and along the coastline of, Hollister Ranch in the County of Santa Barbara as required by Section 30610.81, shall be conclusively presumed to satisfy this division for any project to effectuate public access and associated facilities undertaken or approved by a public agency.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 574, Sec. 25. (AB 211) Effective September 27, 2022.)


text:
An action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the following acts or decisions of a public agency on the grounds of noncompliance with this division shall be commenced as follows:

(a) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency is carrying out or has approved a project that may have a significant effect on the environment without having determined whether the project may have a significant effect on the environment shall be commenced within 180 days from the date of the public agency’s decision to carry out or approve the project, or, if a project is undertaken without a formal decision by the public agency, within 180 days from the date of commencement of the project.

(b) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has improperly determined whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152.

(c) An action or proceeding alleging that an environmental impact report does not comply with this division shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152 by the lead agency.

(d) An action or proceeding alleging that a public agency has improperly determined that a project is not subject to this division pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 21080 shall be commenced within 35 days from the date of the filing by the public agency, or person specified in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, of the notice authorized by subdivision (b) of Section 21108 or subdivision (b) of Section 21152. If the notice has not been filed, the action or proceeding shall be commenced within 180 days from the date of the public agency’s decision to carry out or approve the project, or, if a project is undertaken without a formal decision by the public agency, within 180 days from the date of commencement of the project.

(e) An action or proceeding alleging that another act or omission of a public agency does not comply with this division shall be commenced within 30 days from the date of the filing of the notice required by subdivision (a) of Section 21108 or subdivision (a) of Section 21152.

(f) If a person has made a written request to the public agency for a copy of the notice specified in Section 21108 or 21152 before the date on which the agency approves or determines to carry out the project, then not later than five days from the date of the agency’s action, the public agency shall deposit a written copy of the notice addressed to that person in the United States mail, first class postage prepaid. The date upon which this notice is mailed shall not affect the time periods specified in subdivisions (b), (c), (d), and (e).

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 38, Sec. 1. (AB 2965) Effective January 1, 2023.)


text:
(a) In all actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5, including the hearing of an action or proceeding on appeal from a decision of a lower court, all courts in which the action or proceeding is pending shall give the action or proceeding preference over all other civil actions, in the matter of setting the action or proceeding for hearing or trial, and in hearing or trying the action or proceeding, so that the action or proceeding shall be quickly heard and determined. The court shall regulate the briefing schedule so that, to the extent feasible, the court shall commence hearings on an appeal within one year of the date of the filing of the appeal.

(b) To ensure that actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5 may be quickly heard and determined in the lower courts, the superior courts in all counties with a population of more than 200,000 shall designate one or more judges to develop expertise in this division and related land use and environmental laws, so that those judges will be available to hear, and quickly resolve, actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Sections 21167, 21168, and 21168.5.

(c) In an action or proceeding filed pursuant to this chapter that is joined with any other cause of action, the court, upon a motion by any party, may grant severance of the actions. In determining whether to grant severance, the court shall consider such matters as judicial economy, administrative economy, and prejudice to any party.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 578. Effective January 1, 2007.)


text: If no action or proceeding alleging that an environmental impact report does not comply with the provisions of this division is commenced during the period prescribed in subdivision (c) of Section 21167, the environmental impact report shall be conclusively presumed to comply with the provisions of this division for purposes of its use by responsible agencies, unless the provisions of Section 21166 are applicable.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 1200.)


text:
(a) If an action or proceeding alleging that an environmental impact report or a negative declaration does not comply with the provisions of this division is commenced during the period described in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21167, and if an injunction or stay is issued prohibiting the project from being carried out or approved pending final determination of the issue of such compliance, responsible agencies shall assume that the environmental impact report or the negative declaration for the project does comply with the provisions of this division and shall issue a conditional approval or disapproval of such project according to the timetable for agency action in Article 5 (commencing with Section 65950) of Chapter 4.5 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. A conditional approval shall constitute permission to proceed with a project when and only when such action or proceeding results in a final determination that the environmental impact report or negative declaration does comply with the provisions of this division.

(b) In the event that an action or proceeding is commenced as described in subdivision (a) but no injunction or similar relief is sought and granted, responsible agencies shall assume that the environmental impact report or negative declaration for the project does comply with the provisions of this division and shall approve or disapprove the project according to the timetable for agency action in Article 5 (commencing with Section 65950) of Chapter 4.5 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code. Such approval shall constitute permission to proceed with the project at the applicant’s risk pending final determination of such action or proceeding.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 131, Sec. 2. Effective May 28, 1980.)


text:
(a) In any action or proceeding alleging noncompliance with this division, the petitioner shall request a hearing within 90 days from the date of filing the petition or shall be subject to dismissal on the court’s own motion or on the motion of any party interested in the action or proceeding.

