AB 2601: Planning and zoning: housing development: streamlined approval and subdivisions.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Under the Planning and Zoning Law, the legislative body of a city or county may adopt ordinances that, among other things, regulate the use of buildings, structures, and land, as provided. The Subdivision Map Act vests the authority to regulate and control the design and improvement of subdivisions in the legislative body of a local agency and sets forth procedures governing the local agency’s processing, approval, conditional approval or disapproval, and filing of tentative, final, and parcel maps.

Existing law requires a local agency to consider ministerially a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone, without discretionary review or a hearing, if the proposed housing development meets specified requirements. Existing law requires a local agency to ministerially approve a parcel map for an urban lot split if the parcel meets specified requirements.

This bill would require that an application for a proposed housing development containing no more than 2 residential units within a single-family residential zone, as described above, be eligible for concurrent processing with an application for a parcel map for an urban lot split, as provided. The bill would authorize a local agency to condition issuance of building permits, grading permits, or certificates of occupancy for a proposed housing development upon the applicant first obtaining approval and recording a parcel map for eligible parcels pursuant to the above-described urban lot split provisions. The bill would specify that a “parcel map” for purposes of these provisions means a parcel map prepared in accordance with specified provisions of the Subdivision Map Act and may include a condominium plan if proposed by the subdivider, as specified.

Existing law authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a housing development project on a subdivided lot, as specified, that meets specified requirements, and requires a local agency to ministerially consider that application, as specified. Existing law requires a local agency to issue a building permit for one or more residential units on a lot proposed to be subdivided, as specified, if the applicant for the permit meets prescribed requirements. Existing law requires a local agency to ministerially consider, without discretionary review or a hearing, a parcel map or a tentative and final map for a housing development project that meets specified requirements, including that the proposed subdivision will result in 10 or fewer parcels and the housing development project on the lot proposed to be subdivided will contain 10 or fewer residential units, except as provided.

This bill would require an application for a housing development project on a subdivided lot or an application for a building permit for one or more residential units on a lot proposed to be subdivided, as described above, to be eligible for concurrent processing with an application for a parcel map or a tentative and final map under the above-described subdivision provisions, as provided. The bill would authorize a local agency to condition issuance of building permits, grading permits, or certificates of occupancy for a proposed housing development under these provisions upon the applicant first obtaining approval and recording a parcel map for eligible parcels pursuant to the above-described subdivision provisions.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65852.28 of the Government Code proposed by SB 1090 and SB 1116 to be operative only if this bill and either or both SB 1090 and SB 1116 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. September 30, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 955, Statutes of 2026.
2. September 30, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. September 10, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
4. August 30, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 44. Noes 15. Page 6870.).
5. August 28, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. August 28, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 29. Noes 8.).
7. August 24, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
8. August 21, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
9. August 17, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
10. August 13, 2026Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
11. August 3, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
12. July 2, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (July 1).