19835-19837

HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 19835-19837




19835.  Whenever a local ordinance authorizes or requires the
furnishing of security in connection with the performance of any act
or agreement required as a condition for the issuance of a building
permit, the building permit applicant may provide any of the
following as such security:
   (a) A deposit, either with the local agency or a responsible
escrow agent or trust company, at the option of the local agency, of
money or negotiable bonds of the kind approved for securing deposits
of public moneys.
   (b) An instrument of credit from one or more financial
institutions subject to regulation by the state or federal government
and pledging that the funds necessary to carry out the act or
agreement are on deposit and guaranteed for payment or a letter of
credit issued by such a financial institution.
   (c) Bond or bonds by one or more duly authorized corporate
sureties.
   (d) Any form of security which is acceptable to the local agency
and specified by ordinance thereof.



19836.  Security given for faithful performance of an act or
agreement pursuant to Section 19835 shall be released immediately
upon the performance of the act or final completion and acceptance of
the required work and performance of the act, or the legislative
body may provide for the partial release of the security upon the
partial performance of the act or the acceptance of the work as it
progresses, under rules established by the legislative body.



19837.  (a) The governing body of a local agency may authorize its
enforcement agency to contract with or employ a private entity or
persons on a temporary basis to perform plan-checking functions.
   (b) A local agency need not enter into a contract or employ
persons if it determines that no entities or persons are available or
qualified to perform plan-checking services.
   (c) Entities or persons employed by a local agency may, pursuant
to agreement with the local agency, perform all functions necessary
to check the plans and specifications to comply with other
requirements imposed pursuant to this part or by local ordinances
adopted pursuant to this part, except those functions reserved by
this part or local ordinance to the legislative body. A local agency
may charge the applicant fees in an amount necessary to defray costs
directly attributable to employing or contracting with entities or
persons performing services pursuant to this section which the
applicant requested.
   (d) When there is an excessive delay in checking plans and
specifications submitted as a part of an application for a
nonresidential permit, for a building, other than a hotel or motel,
which is one to three stories, inclusive, in height, as determined by
the local agency, the local agency shall, upon request of the
applicant, contract with or employ a private entity or persons on a
temporary basis to perform the plan-checking function subject to
subdivisions (b) and (c).
   (e) When there is an excessive delay in checking plans and
specifications submitted as a part of an application for a
nonresidential permit for the remodeling or tenant improvements of a
building, other than a hotel or motel, which is one to three stories,
inclusive, in height, as determined by the local agency, the local
agency shall, upon request of the applicant, contract with or employ
a private entity or persons on a temporary basis to perform the
plan-checking function subject to subdivisions (b) and (c).
   (f) For purposes of this section:
   (1) "Enforcement agency" means the building department or building
division of a local agency.
   (2) "Excessive delay" means the enforcement agency of a local
agency has taken either of the following:
   (A) More than 50 days after submittal of a complete application to
complete the structural building safety plan check of the applicant'
s set of plans and specifications that are suitable for checking. For
a discretionary building permit, the time period specified in this
paragraph shall commence after certification of the environmental
impact report, adoption of a negative declaration, or a determination
by the local agency that the project is exempt from Division 13
(commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
   (B) Including the days actually taken in (A), more than 60 days to
complete the checking of the resubmitted corrected plans and
specifications suitable for checking after the enforcement agency had
returned the plans and specifications to the applicant for
correction.
   (3) "Local agency" means a city, county, or city and county.