(b) The petitioner shall serve a notice of the request for a hearing on all parties at the time that the petitioner files the request for a hearing.

(c) Upon the filing of a request by the petitioner for a hearing and upon application by any party, the court shall establish a briefing schedule and a hearing date. In the absence of good cause, briefing shall be completed within 90 days from the date that the request for a hearing is filed, and the hearing, to the extent feasible, shall be held within 30 days thereafter. Good cause may include, but shall not be limited to, the conduct of discovery, determination of the completeness of the record of proceedings, the complexity of the issues, and the length of the record of proceedings and the timeliness of its production. The parties may stipulate to a briefing schedule or hearing date that differs from the schedule set forth in this subdivision if the stipulation is approved by the court.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2016.

history: (History: Repealed (in Sec. 5) and added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 496, Sec. 6. (SB 1456) Effective September 29, 2010. Section operative January 1, 2016, by its own provisions.)


text: Proof of prior service by mail upon the public agency carrying out or approving the project of a written notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding described in Section 21167 identifying the project shall be filed concurrently with the initial pleading in such action or proceeding.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1154.)


text:
Notwithstanding any other law, in all actions or proceedings brought pursuant to Section 21167, except as provided in Section 21167.6.2 or those involving the Public Utilities Commission, all of the following shall apply:

(a) At the time that the action or proceeding is filed, the plaintiff or petitioner shall file a request that the respondent public agency prepare the record of proceedings relating to the subject of the action or proceeding. The request, together with the complaint or petition, shall be served personally upon the public agency not later than 10 business days from the date that the action or proceeding was filed.

(b) (1) (A) The public agency shall prepare and certify the record of proceedings not later than 60 days from the date that the request specified in subdivision (a) was served upon the public agency. Upon certification, the public agency shall lodge an electronic copy of the record of proceedings with the court and shall serve on the parties notice that the record of proceedings has been certified and lodged with the court. The parties shall pay any reasonable costs or fees imposed for the preparation of the record of proceedings in conformance with any law or rule of court.

(B) The court shall schedule a case management conference within 30 days of the filing of the complaint or petition pursuant to this division to review the scope, timing, and cost of the record of proceedings. The parties may stipulate to a partial record of proceedings that does not contain all the documents listed in subdivision (e) if approved by the court.

(2) The plaintiff or petitioner may elect to prepare the record of proceedings by providing a notice of the election to the public agency, or the parties may agree to an alternative method of preparation of the record of proceedings, subject to certification of its accuracy by the public agency, within the 60-day time limit specified in this subdivision.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the public agency, within five business days of the receipt of the notice specified in paragraph (2), may deny the request of the plaintiff or petitioner to prepare the record of proceedings, in which case the public agency or the real party in interest shall bear the costs of preparation and certification of the record of proceedings, and those costs shall not be recoverable from the plaintiff or petitioner.

(c) The time limit established by subdivision (b) may be extended only upon the stipulation of all parties who have been properly served in the action or proceeding or upon order of the court. Extensions shall be liberally granted by the court when the size of the record of proceedings renders infeasible compliance with that time limit. There is no limit on the number of extensions that may be granted by the court, but no single extension shall exceed 60 days unless the court determines that a longer extension is in the public interest.

(d) If the public agency fails to prepare and certify the record of proceedings within the time limit established in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), or any continuances of that time limit, the plaintiff or petitioner may move for sanctions, and the court may, upon that motion, grant appropriate sanctions.

(e) The record of proceedings shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following items:

(1) All project application materials.

(2) All staff reports and related documents prepared by the respondent public agency with respect to its compliance with the substantive and procedural requirements of this division and with respect to the action on the project.

(3) All staff reports and related documents prepared by the respondent public agency and written testimony or documents submitted by any person relevant to any findings or statement of overriding considerations adopted by the respondent agency pursuant to this division.

(4) Any transcript or minutes of the proceedings at which the decisionmaking body of the respondent public agency heard testimony on, or considered any environmental document on, the project, and any transcript or minutes of proceedings before any advisory body to the respondent public agency that were presented to the decisionmaking body before action on the environmental documents or on the project.

(5) All notices issued by the respondent public agency to comply with this division or with any other law governing the processing and approval of the project.

(6) All written comments received in response to, or in connection with, environmental documents prepared for the project, including responses to the notice of preparation.

(7) All written evidence or correspondence submitted to, or transferred from, the respondent public agency with respect to compliance with this division or with respect to the project.

