Repair Or Maintenance Projects

Section § 57053

This law allows a responsible party, such as a company or individual managing a repair or maintenance project, to request a "consolidated permit agency." This agency helps streamline the process for obtaining all necessary permits for the project. The process involves submitting project details to the office, which will designate an agency to coordinate. If there's already a lead public agency involved, it will become the consolidated permit agency. Otherwise, factors like project type and health concerns determine the agency with the most jurisdiction. The chosen agency assists with the application, coordinates with involved agencies, and ensures efficient permit processing. However, each agency involved retains control over final decisions on permits and conditions, with the consolidated agency focusing on procedural coordination.

(a) Any responsible party may request the office to designate a consolidated permit agency for a repair or maintenance project to administer the processing and issuance of a consolidated permit for the repair or maintenance project subject to this division. The office is not authorized to act pursuant to this chapter in the absence of a request by a responsible party. The office shall designate a consolidated permit agency within 30 days from the date that the request was received.

(b) A responsible party that requests the designation of a consolidated permit agency shall provide the office with a description of the repair or maintenance project, a preliminary list of the repair or maintenance project permits that the repair or maintenance project may require, the identity of any public agency that has been designated the lead agency for the repair or maintenance project pursuant to Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 65920) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code or Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code, and the identity of the participating permit agencies. The office may request any information from the responsible party that is necessary to make the designation under subdivision (a), and may convene a scoping meeting of the likely consolidated permit agency and participating permit agencies to make that designation.

(c) In those cases where a public agency is the lead agency for purposes of Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 65920) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code or Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code, that agency shall be the consolidated permit agency. In other cases, the following factors shall be considered in determining which public agency has the greatest overall jurisdiction over the repair or maintenance project:

(1) The type of facility or structure that is the subject of the proposed repair or maintenance project.

(2) The nature of the threat that a failure to repair and maintain the structure or facility poses to public health or safety or to the environment, including the environmental medium that may be affected by a failure to repair and maintain the structure or facility.

(3) The environmental and human health and safety concerns that should be considered in properly carrying out the repair or maintenance project.

(4) The statutory and regulatory standards applicable to the repair or maintenance project.

(d) The consolidated permit agency shall serve as the main point of contact for the responsible party with regard to the processing of the consolidated permit for the repair or maintenance project and shall coordinate the procedural aspects of the processing consistent with existing laws governing the consolidated permit agency and participating permit agencies, and with the procedures agreed to by those agencies in accordance with Section 57053.1. In carrying out those responsibilities, the consolidated permit agency shall ensure that consolidated permit applicant has all of the information needed to apply for all of the component repair or maintenance project permits that are incorporated in the consolidated permit, coordinate the review of those repair or maintenance project permits by the respective participating permit agencies, ensure that timely permit decisions are made by the participating permit agencies, and assist in resolving any conflict or inconsistency among the repair or maintenance project permit requirements and conditions that are to be imposed by the participating permit agencies with regard to the repair or maintenance project.

(e) This division shall not be construed to limit or abridge the authority or responsibilities of any participating permit agency pursuant to the law that authorizes or requires the agency to issue a permit for a repair or maintenance project or to grant any agency any new powers independent of those granted by other laws. Each participating permit agency shall retain its authority to make all decisions on all nonprocedural matters with regard to the respective component repair or maintenance project permit that is within the scope of its authority or responsibility, including, but not limited to, the determination of permit application completeness, permit approval or approval with conditions, or permit denial. The consolidated permit agency may not substitute its judgment for that of a participating permit agency on any such nonprocedural matters.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.1

Once a consolidated permit agency is designated, they must organize a meeting within 15 working days with the permit applicant and other related agencies to discuss the permits needed for a repair or maintenance project. This meeting covers several points including identifying required permits, reviewing application forms, deciding if a consolidated permit form can be used, and setting timelines for permit processing.

Agencies can agree on different timelines from the standard ones, as long as they don't conflict with existing legal requirements. They must also plan any necessary public hearings and discuss fees for the consolidated permit process.

The lead agency can ask the applicant for needed information, and all decisions made should be available for public review once permits are filed.

