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Appendix C: Preliminary Application (Senate Bill 330, Statutes of 2019)

Housing Accountability Act Technical Assistance Advisory · 2026 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

The Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (Chapter 654, Statutes of 2019 (SB 330)) strengthens protections for housing development projects under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA), Planning and Zoning Law, and the Permit Streamlining Act. The provisions set forth under SB 330 sunset in 2025.

Among other provisions, to increase transparency and certainty early in the development application process, SB 330 allows a housing developer the option of submitting a “preliminary application” for any housing development project. Submittal of a preliminary application allows a developer to provide a specific subset of information on the proposed housing development before providing the complete information required by the local government. Upon submittal of an application and a payment of the permit processing fee, a housing developer is allowed to “freeze” the applicable standards to their project early while they assemble the rest of the material necessary for a full application submittal. This ensures development requirements do not change during this time, adding costs to a project due to potential redesigns due to changing local standards.

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▸ Contents — Housing Accountability Act Technical Assistance Advisory
Housing Accountability Act Technical Assistance Advisory
  1. September 15, 2020
  2. Table of Contents
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Table of Contents
  5. What is the Housing Accountability Act?
  6. Why Do We Need the Housing Accountability Act?
  7. Legislative Housing Accountability Act Interpretation Guidance
  8. Housing Accountability Act Decision Matrix
  9. NO: HAA does not apply
  10. NO
  11. NO
  12. Key Provisions of the Housing Accountability Act
  13. Housing Development Project Qualifications
  14. Housing Development Project Definition
  15. Housing for Very Low, Low-, or Moderate-Income Households
  16. Housing Developments Applying for the Streamlined Ministerial …
  17. Applicability of Local Standards
  18. Determination of Application Completeness
  19. Completeness Determination of Development Application
  20. Imposition of Development Conditions
  21. Housing Accountability Act Provisions That Apply to All Housin…
  22. Determination of Consistency with Applicable Plans, Standards,…
  23. Applicability of Density Bonus Law
  24. General Plan and Zoning Consistency Standard
  25. Written Notification of Inconsistency
  26. Consequence for Failure to Provide Written Documentation
  27. Denial of a Housing Project that is Consistent with Applicable…
  28. Preponderance of the Evidence Standard
  29. State Policy on Housing Project Approval
  30. Denial or Conditioning of Housing Affordable to Very Low-, Low…
  31. Violations of Housing Accountability Act
  32. Eligible Plaintiffs and Petitioners
  33. Remedies
  34. Local Agency Appeal Bond
  35. Failure to Comply with Court Order
  36. Court-Imposed Fines
  37. What types of housing development project applications are sub…
  38. Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to charter cities?
  39. Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to housing developme…
  40. Does the California Department of Housing and Community Develo…
  41. If approval of a housing development project triggers the No-N…
  42. Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to a residential dev…
  43. Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to an application fo…
  44. Does the Housing Accountability Act apply to market-rate housi…
  45. Is there a definition for “specific, adverse impact” upon publ…
  46. Appendix B: Definitions
  47. Housing for very low-, low-, or moderate-income households mea…
  48. Appendix C: Preliminary Application (Senate Bill 330, Statutes…
  49. Benefits of a Preliminary Application
  50. Step 1: Preliminary Application Submittal GC 65941.1
  51. Step 2: Full Application Submittal
  52. Step 3: Determination of Application Completeness GC 65943
  53. Step 4: Application Consistency with Standards (HAA) GC 65589.5
  54. Step 5: Other Entitlement Process Requirements Pursuant to SB …
  55. Appendix D: Housing Accountability Act Statute (2020)
  56. 65589.5.

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