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Chapter 1. General Provisions of California Government Code >> Division 1. >> Title 7. >> Chapter 1.
This title may be cited as the Planning and Zoning Law.
The definitions and general provisions contained in this
article govern the construction of this title unless the context
otherwise requires.
"Street" includes street, highway, freeway, expressway,
avenue, boulevard, parkway, road, lane, walk, alley, viaduct, subway,
tunnel, bridge, public easement and right-of-way, and other ways.
"Right-of-way" means any public or private right-of-way and
includes any area required for public use pursuant to any general
plan or specific plan.
Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of this title are a continuation of the
Conservation and Planning Act and any acts lawfully performed
pursuant to such act or its predecessors, including but not limited
to the adoption of master and official or precise plans and the
creation of planning commissions, are continued in effect and deemed
to fulfill the requirements of Chapters 1, 2, and 3 of this title.
As used in this title, the following terms have the
following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Adequate progress" means all of the following:
(1) The total project scope, schedule, and cost of the completed flood protection system have been developed to meet the appropriate standard of protection.
(2) (A) Revenues that are sufficient to fund each year of the project schedule developed in paragraph (1) have been identified and, in any given year and consistent with that schedule, at least 90 percent of the revenues scheduled to be received by that year have been appropriated and are currently being expended.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for any year in which state funding is not appropriated consistent with an agreement between a state agency and a local flood management agency, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board may find that the local flood management agency is making adequate progress in working toward the completion of the flood protection system.
(3) Critical features of the flood protection system are under construction, and each critical feature is progressing as indicated by the actual expenditure of the construction budget funds.
(4) The city or county has not been responsible for a significant delay in the completion of the system.
(5) The local flood management agency shall provide the Department of Water Resources and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board with the information specified in this subdivision sufficient to determine substantial completion of the required flood protection. The local flood management agency shall annually report to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board on the efforts in working toward completion of the flood protection system.
(b) "Central Valley Flood Protection Plan" has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 9612 of the Water Code.
(c) "Developed area" has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 59.1 of Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(d) "Flood hazard zone" means an area subject to flooding that is delineated as either a special hazard area or an area of moderate hazard on an official flood insurance rate map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The identification of flood hazard zones does not imply that areas outside the flood hazard zones, or uses permitted within flood hazard zones, will be free from flooding or flood damage.
(e) "National Federal Emergency Management Agency standard of flood protection" means the level of flood protection that is necessary to withstand flooding that has a 1-in-100 chance of occurring in any given year using criteria developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for application in the National Flood Insurance Program.
(f) "Nonurbanized area" means a developed area or an area outside a developed area in which there are fewer than 10,000 residents that is not an urbanizing area.
(g) "Project levee" means any levee that is part of the facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control.
(h) "Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley" means lands in the bed or along or near the banks of the Sacramento River or San Joaquin River, or their tributaries or connected therewith, or upon any land adjacent thereto, or within the overflow basins thereof, or upon land susceptible to overflow therefrom. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley does not include lands lying within the Tulare Lake basin, including the Kings River.
(i) "State Plan of Flood Control" has the same meaning as that set forth in subdivision (j) of Section 5096.805 of the Public Resources Code.
(j) "Tulare Lake basin" means the Tulare Lake Hydrologic Region as defined in the California Water Plan Update 2009, prepared by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10004) of Part 1.5 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
(k) "Undetermined risk area" means an urban or urbanizing area within a moderate flood hazard zone, as delineated on an official flood insurance rate map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has not been determined to have an urban level of protection.
(l) "Urban area" means a developed area in which there are 10,000 residents or more.
(m) "Urbanizing area" means a developed area or an area outside a developed area that is planned or anticipated to have 10,000 residents or more within the next 10 years.
(n) "Urban level of flood protection" means the level of protection that is necessary to withstand flooding that has a 1-in-200 chance of occurring in any given year using criteria consistent with, or developed by, the Department of Water Resources. "Urban level of flood protection" shall not mean shallow flooding or flooding from local drainage that meets the criteria of the national Federal Emergency Management Agency standard of flood protection.
(a) "Adequate progress" means all of the following:
(1) The total project scope, schedule, and cost of the completed flood protection system have been developed to meet the appropriate standard of protection.
