Section 17960.1 Of Article 1. Enforcement Agencies From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 13. >> Part 1.5. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 1.
17960.1
. (a) The governing body of a local agency may authorize its
enforcement agency to contract with or employ a private entity or
persons on a temporary basis to perform the plan-checking function.
(b) A local agency need not enter into a contract or employ
persons if it determines that no entities or persons are available or
qualified to perform the plan-checking services.
(c) Entities or persons employed by a local agency may, pursuant
to agreement with the local agency, perform all functions necessary
to check the plans and specifications to comply with other
requirements imposed pursuant to this part or by local ordinances
adopted pursuant to this part, except those functions reserved by
this part or local ordinance to the legislative body. A local agency
may charge the applicant fees in an amount necessary to defray costs
directly attributable to employing or contracting with entities or
persons performing services pursuant to this section which the
applicant requested.
(d) When there is an excessive delay in checking plans and
specifications submitted as a part of an application for a
residential building permit, the local agency shall, upon request of
the applicant, contract with or employ a private entity or persons on
a temporary basis to perform the plan-checking function subject to
subdivisions (b) and (c).
(e) For purposes of this section:
(1) "Enforcement agency" means the building department or building
division of a local agency.
(2) "Excessive delay" means the enforcement agency of a local
agency has taken either of the following:
(A) More than 30 days after submittal of a complete application to
complete the structural building safety plan check of the applicant'
s set of plans and specifications which are suitable for checking.
For a discretionary building permit, the time period specified in
this paragraph shall commence after certification of the
environmental impact report, adoption of a negative declaration, or a
determination by the local agency that the project is exempt from
Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources
Code.
(B) Including the days actually taken in (A), more than 45 days to
complete the checking of the resubmitted corrected plans and
specifications suitable for checking after the enforcement agency had
returned the plans and specifications to the applicant for
correction.
(3) "Local agency" means a city, county, or city and county.
(4) "Residential building" means a one-to-four family detached
structure not exceeding three stories in height.