California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Administrative Regulations
by Stephen J. Zelezny on October 23, 2025
posted in
Administrative Regulations, CEQA, Legislative Updates,
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed landmark California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reform legislation into law on June 30, 2025. Together, Senate Bill 131 (SB 131) and Assembly Bill 130 (AB 130) exempt numerous development projects from extensive environmental review — enacting an urgent statewide effort to spur new housing construction. In addition to prioritizing housing, SB 131 also creates statutory exemptions for nonresidential developments, such as healthcare facilities, day care centers and broadband projects.
Municipalities, developers and residents will surely welcome these new CEQA reforms, ... Continue Reading
tags:
AB130, administrative record, CEQA, construction, developers, SB 131,
by Derek P. Cole on August 1, 2025
posted in
Administrative Regulations, Public Records Act,
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) guarantees access to the records of state and local governments. The act ensures public officials and employees conduct business transparently. It recognizes that government records belong to — and should always be available to — the people.
But the right to access public records is not unlimited. As a municipal lawyer, I regularly advise my clients on handling public records requests. I often encounter misperceptions about what the CPRA requires.
Here’s a look at the most common misperceptions — and what the act really says.
Fact: Agencies ... Continue Reading
tags:
California Public Records Act, CPRA, Public Records Act,
by Betsy Martyn on December 31, 2024
posted in
Administrative Regulations, CEQA, Code Enforcement, Employment Law, Legislative Updates, Uncategorised, Zoning,
Unless otherwise stated, all bills are effective January 1, 2025, and do not require an implementing ordinance to take effect. Please note, that the California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) is expected to release guidelines for some of the new housing laws. Our office will continue to update you as information is provided.
ZONING AND PLANNING
Zoning Ordinance Notice (Assembly Bill 2904) – Increases the notice period to 20 calendar days – Mandatory [Passed Sept. 27, 2024]
Assembly Bill 2904 (“AB 2904”) extends the notice period for public ... Continue Reading
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by Betsy Martyn on December 31, 2024
posted in
Administrative Regulations, Code Enforcement, Employment Law, Public Records Act, Public Utilities, Public Works, Uncategorised,
All bills are effective January 1, 2025 unless otherwise provided.
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT
Voluntary Disclosure of a Police Officer Termination – SB 400: Amends Penal Code 832.7 by adding (b)(13) which provides for voluntary disclosure by a public agency of the reason for termination for cause for the type of incident which must be disclosed.
13) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or any other law, an agency that formerly employed a peace officer or custodial officer may, without receiving a request for disclosure, disclose to the public the termination for cause ... Continue Reading
tags:
New laws, Public Records Act,
by Jillian Martins on May 14, 2024
posted in
Administrative Regulations, Code Enforcement, Uncategorised,
How to Transition to a Paperless Planning Department
The necessity of having “wet” seals and signatures for land use projects and the use of an electronic seal for plans submitted to local agencies. Put another way, if a reviewing entity transitions to electronic plans submission, is there a legal basis to require that plans be submitted with an electronic stamp, seal and/or signature (as applicable).
Engineering Stamps
Business & Professions Code section 6764 provides, “each professional engineer licensed under this chapter shall, upon licensure, obtain a seal or stamp of a ... Continue Reading
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