(2) (A) Revenues that are sufficient to fund each year of the project schedule developed in paragraph (1) have been identified and, in any given year and consistent with that schedule, at least 90 percent of the revenues scheduled to be received by that year have been appropriated and are currently being expended.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for any year in which state funding is not appropriated consistent with an agreement between a state agency and a local flood management agency, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board may find that the local flood management agency is making adequate progress in working toward the completion of the flood protection system.
(3) Critical features of the flood protection system are under construction, and each critical feature is progressing as indicated by the actual expenditure of the construction budget funds.
(4) The city or county has not been responsible for a significant delay in the completion of the system.
(5) The local flood management agency shall provide the Department of Water Resources and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board with the information specified in this subdivision sufficient to determine substantial completion of the required flood protection. The local flood management agency shall annually report to the Central Valley Flood Protection Board on the efforts in working toward completion of the flood protection system.
(b) "Central Valley Flood Protection Plan" has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 9612 of the Water Code.
(c) "Developed area" has the same meaning as that set forth in Section 59.1 of Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(d) "Flood hazard zone" means an area subject to flooding that is delineated as either a special hazard area or an area of moderate hazard on an official flood insurance rate map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The identification of flood hazard zones does not imply that areas outside the flood hazard zones, or uses permitted within flood hazard zones, will be free from flooding or flood damage.
(e) "National Federal Emergency Management Agency standard of flood protection" means the level of flood protection that is necessary to withstand flooding that has a 1-in-100 chance of occurring in any given year using criteria developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for application in the National Flood Insurance Program.
(f) "Nonurbanized area" means a developed area or an area outside a developed area in which there are fewer than 10,000 residents that is not an urbanizing area.
(g) "Project levee" means any levee that is part of the facilities of the State Plan of Flood Control.
(h) "Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley" means lands in the bed or along or near the banks of the Sacramento River or San Joaquin River, or their tributaries or connected therewith, or upon any land adjacent thereto, or within the overflow basins thereof, or upon land susceptible to overflow therefrom. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley does not include lands lying within the Tulare Lake basin, including the Kings River.
(i) "State Plan of Flood Control" has the same meaning as that set forth in subdivision (j) of Section 5096.805 of the Public Resources Code.
(j) "Tulare Lake basin" means the Tulare Lake Hydrologic Region as defined in the California Water Plan Update 2009, prepared by the Department of Water Resources pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10004) of Part 1.5 of Division 6 of the Water Code.
(k) "Undetermined risk area" means an urban or urbanizing area within a moderate flood hazard zone, as delineated on an official flood insurance rate map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has not been determined to have an urban level of protection.
(l) "Urban area" means a developed area in which there are 10,000 residents or more.
(m) "Urbanizing area" means a developed area or an area outside a developed area that is planned or anticipated to have 10,000 residents or more within the next 10 years.
(n) "Urban level of flood protection" means the level of protection that is necessary to withstand flooding that has a 1-in-200 chance of occurring in any given year using criteria consistent with, or developed by, the Department of Water Resources. "Urban level of flood protection" shall not mean shallow flooding or flooding from local drainage that meets the criteria of the national Federal Emergency Management Agency standard of flood protection.
(a) Any action pursuant to this title by any city, county,
city and county, or other local governmental agency in this state is
null and void if it denies to any individual or group of individuals
the enjoyment of residence, landownership, tenancy, or any other land
use in this state because of any of the following reasons:
(1) (A) The lawful occupation, age, or any characteristic of the individual or group of individuals listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955 and Section 12955.2.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), with respect to familial status, subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9. With respect to familial status, nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of this code shall apply to subparagraph (A).
(2) The method of financing of any residential development of the individual or group of individuals.
(3) The intended occupancy of any residential development by persons or families of very low, low, moderate, or middle income.
(b) (1) No city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency shall, in the enactment or administration of ordinances pursuant to any law, including this title, prohibit or discriminate against any residential development or emergency shelter for any of the following reasons:
(A) Because of the method of financing.
(B) (i) Because of the lawful occupation, age, or any characteristic listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955, as those characteristics are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955, and Section 12955.2 of the owners or intended occupants of the residential development or emergency shelter.
