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INTRODUCTION

Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process Guidelines (final updated) · 2026 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Chapter 366, Statutes of 2017 (SB 35, Wiener) was part of a 15-bill housing package aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage and high housing costs. Specifically, it requires the availability of a Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process for developments in localities that have not yet made sufficient progress towards their allocation of the regional housing need. Eligible developments must include a specified level of affordability, be on an infill site, comply with existing residential and mixed-use general plan or zoning provisions, and comply with other requirements such as locational and demolition restrictions. The intent of the legislation is to facilitate and expedite the construction of housing. In addition, as part of the legislation, the Legislature found ensuring access to affordable housing is a matter of statewide concern and declared that the provisions of SB 35 would apply to all cities and counties, including a charter city, a charter county, or a charter city and county. Please note, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (Department) may take action in cases where these Guidelines are not adhered to under its existing accountability and enforcement authority. In addition, please also be aware that these Guidelines do not fully incorporate statutory changes to the law made by Chapter 166, Statutes of 2020 (AB 168) and Chapter 194, Statutes of 2020 (AB 831) at this time, which require, among other things, pre-application tribal scoping consultation. Changes required by AB 168 and AB 831 will be more fully incorporated in a subsequent version of these Guidelines, which are expected to be prepared and circulated in 2021. Developers and local governments using these Guidelines should refer to Government Code section 65913.4 to comply with these new mandates.

Guidelines for the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process are organized into five Articles, as follows:

Article I. General Provisions: This article includes information on the purpose of the Guidelines, applicability, and definitions used throughout the document.

Article II. Determination Methodology: This article describes the methodology for which the Department shall determine which localities are subject to the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process.

Article III. Approval Process: This article describes the parameters of the approval process, including local government responsibilities, approval processes, and general provisions.

    1. Local Government Responsibility – This section specifies the types of requirements localities may require a development to adhere to in order to determine consistency with general plan and zoning standards, including objective standards, controlling planning documents, and parking.
    1. Development Review and Approval – This section details the types of hearings and review allowed under the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process, timing provisions for processing and approving an application, denial requirements, and timeframes related to the longevity of the approval.

Article IV. Development Eligibility: This article describes the requirements for developments in order to apply for streamlining, including type of housing, site requirements, affordability provisions, and labor provisions.

Article V. Reporting: This article describes reporting requirements specific to the Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process in the locality’s Annual Progress Report on the general plan.

Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process Guidelines

Page 1

Department of Housing and Community Development

ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

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▸ Contents — Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process Guidelines (final updated)
Streamlined Ministerial Approval Process Guidelines (final updated)
  1. Guidelines
  2. State of California Governor Gavin Newsom
  3. Megan Kirkeby, Deputy Director Division of Housing Policy Deve…
  4. Government Code section 65913.4, subdivision (j)
  5. Table of Contents
  6. INTRODUCTION
  7. Section 100. Purpose and Scope
  8. Section 101. Applicability
  9. Section 102. Definitions
  10. Department of Housing and Community Development
  11. ARTICLE II. STREAMLINED MINISTERIAL APPROVAL PROCESS DETERMINA…
  12. Section 200. Methodology
  13. Example Calculation
  14. Department of Housing and Community Development
  15. Section 201. Timing and Publication Requirements
  16. ARTICLE III. APPROVAL PROCESS
  17. Section 300. Local Government Responsibility
  18. Department of Housing and Community Development
  19. Determination of consistency
  20. Example Objective Design Review
  21. Density calculation
  22. Section 301. Development Review and Approval
  23. Ministerial processing
  24. Department of Housing and Community Development
  25. ARTICLE IV. DEVELOPMENT ELIGIBILITY
  26. Section 400. Housing Type Requirements
  27. Section 401. Site Requirements
  28. Section 402. Affordability Provisions
  29. Section 403. Labor Provisions
  30. Section 404. Additional Provisions
  31. ARTICLE V. REPORTING
  32. Section 500. Reporting Requirements
  33. Department of Housing and Community Development

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