New legislation that aims to speed up approval processes for certain residential projects is adding pressure on municipalities — and, for many towns and cities, it’s yet another sign that it’s time to change how they do things.
Two new bills in California and another in New Jersey require faster timelines and less red tape, pointing to the need for modern solutions to step up to the challenge.
Fortunately, the latest digital tools, including online permit tracking software and streamlined solar permitting workflows, can help local governments get ahead of the curve and prepare for simplified compliance.
California’s Need for Faster Residential Plan Reviews
Two separate bills in California will have long-lasting effects across the state as communities feel the pressure.
AB 253 intends to prompt faster residential plan reviews by:
- Requiring cities and counties to publish plan review fees online
- Requiring cities and counties to provide applicants with an estimated review timeline
- Allowing applicants to use certified private reviewers if the review will exceed 30 business days
- Presuming approval if the jurisdiction doesn’t respond within 10 business days following a private review
This means state law is now creating incentives for faster, more predictable, and better-documented review cycles. It’s scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2027, and remain in effect until January 1, 2036 — giving municipalities just over a year to prepare.
It makes it more pressing than ever to examine current processes and find better solutions, and Cloudpermit’s comprehensive online community development software can help jurisdictions rise to this occasion.
Cloudpermit gives local governments powerful digital tools that:
- Automate workflows to keep reviews on track
- Enable timestamped communication and decision histories
- Allow for transparent applicant portals
- Streamlines service level agreement (SLA) tracking and alerts when timelines slip
- Improve customer service, leading to fewer private reviewer escalations
More Accountability in The Golden State
Another bill in California, AB 712, addresses accountability and legal exposure — and municipalities need to pay attention to these crucial changes.
The bill:
- Helps developers enforce housing laws when agencies delay or deny projects
- Allows developers to recover legal fees when they win
- Requires courts to impose fines on noncompliant agencies
- Bans indemnity clauses that force developers to cover the agency’s legal costs
- Uses a 60-day notice period before litigation
That means cities and counties now face significantly higher legal and financial risks if their decisions aren’t timely, well-documented, or consistent with California housing laws.
Cloudpermit’s online software can help municipalities minimize their exposure to these new risks by providing essential features like:
- Clear audit trails for every action
- Defensible records for approvals and denials
- Rules-based workflows that reduce inconsistent decisions
- Centralized communication so nothing gets lost
- Reduced administrative workloads to lessen the chances of falling out of compliance
Smarter Solar Permitting in New Jersey
New Jersey leaders have spoken — and there’s a pressing need to get ahead of new requirements to speed up residential solar permitting in the state.
The new legislation, Assembly Bill 5264/Senate Bill 4100, was signed into law in December by Governor Phil Murphy to expedite approvals for residential solar systems to boost energy independence and reduce power bills.
It requires the state’s Department of Community Affairs to launch an automated online permitting platform statewide within 18 months of signing, cutting the local red tape and multijurisdictional challenges that currently delay household solar projects and add thousands of dollars to the overall cost.
Once it’s up and running, households with projects that meet the required cost thresholds can obtain the necessary permits immediately.
As the DCA begins work on its statewide portal, municipalities must decide whether to opt out of the statewide system if they have a comparable alternative in place.
Fortunately, Cloudpermit’s online permitting software offers towns and cities an alternative, keeping decisions in the hands of local staff rather than a statewide portal.
Cloudpermit offers a workflow in SolarApp+ to capture applications. In addition, our software’s APIs enable integration with other solar application systems, keeping these household projects under local control.
Get Ready to Meet New State Rules with Cloudpermit
Municipalities across the United States have turned to Cloudpermit’s online platform to streamline their processes and comply with new state legislation.
Our software for permitting, planning, inspections, code enforcement, licensing, and public works gives towns of all sizes the modern digital tools they need to keep up with rapidly changing state regulations and citizen needs.
Is your community ready to respond to changing local and state laws? If not, it’s time to make a change — and Cloudpermit is a smart choice for a future-proof platform.
Book a demo with us today to see how we can help your municipality meet new challenges and requirements.