(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), with respect to familial status, clause (i) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9. With respect to familial status, nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of this code shall apply to clause (i).
(C) Because the development or shelter is intended for occupancy by persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or persons and families of middle income.
(D) Because the development consists of a multifamily residential project that is consistent with both the jurisdiction's zoning ordinance and general plan as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete, except that a project shall not be deemed to be inconsistent with the zoning designation for the site if that zoning designation is inconsistent with the general plan only because the project site has not been rezoned to conform with a more recently adopted general plan.
(2) The discrimination prohibited by this subdivision includes the denial or conditioning of a residential development or shelter because of, in whole or in part, either of the following:
(A) The method of financing.
(B) The occupancy of the development by persons protected by this subdivision, including, but not limited to, persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income.
(3) A city, county, city and county, or other local government agency may not, pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 65589.5, disapprove a housing development project or condition approval of a housing development project in a manner that renders the project infeasible if the basis for the disapproval or conditional approval includes any of the reasons prohibited in paragraph (1) or (2).
(c) For the purposes of this section, "persons and families of middle income" means persons and families whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the median income for the county in which the persons or families reside.
(d) (1) No city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency may impose different requirements on a residential development or emergency shelter that is subsidized, financed, insured, or otherwise assisted by the federal or state government or by a local public entity, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, than those imposed on nonassisted developments, except as provided in subdivision (e). The discrimination prohibited by this subdivision includes the denial or conditioning of a residential development or emergency shelter based in whole or in part on the fact that the development is subsidized, financed, insured, or otherwise assisted as described in this paragraph.
(2) (A) No city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency may, because of the lawful occupation age, or any characteristic of the intended occupants listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955, as those characteristics are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955, and Section 12955.2 or because the development is intended for occupancy by persons and families of very low, low, moderate, or middle income, impose different requirements on these residential developments than those imposed on developments generally, except as provided in subdivision (e).
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), with respect to familial status, subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9. With respect to familial status, nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of this code shall apply to subparagraph (A).
(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, this section and this title do not prohibit either of the following:
(1) The County of Riverside from enacting and enforcing zoning to provide housing for older persons, in accordance with state or federal law, if that zoning was enacted prior to January 1, 1995.
(2) Any city, county, or city and county from extending preferential treatment to residential developments or emergency shelters assisted by the federal or state government or by a local public entity, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, or other residential developments or emergency shelters intended for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or persons and families of middle income, or agricultural employees, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code, and their families. This preferential treatment may include, but need not be limited to, reduction or waiver of fees or changes in architectural requirements, site development and property line requirements, building setback requirements, or vehicle parking requirements that reduce development costs of these developments.
(f) "Residential development," as used in this section, means a single-family residence or a multifamily residence, including manufactured homes, as defined in Section 18007 of the Health and Safety Code.
(g) This section shall apply to chartered cities.
(h) The Legislature finds and declares that discriminatory practices that inhibit the development of housing for persons and families of very low, low, moderate, and middle incomes, or emergency shelters for the homeless, are a matter of statewide concern.
(1) (A) The lawful occupation, age, or any characteristic of the individual or group of individuals listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955, as those bases are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955 and Section 12955.2.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), with respect to familial status, subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9. With respect to familial status, nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of this code shall apply to subparagraph (A).
(2) The method of financing of any residential development of the individual or group of individuals.
(3) The intended occupancy of any residential development by persons or families of very low, low, moderate, or middle income.
(b) (1) No city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency shall, in the enactment or administration of ordinances pursuant to any law, including this title, prohibit or discriminate against any residential development or emergency shelter for any of the following reasons:
(A) Because of the method of financing.
(B) (i) Because of the lawful occupation, age, or any characteristic listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955, as those characteristics are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955, and Section 12955.2 of the owners or intended occupants of the residential development or emergency shelter.
(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), with respect to familial status, clause (i) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9. With respect to familial status, nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of this code shall apply to clause (i).
(C) Because the development or shelter is intended for occupancy by persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or persons and families of middle income.