(a) Within 15 working days of the date that the consolidated permit agency is designated, the consolidated permit agency shall convene a meeting with the consolidated permit applicant for the repair or maintenance project and with the participating permit agencies. The meeting agenda shall include at least all of the following matters:

(1) A determination of the repair or maintenance project permits that are required for the repair or maintenance project.

(2) A review of the permit application forms and other application requirements of the agencies that are participating in the consolidated permit process.

(3) A discussion of the option available to the permit applicant to use the consolidated permit application form that is authorized by subdivision (e) or (f) of Section 15399.56 of the Government Code in lieu of the separate application forms for each component repair or maintenance project permit that would be provided by the consolidated permit agency and the participating permit agencies.

(4) The setting of time limits that will be applicable to the consolidated permit agency and each participating permit agency in making consolidated and repair or maintenance project permit decisions, including the time periods required to determine if the repair or maintenance project permit applications are complete or the consolidated permit application is complete, to review the application or applications, and to process the component repair or maintenance project permits, and the timelines that will be used by the consolidated permit agency to aggregate the component repair or maintenance project permits into, and to issue, the consolidated permit. Notwithstanding Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15374) of Part 6.7 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 65920) of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code, the timelines established pursuant to this paragraph may, with the assent of the consolidated permit agency and each participating permit agency, commit the consolidated permit agency and each participating permit agency to act on the component repair or maintenance project permit within time periods that are different than those required by Sections 65950 and 65952 of the Government Code, subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 15376 of the Government Code, or other applicable provisions of law. However, no accelerated time period for the consideration of a repair or maintenance project permit application may be set if that accelerated time period would be inconsistent with, or in conflict with, any time period or series of time periods set by statute for that consideration, or with any statute, rule, or regulation, or adopted state policy, standard, or guideline, which require any of the following:

(A) Other agencies, interested persons, or the public to be given adequate notice of the application.

(B) Other agencies to be given a role in, or be allowed to participate in, the decision to approve or disapprove the application.

(C) Interested persons or the public to be provided the opportunity to challenge, comment on, or otherwise voice their concerns regarding the application.

(5) The scheduling of any public hearings that are required to issue repair or maintenance project permits for the repair or maintenance project and a determination of the feasibility of coordinating or consolidating any of those required public hearings.

(6) A discussion of fee arrangements for the consolidated permit process, including an estimate of the fee authorized under Section 57053.5 and the billing process.

(b) The consolidated permit agency may request any information from the consolidated permit applicant that is necessary to comply with its obligations under this division, consistent with the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).

(c) A summary of the decisions made pursuant to this section shall be made available for public review upon the filing of the consolidated permit application or repair or maintenance project permit applications.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.2

If someone applying for a consolidated permit decides they no longer want to be part of that process, they can officially stop it by sending a written request to the agency overseeing the permits. Once this request is received, the main agency will inform all other involved agencies that the project doesn't need a consolidated permit anymore.

The consolidated permit applicant may withdraw from the consolidated permit process by submitting to the consolidated permit agency a written request that the process be terminated. Upon receipt of the request, the consolidated permit agency shall notify the office and each participating permit agency that a consolidated permit is no longer applicable to the repair or maintenance project.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.3

This law requires a consolidated permit agency to make sure that all agencies involved can approve necessary permits for repair or maintenance projects within a set timeframe. Essentially, it ensures efficiency and coordination among different agencies for timely permit processing.

The consolidated permit agency shall coordinate the activities of the participating permit agencies in order that each participating permit agency is able to act on its component repair or maintenance project permits within the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.4

This section states that when a repair or maintenance project permit is part of a consolidated permit, it still retains the same legal and regulatory power as if it were issued separately. The agency that would normally issue it independently is responsible for its administration and enforcement. The section also clarifies that it does not restrict an agency's ability to enforce existing permits or conditions.

Each repair or maintenance project permit incorporated in the consolidated permit shall have the legal status and the regulatory effect that is specified in the statute and regulations under which the repair or maintenance project permit would be separately issued and shall be administered and enforced by the public agency that would have separately issued it. Nothing in this chapter shall limit the authority of an agency to enforce existing permits or permit conditions.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.5

This law allows an agency to charge a reasonable fee to recover the costs of processing a consolidated permit, which is a single permit that includes multiple necessary approvals. These fees can be determined through negotiation or set in advance. The purpose is to cover costs only, and the billing should reflect true time and expenses with progress payments. Agencies are not restricted from collecting other appropriate fees.

