Section 51252 Of Article 7. State And Local Cooperation From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 31. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 7.
51252
. (a) Upon application to the department, any city, county,
city and county, or combination thereof acting jointly, or the duly
constituted governing body of an Indian reservation or rancheria
shall be certified as a local housing agency by the department if the
department determines that the applicant meets the criteria
specified in subdivision (b). If a local housing agency consists of
more than one city, county, or city and county, each such entity
shall individually meet the criteria of subdivision (b). All
applications of prospective housing sponsors for loans or grants
authorized by this part for housing developments shall be reviewed by
the local housing agent, if any, for the area in which the housing
development is to be financed. The local housing agent shall approve
an application for a loan or grant for a housing development unless
it expressly finds that the application does not meet one or more of
the following criteria:
(1) The proposed housing development conforms with a housing
element that meets the requirements of subdivision (b).
(2) The proposed housing development is consistent with the
provision of a full range of housing opportunities within the
jurisdiction of the local housing agent.
(3) The proposed housing development would be in compliance with
applicable federal, state, and local laws, including laws prohibiting
discrimination in housing.
An application shall be deemed approved if the local housing agent
fails to approve or reject it within 40 days following the date of
submission.
(b) A local housing agent shall meet all of the following
criteria:
(1) The local housing agent shall have adopted a housing element,
as required by subdivision (c) of Section 65302 of the Government
Code, and an affirmative housing plan, if required by Section 65008
of the Government Code. The housing element shall not conflict with
any housing assistance plan submitted to the federal government as
part of an application to obtain funds for community development or
housing.
(2) The housing element of the local agency shall make adequate
provision for all economic and racial segments of the community in
new and rehabilitated housing throughout its jurisdiction.
(3) The local housing agent shall develop or specify a procedure,
which shall be identified in its application to the agency, to
expedite the processing of zoning changes, use permits, building
permits, environmental clearance, and any other type of permit,
approval, or clearance which may be required by the city, county, or
city and county or by any other local public entity or governmental
agency prior to construction or rehabilitation of a housing
development.
(c) No housing development shall be assisted by a loan authorized
by this part, unless the housing development has received the
approval of both the local housing agent and the agency. This
subdivision shall not be applicable to housing developments proposed
for areas in which there is no local housing agent.
(d) A local housing agent may delegate the function specified in
this section to any local public entity, with the approval of the
agency.
(e) At any time a local housing agent ceases to meet the criteria
specified in subdivision (b), the department may decertify the local
housing agent. Certification of the local housing agent shall be
reviewed annually by the department. Recertification shall not be
granted if the department finds that, during the preceding year, the
local housing agent has unreasonably denied approval of applications
or has ceased to perform its functions under subdivision (a).