Accelerated retailer building plan approval: tenant improvements

Retailers can use qualified professionals to certify code compliance and receive faster permit decisions, while local departments retain audit and inspection authority.

What the law does ​

• Requires local building departments, upon request and at the applicant’s expense, to accept compliance certifications from qualified licensed architects or engineers for eligible retail tenant improvements.
• Requires permit decisions within 20 business days for complete applications and within 10 business days for corrected resubmissions limited to initially identified deficiencies.
• Requires weekly random audits of at least 20% of certified projects and preserves required fire, health, structural, and other construction inspections.
• Allows cities and counties to impose additional certifier qualifications, registration, training, cost-based fees, and penalties, without effectively barring use of certifiers.
• Holds certifiers liable for negligent plan review, requires applicants to indemnify local agencies for construction-related property damage or injuries, and shields public entities and employees from liability over permit decisions under this process.
• Makes false certification statements grounds for discipline by the California Architects Board or the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.

Who it affects ​

• Retail businesses seeking permits for interior changes to existing buildings, excluding food-serving retail establishments and fast food restaurants.
• Licensed architects and professional engineers with at least five years of relevant commercial-building experience and $2 million in professional liability coverage.
• Local building departments, cities, and counties reviewing, auditing, and inspecting eligible projects.

Context ​

The process applies statewide, including charter cities, and does not authorize local agencies to cut or leave vacant budgeted building-department civil-service positions because of it.