(D) Because the development consists of a multifamily residential project that is consistent with both the jurisdiction's zoning ordinance and general plan as they existed on the date the application was deemed complete, except that a project shall not be deemed to be inconsistent with the zoning designation for the site if that zoning designation is inconsistent with the general plan only because the project site has not been rezoned to conform with a more recently adopted general plan.
(2) The discrimination prohibited by this subdivision includes the denial or conditioning of a residential development or shelter because of, in whole or in part, either of the following:
(A) The method of financing.
(B) The occupancy of the development by persons protected by this subdivision, including, but not limited to, persons and families of very low, low, or moderate income.
(3) A city, county, city and county, or other local government agency may not, pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 65589.5, disapprove a housing development project or condition approval of a housing development project in a manner that renders the project infeasible if the basis for the disapproval or conditional approval includes any of the reasons prohibited in paragraph (1) or (2).
(c) For the purposes of this section, "persons and families of middle income" means persons and families whose income does not exceed 150 percent of the median income for the county in which the persons or families reside.
(d) (1) No city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency may impose different requirements on a residential development or emergency shelter that is subsidized, financed, insured, or otherwise assisted by the federal or state government or by a local public entity, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, than those imposed on nonassisted developments, except as provided in subdivision (e). The discrimination prohibited by this subdivision includes the denial or conditioning of a residential development or emergency shelter based in whole or in part on the fact that the development is subsidized, financed, insured, or otherwise assisted as described in this paragraph.
(2) (A) No city, county, city and county, or other local governmental agency may, because of the lawful occupation age, or any characteristic of the intended occupants listed in subdivision (a) or (d) of Section 12955, as those characteristics are defined in Sections 12926, 12926.1, subdivision (m) and paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 12955, and Section 12955.2 or because the development is intended for occupancy by persons and families of very low, low, moderate, or middle income, impose different requirements on these residential developments than those imposed on developments generally, except as provided in subdivision (e).
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), with respect to familial status, subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to apply to housing for older persons, as defined in Section 12955.9. With respect to familial status, nothing in subparagraph (A) shall be construed to affect Sections 51.2, 51.3, 51.4, 51.10, 51.11, and 799.5 of the Civil Code, relating to housing for senior citizens. Subdivision (d) of Section 51, Section 4760, and Section 6714 of the Civil Code, and subdivisions (n), (o), and (p) of Section 12955 of this code shall apply to subparagraph (A).
(e) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, this section and this title do not prohibit either of the following:
(1) The County of Riverside from enacting and enforcing zoning to provide housing for older persons, in accordance with state or federal law, if that zoning was enacted prior to January 1, 1995.
(2) Any city, county, or city and county from extending preferential treatment to residential developments or emergency shelters assisted by the federal or state government or by a local public entity, as defined in Section 50079 of the Health and Safety Code, or other residential developments or emergency shelters intended for occupancy by persons and families of low and moderate income, as defined in Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code, or persons and families of middle income, or agricultural employees, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1140.4 of the Labor Code, and their families. This preferential treatment may include, but need not be limited to, reduction or waiver of fees or changes in architectural requirements, site development and property line requirements, building setback requirements, or vehicle parking requirements that reduce development costs of these developments.
(f) "Residential development," as used in this section, means a single-family residence or a multifamily residence, including manufactured homes, as defined in Section 18007 of the Health and Safety Code.
(g) This section shall apply to chartered cities.
(h) The Legislature finds and declares that discriminatory practices that inhibit the development of housing for persons and families of very low, low, moderate, and middle incomes, or emergency shelters for the homeless, are a matter of statewide concern.
(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares that there
currently is a housing crisis in California and it is essential to
reduce delays and restraints upon expeditiously completing housing
projects.
(2) The Legislature further finds and declares that a legal action or proceeding challenging a decision of a city, county, or city and county has a chilling effect on the confidence with which property owners and local governments can proceed with projects. Legal actions or proceedings filed to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul a decision of a city, county, or city and county pursuant to this division, including, but not limited to, the implementation of general plan goals and policies that provide incentives for affordable housing, open-space and recreational opportunities, and other related public benefits, can prevent the completion of needed developments even though the projects have received required governmental approvals.
(3) The purpose of this section is to provide certainty for property owners and local governments regarding decisions made pursuant to this division.