(8) Any proposed decisions or findings submitted to the decisionmaking body of the respondent public agency by its staff, or the project proponent, project opponents, or other persons.

(9) The documentation of the final public agency decision, including the final environmental impact report, mitigated negative declaration, or negative declaration, and all documents, in addition to those referenced in paragraph (3), cited or relied on in the findings or in a statement of overriding considerations adopted pursuant to this division.

(10) (A) (i) Any other written materials relevant to the respondent public agency’s compliance with this division or to its decision on the merits of the project, including the initial study, any drafts of any environmental document or portions of the initial study or drafts that have been released for public review, and copies of studies or other documents relied upon in any environmental document prepared for the project and either made available to the public during the public review period or included in the respondent public agency’s files on the project, and all internal agency communications, including staff notes and memoranda related to the project or to compliance with this division, but not including communications that are of a logistical nature, such as meeting invitations and scheduling communications, except that any material that is subject to privileges contained in the Evidence Code, or exemptions contained in the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), shall not be included in the record of proceedings under this paragraph, consistent with existing law.

(ii) This subparagraph applies to a project that includes a distribution center or oil and gas infrastructure.

(B) (i) Any other written materials relevant to the respondent public agency’s compliance with this division or to its decision on the merits of the project, including the initial study, any drafts of any environmental document, or portions of the initial study or drafts, that have been released for public review, and copies of studies or other documents relied upon in any environmental document prepared for the project and either made available to the public during the public review period or included in the respondent public agency’s files on the project, and all internal agency communications, including memoranda related to the project or to compliance with this division, but not including communications that are of a logistical nature, such as meeting invitations and scheduling communications, except that any material that is subject to privileges contained in the Evidence Code, or exemptions contained in the California Public Records Act (Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code), shall not be included in the record of proceedings under this paragraph, consistent with existing law.

(ii) This subparagraph applies to any project that is not subject to subparagraph (A).

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, internal agency communications does not include electronic internal agency communications, including emails, that were not presented to the final decisionmaking body, other than those communications and documents consulted, or reviewed by the lead agency executive or a local agency executive, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3511.1, or other administrative official in a supervisory role who is reviewing the project. The public agency may, but is not required to, include any documents in the record of proceedings that are not specifically set forth in this subparagraph.

(11) The full written record before any inferior administrative decisionmaking body whose decision was appealed to a superior administrative decisionmaking body before the filing of litigation.

(f) In preparing the record of proceedings, the party preparing the record of proceedings shall strive to do so at reasonable cost in light of the scope of the record of proceedings.

(g) The clerk of the superior court shall prepare and certify the clerk’s transcript on appeal not later than 60 days from the date that the notice designating the papers or records to be included in the clerk’s transcript was filed with the superior court, if the party or parties pay any costs or fees for the preparation of the clerk’s transcript imposed in conformance with any law or rules of court. Nothing in this subdivision precludes an election to proceed by appendix, as provided in Rule 8.124 of the California Rules of Court.

(h) Extensions of the period for the filing of any brief on appeal may be allowed only by stipulation of the parties or by order of the court for good cause shown. Extensions for the filing of a brief on appeal shall be limited to one 30-day extension for the preparation of an opening brief and one 30-day extension for the preparation of a responding brief, except that the court may grant a longer extension or additional extensions if it determines that there is a substantial likelihood of settlement that would avoid the necessity of completing the appeal.

(i) At the completion of the filing of briefs on appeal, the appellant shall notify the court of the completion of the filing of briefs, whereupon the clerk of the reviewing court shall set the appeal for hearing on the first available calendar date.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 24, Sec. 19. (SB 131) Effective June 30, 2025.)


text:
(a) (1) Notwithstanding Section 21167.6, upon the written request of a project applicant received no later than 30 days after the date that the lead agency makes a determination pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 21080.1, Section 21094.5, or Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 21155) and with the consent of the lead agency as provided in subdivision (e), the lead agency shall prepare and certify the record of proceedings in the following manner:

(A) The lead agency for the project shall prepare the record of proceedings pursuant to this division concurrently with the administrative process.

(B) All documents and other materials placed in the record of proceedings shall be posted on, and be downloadable from, an internet website maintained by the lead agency commencing with the date of the release of the draft environmental document for the project. If the lead agency cannot maintain an internet website with the information required pursuant to this section, the lead agency shall provide a link on the agency’s internet website to that information.

(C) The lead agency shall make available to the public in a readily accessible electronic format the draft environmental document for the project, and all other documents submitted to, cited by, or relied on by the lead agency, in the preparation of the draft environmental document for the project.

