Thursday, July 2, 2026

Harabedian Housing Measure Takes Aim at California’s Permitting Delays in Eaton, Palisades Fire

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

Continuing to pursue more affordable housing for Californians, Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena) announced that AB 748, which would streamline the permitting process for single-family homes and small-scale multifamily housing, has passed the Senate Housing Committee.

“AB 748 speeds up the bureaucratic processes that prevent housing from being built quickly and efficiently,” said Assemblymember Harabedian (D-Pasadena). “Homeowners and developers navigate complex regulations and unpredictable timelines, AB 748 helps them clear these obstacles and focus on building homes.”

The Eaton and Palisades fires of 2025 aggravated California’s current housing crisis by displacing thousands of families. The current permitting process for new developments is slow, bureaucratic and inconsistent across jurisdictions.

These factors often create significant barriers to rebuilding efforts and new construction, compounding what was already one of the state’s most pressing challenges. Homeowners and developers are the ones ultimately being forced to navigate these complex regulations.

The bureaucratic tape of zoning ordinances, general plans and other regulatory frameworks contributes to excessive permitting delays that ultimately prevent communities from rebuilding efficiently. AB 748 solves this by building on the successful approach of expanding the use of pre-approved building plans for single-family and multifamily homes while removing the red tape that prevents fast approval timelines.

AB 748 now advances to the Senate Appropriations Committee.