(b) (1) In an action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul a finding, determination, or decision of a public agency made pursuant to this title at a properly noticed public hearing, the issues raised shall be limited to those raised in the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the public agency prior to, or at, the public hearing, except where the court finds either of the following:
(A) The issue could not have been raised at the public hearing by persons exercising reasonable diligence.
(B) The body conducting the public hearing prevented the issue from being raised at the public hearing.
(2) If a public agency desires the provisions of this subdivision to apply to a matter, it shall include in any public notice issued pursuant to this title a notice substantially stating all of the following: "If you challenge the (nature of the proposed action) in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the (public entity conducting the hearing) at, or prior to, the public hearing."
(3) The application of this subdivision to causes of action brought pursuant to subdivision (d) applies only to the final action taken in response to the notice to the city or clerk of the board of supervisors. If no final action is taken, then the issue raised in the cause of action brought pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be limited to those matters presented at a properly noticed public hearing or to those matters specified in the notice given to the city or clerk of the board of supervisors pursuant to subdivision (d), or both.
(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (d), no action or proceeding shall be maintained in any of the following cases by any person unless the action or proceeding is commenced and service is made on the legislative body within 90 days after the legislative body's decision:
(A) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body to adopt or amend a general or specific plan. This paragraph does not apply where an action is brought based upon the complete absence of a general plan or a mandatory element thereof, but does apply to an action attacking a general plan or mandatory element thereof on the basis that it is inadequate.
(B) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body to adopt or amend a zoning ordinance.
(C) To determine the reasonableness, legality, or validity of any decision to adopt or amend any regulation attached to a specific plan.
(D) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body to adopt, amend, or modify a development agreement. An action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decisions of a legislative body to adopt, amend, or modify a development agreement shall only extend to the specific portion of the development agreement that is the subject of the adoption, amendment, or modification. This paragraph applies to development agreements, amendments, and modifications adopted on or after January 1, 1996.
(E) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul any decision on the matters listed in Sections 65901 and 65903, or to determine the reasonableness, legality, or validity of any condition attached to a variance, conditional use permit, or any other permit.
(F) Concerning any of the proceedings, acts, or determinations taken, done, or made prior to any of the decisions listed in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E).
(2) In the case of an action or proceeding challenging the adoption or revision of a housing element pursuant to this subdivision, the action or proceeding may, in addition, be maintained if it is commenced and service is made on the legislative body within 60 days following the date that the Department of Housing and Community Development reports its findings pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 65585.
(d) (1) An action or proceeding shall be commenced and the legislative body served after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision, if the action or proceeding meets both of the following requirements:
(A) It is brought in support of or to encourage or facilitate the development of housing that would increase the community's supply of housing affordable to persons and families with low or moderate incomes, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or with very low incomes, as defined in Section 50105 of the Health and Safety Code, or middle-income households, as defined in Section 65008 of this code. This subdivision is not intended to require that the action or proceeding be brought in support of or to encourage or facilitate a specific housing development project.
(B) It is brought with respect to the adoption or revision of a housing element pursuant to Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3, actions taken pursuant to Section 65863.6, or Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 65913), or to challenge the adequacy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 65915.
(2) (A) An action or proceeding challenging the adoption or revision of a housing element that the Department of Housing and Community Development has found to substantially comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 shall be commenced, and the legislative body shall be served, within six months after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision.
(B) An action or proceeding challenging the adoption or revision of a housing element that the Department of Housing and Community Development has found does not substantially comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3, where the legislative body has failed to change the draft element or amendment to substantially comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 or has adopted the draft element or amendment without change and made findings pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 65585, shall be commenced, and the legislative body shall be served, within one year after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision.
(C) An action or proceeding challenging an action taken pursuant to Section 65863.6, or Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 65913), or to challenge the adequacy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 65915 shall be served within 180 days after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision.
(3) (A) A cause of action brought pursuant to this subdivision shall not be maintained until 60 days have expired following notice to the city or clerk of the board of supervisors by the party bringing the cause of action, or his or her representative, specifying the deficiencies of the general plan, specific plan, zoning ordinance, or other action described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1). A cause of action brought pursuant to this subdivision shall accrue 60 days after notice is filed or the legislative body takes a final action in response to the notice, whichever occurs first.