(D) A document prepared by the lead agency or submitted by the applicant after the date of the release of the draft environmental document for the project that is a part of the record of the proceedings shall be made available to the public in a readily accessible electronic format within five business days after the document is released or received by the lead agency.

(E) The lead agency shall encourage written comments on the project to be submitted in a readily accessible electronic format, and shall make any comment available to the public in a readily accessible electronic format within five business days of its receipt.

(F) Within seven business days after the receipt of any comment that is not in an electronic format, the lead agency shall convert that comment into a readily accessible electronic format and make it available to the public in that format.

(G) The lead agency shall certify the record of proceedings within 30 days after the filing of the notice required pursuant to Section 21108 or 21152.

(2) This subdivision does not require the disclosure or posting of any trade secret as defined in Section 7924.510 of the Government Code, information about the location of archaeological sites or sacred lands, or any other information that is subject to the disclosure restrictions of any provision listed in Section 7920.505 of the Government Code.

(b) Any dispute regarding the record of proceedings prepared pursuant to this section shall be resolved by the court in an action or proceeding brought pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21167.

(c) The content of the record of proceedings shall be as specified in subdivision (e) of Section 21167.6.

(d) The negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, draft and final environmental impact report, or other environmental document shall include a notice in no less than 12-point type stating the following: “THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 21167.6.2 OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE, WHICH REQUIRES THE RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS FOR THIS PROJECT TO BE PREPARED CONCURRENTLY WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS; DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY, OR SUBMITTED TO, THE LEAD AGENCY TO BE POSTED ON THE LEAD AGENCY’S INTERNET WEBSITE, AND THE LEAD AGENCY TO ENCOURAGE WRITTEN COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEAD AGENCY IN A READILY ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC FORMAT.” (e) (1) The lead agency shall respond to a request by the project applicant within 10 business days from the date that the request pursuant to subdivision (a) is received by the lead agency.

(2) A project applicant and the lead agency may mutually agree, in writing, to extend the time period for the lead agency to respond pursuant to paragraph (1), but they shall not extend that period beyond the commencement of the public review period for the proposed negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, draft environmental impact report, or other environmental document.

(3) The request to prepare a record of proceedings pursuant to this section shall be deemed denied if the lead agency fails to respond within 10 business days of receiving the request or within the time period agreed upon pursuant to paragraph (2), whichever ends later.

(f) The written request of the applicant submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include an agreement to pay all of the lead agency’s costs of preparing and certifying the record of proceedings pursuant to this section and complying with the requirements of this section, in a manner specified by the lead agency.

(g) The costs of preparing the record of proceedings pursuant to this section and complying with the requirements of this section are not recoverable costs pursuant to Section 1032 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(h) Pursuant to subdivision (f) and Section 21089, the lead agency may charge and collect a reasonable fee from the person making the request pursuant to subdivision (a) to recover the costs incurred by the lead agency in preparing the record of proceedings pursuant to this section.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 381. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)


text:
(a) The petitioner or plaintiff shall name, as a real party in interest, the person or persons identified by the public agency in its notice filed pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 21108 or Section 21152 or, if no notice is filed, the person or persons in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 21065, as reflected in the agency’s record of proceedings for the project that is the subject of an action or proceeding brought pursuant to Section 21167, 21168, or 21168.5, and shall serve the petition or complaint on that real party in interest, by personal service, mail, facsimile, or any other method permitted by law, not later than 20 business days following service of the petition or complaint on the public agency.

(b) The public agency shall provide the petitioner or plaintiff, not later than 10 business days following service of the petition or complaint on the public agency, with a list of responsible agencies and a public agency having jurisdiction over a natural resource affected by the project.

(c) The petitioner or plaintiff shall provide the responsible agencies, and a public agency having jurisdiction over a natural resource affected by the project, with notice of the action or proceeding within 15 days of receipt of the list described in subdivision (b).

(d) Failure to name potential persons, other than those real parties in interest described in subdivision (a), is not grounds for dismissal pursuant to Section 389 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(e) This section is not intended to affect an existing right of a party to intervene in the action.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 151. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.)


text: Every person who brings an action pursuant to Section 21167 shall comply with the requirements of Section 388 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Every such person shall also furnish pursuant to Section 388 of the Code of Civil Procedure a copy of any amended or supplemental pleading filed by such person in such action to the Attorney General. No relief, temporary or permanent, shall be granted until a copy of the pleading has been furnished to the Attorney General in accordance with such requirements.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 664, Sec. 183.5. Effective January 1, 2003.)


text:
(a) Not later than 20 days from the date of service upon a public agency of a petition or complaint brought pursuant to Section 21167, the public agency shall file with the court a notice setting forth the time and place at which all parties shall meet and attempt to settle the litigation. The meeting shall be scheduled and held not later than 45 days from the date of service of the petition or complaint upon the public agency. The notice of the settlement meeting shall be served by mail upon the counsel for each party. If the public agency does not know the identity of counsel for any party, the notice shall be served by mail upon the party for whom counsel is not known.

