Development fees: fee schedule template: fee estimate tool.

Existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, requires each public agency to provide a development project applicant with a list that specifies the information that will be required from any applicant for a development project. The act requires a city, county, or special district that has an internet website to make available on its internet website certain information, as applicable, including its current schedule of fees and exactions. This bill would require a city or county that has an internet website to make a fee estimate tool that the public can use to calculate an estimate of fees and exactions, as specified, for a proposed housing development project available on its internet website. The bill would authorize the city or county to choose the format of the fee estimate tool. The bill would require a city or county with a population of greater than 500,000 to meet these requirements on or before July 1, 2031. The bill would require a city or county with a population of 500,000 or fewer to meet these requirements on or before July 1, 2032. By requiring a city or county to include a fee estimate tool on its internet website, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop specifications for the structure, functions, and organization of a housing and community development information system for this state. Existing law requires the system to include statistical, demographic, and community development data that will be of assistance to local public entities in the planning and implementation of housing and community development programs. Existing law required the department, on or before January 1, 2024, to create an impact fee nexus study template that may be used by local jurisdictions. This bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2028, to create a fee schedule template for proposed housing development projects that may be used by cities and counties, as specified, and a list of best practices regarding presenting information for fees and exactions levied by local jurisdictions. The bill would authorize the department to create a fee estimate tool that may be used by cities and counties for the purpose of meeting the above-described requirements. The bill would authorize the department to contract with nonprofit or academic institutions to complete the fee schedule template, list of best practices, and fee estimate tool. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.