(a)

1. (1) A city or county with a population of 150,000 or more persons shall, no later than January 1, 2028, make a centralized application portal available on its internet website to applicants for housing development projects.
2. (2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the population of a county shall be determined based on the population of persons in the unincorporated areas of the county.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a city or county subject to this section may make a centralized application portal available on its internet website no later than January 1, 2030, if the legislative body of the city or county, on or before January 1, 2028, does both of the following:

1. (1) Makes a written finding that making a centralized application portal available on its internet website on or before January 1, 2028, would require a substantial increase in permitting fees.
2. (2) Initiates a procurement process to make a centralized application portal available on its internet website.

(e) For purposes of this section, both of the following definitions apply:

1. (1) “Centralized application portal” means a website or software that a city or county uses to collect information and materials provided by an applicant that are necessary for the city or county to consider a housing development project.
2. (2) “Housing development project” has the same meaning as that term is defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 65905.5.