CA AB1294

Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to adopt a standardized application form for housing entitlements by July 1, 2026, which cities and counties must accept beginning October 1, 2026

Establishes that housing entitlement applications are deemed complete upon payment of permit processing fees and submission of specified basic information including project description, floor plans, site survey (for 5+ units), landscape plans, and environmental questionnaire

Prohibits cities and counties from requiring certain items to deem an application complete, including preapplication meetings, expert studies (traffic, geotechnical, noise), construction-phase plans, or internal approvals from city departments

Expands the Housing Accountability Act's definition of "disapprove the housing development project" to include instances where a local agency determines an application incomplete based on items prohibited under the new standardized application requirements

Requires cities and counties with websites to post the standardized application form and any locally-developed application forms or templates online, with updates within 30 days of any changes