From Member Concerns to State Law: BOMA/GLA Celebrates AB 2418

BOMA/GLA’s first sponsored bill has been signed into law - a milestone driven by members speaking up about permitting challenges.

For commercial property owners and managers, permit delays can affect much more than a construction schedule. They can push back tenant move-ins, delay business openings, and make it harder to plan renovations and investments.

BOMA/GLA members brought these challenges to our committee meetings and advocacy conversations. We took those experiences to Sacramento and helped champion AB 2418, authored by Assemblymember Mark González. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on September 30th!

What You Need to Know

AB 2418 creates a clearer path for qualifying commercial tenant improvement projects facing lengthy plan reviews:

An estimated review timeline: Cities and counties must provide a review estimate when they receive a complete qualifying permit application.

Outside help when reviews stall: Applicants can request private plan-checking assistance when a qualifying review takes, or is expected to take, more than 30 business days.

Another option when reviewers are unavailable: If the local agency determines that no outside reviewers are available or qualified, applicants may hire a qualified private provider at their own expense, following the law’s requirements.

How It Impacts You

For owners, managers, and tenants planning qualifying improvements, these changes can provide more information upfront and another way to move a delayed review forward.

The law’s private-review pathway applies to certain tenant improvements in existing lower-rise business buildings.

Your Input Helped Make This Happen

This milestone shows how member participation can help turn everyday building challenges into action. By sharing permitting experiences, identifying obstacles, and advocating for reform, our members helped make the case for change.

Thank you to Assemblymember Mark González for championing this legislation, and to the California Business Properties Association, Matthew Hargrove, and Skyler Wonnacott for their partnership and hard work.

Most of all, thank you to our members, whose input and advocacy helped get this bill across the finish line.