SACRAMENTO, CA — This week, AB 2418 and AB 1679, which seek to reawaken our downtown districts by streamlining permits and filling empty storefronts, are on Governor Newsom’s Desk, awaiting a signature.
“Bureaucratic nonsense and chronic permitting delays are the difference between a vibrant downtown corridor and another shuttered storefront,” said Assemblymember Mark González.
Pop-up Businesses are Rushing to Open
Pop-up businesses are temporary, short-term retail or service businesses that can move into vacant storefronts quickly. Often driving trendy markets, good eats, or even tourist attractions, pop-ups bring vibrancy to once deserted commercial zones.
Existing law makes opening a pop-up business a nightmare. The process requires navigating through a maze of permits and local jurisdictional approvals.
AB 1679 will simplify that. It would require cities and counties to create a Temporary Commercial Activation permit designed for pop-up businesses, authorizing operation in vacant storefronts for up to 120 days. This makes it easier for small businesses to pop up and drive foot traffic, sales, and other positive spillover effects into our downtown corridors.
“Securing a permit shouldn’t need a pop quiz in city law,” said Asm. González. “This bill breaks down the nightmares of navigating complex permits — allowing the pop-ups that bring life and vibrancy to our downtowns to access permits faster and for longer durations.”
Delays, Delays, Delays
After months of waiting for a routine plan check to be approved, a business in Los Angeles is finally able to open — but these businesses now must cope with unpaid bills and thousands in lost revenue. This is not just happening in LA. In cities and counties across the state, even routine tenant improvements and straightforward interior remodels face plan-check and inspection delays of up to eight months.
AB 2418 would streamline 1-3 story group b occupancy buildings and retail permit applications by creating firm timelines for local government to review plans and conduct inspections — and if they are not met, it allows the use of a private plan-checker to expedite approvals.
“Accountability and predictability when opening a business are essential, and the current delays in routine inspections and permitting are ridiculous,” said Asm. González. “Especially in DTLA, why are there so many barriers to trying to open, expand, and reinvest in our communities? AB 2418 creates alternative routes and gives business owners the option to expedite their review process.”
AB 2418 will tackle and address these delays by:
- Requiring local agencies to provide applicants with an estimated timeline for their plan checks.
- And if there is an excessive delay, allow an applicant to hire an approved third-party plan checker to speed up the process.
Assemblymember Mark González is the Assembly Majority Whip. He serves on the Committees on Appropriations, Health, Public Safety, Rules, and Utilities & Energy. He represents the 54th District, composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Montebello, and Vernon.