(B) This notice may be filed at any time within 270 days after an action described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2), two years after an action described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), or 180 days after an action described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2).
(4) A notice or cause of action brought by one party pursuant to this subdivision shall not bar filing of a notice and initiation of a cause of action by any other party.
(5) After the adoption of a housing element covering the current planning period, no action shall be filed pursuant to this subdivision to challenge a housing element covering a prior planning period.
(e) Upon the expiration of the time limits provided for in this section, all persons are barred from any further action or proceeding.
(f) Notwithstanding Sections 65700 and 65803, or any other provision of law, this section shall apply to charter cities.
(g) Except as provided in subdivision (d), this section shall not affect any law prescribing or authorizing a shorter period of limitation than that specified herein.
(h) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), this section shall be applicable to those decisions of the legislative body of a city, county, or city and county made pursuant to this division on or after January 1, 1984.
(2) The Legislature further finds and declares that a legal action or proceeding challenging a decision of a city, county, or city and county has a chilling effect on the confidence with which property owners and local governments can proceed with projects. Legal actions or proceedings filed to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul a decision of a city, county, or city and county pursuant to this division, including, but not limited to, the implementation of general plan goals and policies that provide incentives for affordable housing, open-space and recreational opportunities, and other related public benefits, can prevent the completion of needed developments even though the projects have received required governmental approvals.
(3) The purpose of this section is to provide certainty for property owners and local governments regarding decisions made pursuant to this division.
(b) (1) In an action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul a finding, determination, or decision of a public agency made pursuant to this title at a properly noticed public hearing, the issues raised shall be limited to those raised in the public hearing or in written correspondence delivered to the public agency prior to, or at, the public hearing, except where the court finds either of the following:
(A) The issue could not have been raised at the public hearing by persons exercising reasonable diligence.
(B) The body conducting the public hearing prevented the issue from being raised at the public hearing.
(2) If a public agency desires the provisions of this subdivision to apply to a matter, it shall include in any public notice issued pursuant to this title a notice substantially stating all of the following: "If you challenge the (nature of the proposed action) in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the (public entity conducting the hearing) at, or prior to, the public hearing."
(3) The application of this subdivision to causes of action brought pursuant to subdivision (d) applies only to the final action taken in response to the notice to the city or clerk of the board of supervisors. If no final action is taken, then the issue raised in the cause of action brought pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be limited to those matters presented at a properly noticed public hearing or to those matters specified in the notice given to the city or clerk of the board of supervisors pursuant to subdivision (d), or both.
(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (d), no action or proceeding shall be maintained in any of the following cases by any person unless the action or proceeding is commenced and service is made on the legislative body within 90 days after the legislative body's decision:
(A) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body to adopt or amend a general or specific plan. This paragraph does not apply where an action is brought based upon the complete absence of a general plan or a mandatory element thereof, but does apply to an action attacking a general plan or mandatory element thereof on the basis that it is inadequate.
(B) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body to adopt or amend a zoning ordinance.
(C) To determine the reasonableness, legality, or validity of any decision to adopt or amend any regulation attached to a specific plan.
(D) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decision of a legislative body to adopt, amend, or modify a development agreement. An action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the decisions of a legislative body to adopt, amend, or modify a development agreement shall only extend to the specific portion of the development agreement that is the subject of the adoption, amendment, or modification. This paragraph applies to development agreements, amendments, and modifications adopted on or after January 1, 1996.
(E) To attack, review, set aside, void, or annul any decision on the matters listed in Sections 65901 and 65903, or to determine the reasonableness, legality, or validity of any condition attached to a variance, conditional use permit, or any other permit.
(F) Concerning any of the proceedings, acts, or determinations taken, done, or made prior to any of the decisions listed in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), and (E).
(2) In the case of an action or proceeding challenging the adoption or revision of a housing element pursuant to this subdivision, the action or proceeding may, in addition, be maintained if it is commenced and service is made on the legislative body within 60 days following the date that the Department of Housing and Community Development reports its findings pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 65585.