(a) A consolidated permit agency may charge and collect a reasonable fee from any person seeking a consolidated permit to recover the estimated costs incurred by the consolidated permit agency and the office in carrying out this division.

(b) The fees charged shall recover only the costs of performing those consolidated permit services and shall be either negotiated with the responsible party in the meeting convened pursuant to Section 57053.1 or set by the public agency in advance of its designation as a consolidated permit agency for the repair or maintenance project in a fee schedule adopted by the public agency for use in the event that the public agency is so designated. In addition, the billing process shall provide for accurate time and cost accounting and a billing cycle that provide for progress payments. Nothing in this section limits the ability of a participating agency or the office to collect appropriate fees.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.6

This law explains that if you disagree with a public agency's decision regarding a permit for a repair or maintenance project, you can submit a petition to the relevant agency for a review. This applies if they issued, denied, or amended your permit. The petition needs to be submitted to the agency in charge of your particular permit section. Once filed, the agency has 30 days to inform any other public agencies involved in the original permit process.

A petition by the responsible party for review of a public agency action in issuing, denying, or amending a repair or maintenance project permit, or any portion of a consolidated permit, shall, to resolve conflicts among the permit conditions, be submitted by the responsible party to the consolidated permit agency or the participating permit agency having jurisdiction over that portion of the consolidated permit and shall be processed in accordance with the procedures of that agency. The public agency receiving the petition shall, within 30 days from the date of receipt, notify the other public agencies participating in the original consolidated permit.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.7

If someone applying for a consolidated permit requests a major change to their application or any related project permits for repair or maintenance, the agency in charge of these permits must hold a meeting with all involved permit agencies to discuss the changes, following the guidelines in Section 57053.1.

If the consolidated permit applicant petitions for a significant amendment or modification to a consolidated permit application or any of its component repair or maintenance project permit applications, the consolidated permit agency shall reconvene a meeting of the participating permit agencies, conducted in accordance with Section 57053.1.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.8

If someone applying for a combined permit doesn't provide the necessary information for their project permits, the countdown for processing these permits is paused until they submit the required details.

If the consolidated permit applicant fails to provide information required for the processing of the component repair or maintenance project permit applications for a consolidated permit or for the designation of a consolidated permit agency, the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1 shall be tolled until such time as the information is provided.

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(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 776, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

Section § 57053.9

This law requires the creation of a fast-track appeals process for people or entities facing delays from public agencies in getting permits for repair or maintenance projects. If a public agency doesn't process a permit within the specified time, the office will ensure the agency acts by a set deadline, potentially refund any fees paid, if the delay was without good cause. The law focuses on procedural delays and violations, not substantive issues about the permits themselves. Appeals can only be made for procedural time limit violations, and refunds are applicable only to agencies at fault without valid reasons for delay.

(a) On or before December 31, 1997, the office shall adopt regulations establishing an expedited appeals process by which a petitioner or responsible party may appeal any failure by a public agency to take timely action on the issuance or denial of a repair or maintenance project permit or consolidated permit in accordance with the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1.

(b) If the office finds that the time limits under appeal have been violated without good cause, the office shall establish a date certain by which the public agency shall act on the repair or maintenance project permit or consolidated permit application with adequate provision for the requirements described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1, and shall provide for the full reimbursement of any filing or permit processing fees paid by the responsible party to the public agency for the permit application under appeal. For purposes of this section, “good cause” shall have the same meaning as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 15376 of the Government Code.

(c) The determination of the office on an appeal shall be based only on procedural violations, including, but not limited to, the exceeding of time limits, not on any nonprocedural matter with regard to the repair or maintenance project permit, or permit application, or the consolidated permit, or consolidated permit application.

(d) In cases of a violation of time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1, the determination of the office to order a reimbursement of any application fee pursuant to the regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall only be applicable to the consolidated permit agency or to the participating permit agencies that are in violation of the time limits without showing good cause.

(e) An appeal taken pursuant to this section shall be only for violations of the time limits set pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 57053.1.

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(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 405, Sec. 71. Effective January 1, 2003.)