AB 2085 (Chapter 820, Statutes of 2024)

This adds Government Code Section 65914.900 establishing a statutory exemption for development that meets specified objective planning standards, including that it is on a parcel within a zone where

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Association of Environmental Professionals 2025

Summary of Key 2024 CEQA Legislation

office, retail, healthcare, or parking are a principally permitted use; the development is for a community clinic licensed pursuant to Section 1204 of the Health and Safety Code that provides reproductive health services; the development complies with the applicable minimum construction standards of adequacy and safety for the physical plant of primary care clinics; the development would not require the demolition of a historic structure that was placed on a national, state, or local historic register; the development would not require the demolition of housing; and the project is not likely to result in adverse impacts on tribal cultural resources.

The bill requires a local agency to review an application for that development on an administrative, nondiscretionary basis. The bill requires a local agency, within 60 calendar days of receiving an application pursuant to these provisions, to approve or deny the application subject to specified requirements, including that, among other things, if the local agency determines that the development is in conflict with any of the above-described standards, the local agency is required to provide the development proponent written documentation of which standard or standards the development conflicts with, as specified. The development proponent would be empowered to bring an action to enforce this section.