(d) (1) An action or proceeding shall be commenced and the legislative body served after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision, if the action or proceeding meets both of the following requirements:
(A) It is brought in support of or to encourage or facilitate the development of housing that would increase the community's supply of housing affordable to persons and families with low or moderate incomes, as defined in Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or with very low incomes, as defined in Section 50105 of the Health and Safety Code, or middle-income households, as defined in Section 65008 of this code. This subdivision is not intended to require that the action or proceeding be brought in support of or to encourage or facilitate a specific housing development project.
(B) It is brought with respect to the adoption or revision of a housing element pursuant to Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3, actions taken pursuant to Section 65863.6, or Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 65913), or to challenge the adequacy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 65915.
(2) (A) An action or proceeding challenging the adoption or revision of a housing element that the Department of Housing and Community Development has found to substantially comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3 shall be commenced, and the legislative body shall be served, within six months after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision.
(B) An action or proceeding challenging the adoption or revision of a housing element that the Department of Housing and Community Development has found does not substantially comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 (commencing with Section 65580) of Chapter 3, where the legislative body has failed to change the draft element or amendment to substantially comply with the requirements of Article 10.6 or has adopted the draft element or amendment without change and made findings pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 65585, shall be commenced, and the legislative body shall be served, within one year after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision.
(C) An action or proceeding challenging an action taken pursuant to Section 65863.6, or Chapter 4.2 (commencing with Section 65913), or to challenge the adequacy of an ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 65915 shall be served within 180 days after the accrual of the cause of action as provided in this subdivision.
(3) (A) A cause of action brought pursuant to this subdivision shall not be maintained until 60 days have expired following notice to the city or clerk of the board of supervisors by the party bringing the cause of action, or his or her representative, specifying the deficiencies of the general plan, specific plan, zoning ordinance, or other action described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1). A cause of action brought pursuant to this subdivision shall accrue 60 days after notice is filed or the legislative body takes a final action in response to the notice, whichever occurs first.
(B) This notice may be filed at any time within 270 days after an action described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2), two years after an action described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2), or 180 days after an action described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2).
(4) A notice or cause of action brought by one party pursuant to this subdivision shall not bar filing of a notice and initiation of a cause of action by any other party.
(5) After the adoption of a housing element covering the current planning period, no action shall be filed pursuant to this subdivision to challenge a housing element covering a prior planning period.
(e) Upon the expiration of the time limits provided for in this section, all persons are barred from any further action or proceeding.
(f) Notwithstanding Sections 65700 and 65803, or any other provision of law, this section shall apply to charter cities.
(g) Except as provided in subdivision (d), this section shall not affect any law prescribing or authorizing a shorter period of limitation than that specified herein.
(h) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c), this section shall be applicable to those decisions of the legislative body of a city, county, or city and county made pursuant to this division on or after January 1, 1984.
(a) Formal rules of evidence or procedure applicable in
judicial actions and proceedings shall not apply in any proceeding
subject to this title except to the extent that a public agency
otherwise provides by charter, ordinance, resolution, or rule of
procedure.
(b) No action, inaction, or recommendation by any public agency or its legislative body or any of its administrative agencies or officials on any matter subject to this title shall be held invalid or set aside by any court on the ground of the improper admission or rejection of evidence or by reason of any error, irregularity, informality, neglect, or omission (hereafter, error) as to any matter pertaining to petitions, applications, notices, findings, records, hearings, reports, recommendations, appeals, or any matters of procedure subject to this title, unless the court finds that the error was prejudicial and that the party complaining or appealing suffered substantial injury from that error and that a different result would have been probable if the error had not occurred. There shall be no presumption that error is prejudicial or that injury was done if the error is shown.
(b) No action, inaction, or recommendation by any public agency or its legislative body or any of its administrative agencies or officials on any matter subject to this title shall be held invalid or set aside by any court on the ground of the improper admission or rejection of evidence or by reason of any error, irregularity, informality, neglect, or omission (hereafter, error) as to any matter pertaining to petitions, applications, notices, findings, records, hearings, reports, recommendations, appeals, or any matters of procedure subject to this title, unless the court finds that the error was prejudicial and that the party complaining or appealing suffered substantial injury from that error and that a different result would have been probable if the error had not occurred. There shall be no presumption that error is prejudicial or that injury was done if the error is shown.