(b) At the time and place specified in the notice filed with the court, the parties shall meet and confer regarding anticipated issues to be raised in the litigation and shall attempt in good faith to settle the litigation and the dispute that forms the basis of the litigation. The settlement meeting discussions shall be comprehensive in nature and shall focus on the legal issues raised by the parties concerning the project that is the subject of the litigation.

(c) The settlement meeting may be continued from time to time without postponing or otherwise delaying other applicable time limits in the litigation. The settlement meeting is intended to be conducted concurrently with any judicial proceedings.

(d) If the litigation is not settled, the court, in its discretion, may, or at the request of any party, shall, schedule a further settlement conference before a judge of the superior court. If the petition or complaint is later heard on its merits, the judge hearing the matter shall not be the same judge conducting the settlement conference, except in counties that have only one judge of the superior court.

(e) The failure of any party, who was notified pursuant to subdivision (a), to participate in the litigation settlement process, without good cause, may result in an imposition of sanctions by the court.

(f) Not later than 30 days from the date that notice of certification of the record of proceedings was filed and served in accordance with Section 21167.6, the petitioner or plaintiff shall file and serve on all other parties a statement of issues that the petitioner or plaintiff intends to raise in any brief or at any hearing or trial. Not later than 10 days from the date on which the respondent or real party in interest has been served with the statement of issues from the petitioner or plaintiff, each respondent and real party in interest shall file and serve on all other parties a statement of issues which that party intends to raise in any brief or at any hearing or trial.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 38, Sec. 2. (AB 2965) Effective January 1, 2023.)


text: Any action brought in the superior court relating to this division may be subject to a mediation proceeding conducted pursuant to Chapter 9.3 (commencing with Section 66030) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 699, Sec. 36. (SB 894) Effective January 1, 2011.)


text:
Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void or annul a determination, finding, or decision of a public agency, made as a result of a proceeding in which by law a hearing is required to be given, evidence is required to be taken and discretion in the determination of facts is vested in a public agency, on the grounds of noncompliance with the provisions of this division shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

In any such action, the court shall not exercise its independent judgment on the evidence but shall only determine whether the act or decision is supported by substantial evidence in the light of the whole record.

history: (History: Amended by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1312.)


text: In any action or proceeding, other than an action or proceeding under Section 21168, to attack, review, set aside, void or annul a determination, finding, or decision of a public agency on the grounds of noncompliance with this division, the inquiry shall extend only to whether there was a prejudicial abuse of discretion. Abuse of discretion is established if the agency has not proceeded in a manner required by law or if the determination or decision is not supported by substantial evidence.


text: In any action or proceeding under Sections 21168 or 21168.5 against the Public Utilities Commission the writ of mandate shall lie only from the Supreme Court to such commission.


text:
(a) On and after January 1, 2027, and subject to subdivisions (b) and (c), for a project, located in a geographic area for which the Governor declared a state of emergency pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 8550) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, that is to maintain, repair, restore, demolish, or replace property or facilities damaged or destroyed by wildfire, and the project is not otherwise exempt from this division by paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 21080 or by a Governor’s executive order, all of the following shall apply:

(1) The record of proceedings shall be prepared in accordance with the manner specified in subdivision (a) of Section 21167.6.2.

(2) (A) An action or proceeding brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification of an environmental impact report, or the adoption of a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration, for the project or the granting of any project approval, including any potential appeals to the court of appeal or the Supreme Court, shall, to the extent feasible, be resolved within 270 calendar days of the filing of the certified record of proceedings with the court.

(B) The Judicial Council shall adopt rules of court to implement subparagraph (A).

(3) The applicant shall agree to pay the costs of the trial court and the court of appeal in hearing and deciding any action or proceeding brought under this section in a form and manner as provided in a rule of court, that the Judicial Council shall adopt, which shall include, but not be limited to, the costs for the appointment of a special master if deemed appropriate by the court.

(b) (1) Subdivision (a) only applies to a project that is consistent with the applicable zoning and land use ordinances.

(2) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a project that is proposed after the Governor rescinds the declaration of the state of emergency for that geographic area.

(c) This section applies to projects in a geographic area that was damaged by fire for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency on or after January 1, 2023.

history: (History: Added by Stats. 2025, Ch. 550, Sec. 1. (SB 676) Effective January 1, 2026.)