Opinion: Fix AB 2234 the Silicon Valley way—track, auto-approve, and reward
California’s AB 2234 sets post-entitlement clocks for permitting housing production—but without enforcement, it’s more theater than force. Silicon Valley districts could lead by example (to increase housing stock and make it affordable): publish live dashboards, auto-approve when the 30-day timers expire, and issue fee rebates if checks slip. An Arizona case study from Common Sense Institute.
On average, permitting, development, and final inspection for new housing projects in Arizona take over 300 days, according to CSI’s review of 100,000 permit applications. These delays are not just an inconvenience for builders; they translate into fewer homes being available, higher carrying costs for developers, and ultimately more expensive housing for families.
The Permit Freedom Act has helped to chip away at this bureaucratic drag. Permitting and development times have been reduced by between 7.1% and 17.7% statewide since its passage. Across seven jurisdictions, permit close-outs dropped from a painful 200 days in 2022 to just 126 days.
Chicago, Mesa, and Chandler saw some of the most dramatic improvements. Chandler, in particular, slashed timelines by as much as 64%, demonstrating what is possible when local governments embrace streamlined processes and digital tools. For fast-growing communities facing housing shortages, these kinds of reductions can be the difference between keeping up with demand and falling further behind.
Despite such progress, transparency remains inconsistent. Many jurisdictions still fail to provide adequate public data on permitting metrics even when state law requires them to do so. Without accountability, improvements risk stalling out.
As the Common Sense Institute notes, streamlined permitting directly increases housing supply, which in turn can ease price pressures in tight markets. A national study cited in the report found that regulation adds an average of $100,000 to the price of a new home.
Arizona’s experience highlights a key lesson for other states, California included: reforms to permitting are both possible and impactful, but they require more than good intentions. They demand not only legal changes but also follow-through, data transparency, and a willingness by local jurisdictions to measure and be measured on performance.
Read the whole thing here.
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