SACRAMENTO, CA — Assembly Bill 2418 (González), a targeted measure sponsored by the
California Business Properties Association (CBPA) and co-sponsored by BOMA Greater Los
Angeles and NAIOP SoCal with critical support from the Commercial Real Estate Development
Association California (CREDA) to address prolonged commercial plan-checking delays, passed
the California State Senate today on a unanimous 38-0 bipartisan vote.
Senator Jesse Arreguín presented and floor managed AB 2418 on the Senate floor. CBPA thanks
Senator Arreguín for his support and leadership in helping advance the measure.
“Bureaucratic nonsense and chronic delays are the difference between a vibrant business and
another shuttered storefront,” said Assemblymember Mark González (D- Los Angeles).
“Accountability and predictability when opening a business are essential, and the current delays
in routine inspections and permitting are ridiculous,” continued González. “Especially in DTLA,
why are there so many barriers to trying to open, expand, and reinvest in our communities. AB
2418 creates alternative routes and gives business owners the option to expedite their review
process.”
As amended, AB 2418 creates a narrowly tailored pathway to address prolonged plan-review
delays for qualifying tenant improvement projects in existing Group B (Business Occupancy)
buildings. The bill allows applicants to utilize a qualified third-party plan checker, at the
applicant’s expense, only after an extended review delay. Local agencies retain authority to
establish reviewer qualifications, determine project eligibility and make all final permitting
decisions.
“This marks another important milestone in the ongoing effort to address the permitting delays
that continue to impact commercial projects throughout Los Angeles and across California,” said
Michelle Ware, President and CEO of BOMA Greater Los Angeles. “We appreciate
Assemblymember Mark González for his leadership on this issue and for recognizing the realworld
impacts these delays have on businesses, property owners and economic activity in
communities throughout downtown Los Angeles and surrounding neighborhoods.”
“This legislation originated from a simple problem we have been dealing with for years, projects
that should take weeks to review are instead taking several months,” said Stephane Wandel,
President of NAIOP SoCal. “AB 2418 gives building permit applicants additional options to
speed up the process by hiring a third-party plan checker when city departments are overworked
and delays become too unreasonable.”