SB 79: The Administrative Pressure on Cities and the Role of AI

Ministerial review under SB 79 is often misunderstood as a streamlined path, but for local governments it introduces a much different reality: faster timelines, heavier verification requirements, and a higher standard of defensibility. In the previous blog, we broke down what SB 79 changes for California cities. In this continuation, we look at the day-to-day impact inside planning departments and how AI can support staff as the volume and pace of work accelerate.

SB 79 Increases the Workload

SB 79 is often framed as a removal of process, but the actual impact is the opposite. Cities still must process these projects. They have to do it faster. They have to do it with tighter rules. They have to do it with no room for inconsistency. That is not a lighter workload. It is a heavier one.

Ministerial approval sounds simple on paper. In practice, it means staff must verify every eligibility detail before the clock even starts. Parcel location, proximity to transit, zoning classification, parcel history, environmental triggers, lot dimensions, infrastructure access, and objective design standards all need verification. Every step has to be documented to protect the city if challenged.

Once an application is deemed eligible, the work shifts into rapid compliance mode. Staff must check every measurable standard the city is allowed to enforce. Depending on the project, this can include height, setbacks, lot coverage, parking ratios, open space, circulation, utilities, and more. Each of these checks must be clear, consistent, and tied to a standard that can be defended.

On top of that, the timelines tighten. SB 79 removes the slow lanes that cities historically relied on. This puts new pressure on departments that are already stretched, often with the same staff trying to meet more demands than ever before.

And there is another layer. Every project processed under SB 79 becomes part of the city’s compliance record. The state can review these decisions. Courts can review these decisions. Applicants can challenge them. That means planners must follow a process that is traceable, consistent, and backed by clear evidence.

This is the administrative truth of SB 79. Cities do not lose work. They gain urgency. They gain complexity. They gain higher stakes. The law did not make planners unnecessary. It made the support systems around them more important than ever.

Where AI Fits into SB 79

SB 79 pushes cities into a new operating model. Work becomes faster, more technical, and more dependent on consistent application of objective rules. That is exactly where AI makes a measurable difference. Not as a replacement for planners, but as the engine that handles the parts of the job that get heavier under SB 79.

Cities now have to process more applications in shorter windows. They need clean data, accurate checks, and clear records. AI is built for that. It can read a plan set, pull out the measurements that matter, compare them to the city’s objective standards, and flag what meets or misses the mark. It does this in minutes, not weeks. It does it the same way every time.

This does not replace the planner’s judgment. The APA is clear that AI is a tool to support planning practice, not take it over. AI helps with the tasks that burn time, like dimensional checks, presence checks, and compliance checks. It frees staff to focus on decisions that require context, policy knowledge, and human understanding.

Under SB 79, that partnership becomes essential. Cities must meet tight timelines or risk state penalties. They must show consistent, objective review of every qualifying project. They must maintain a clear audit trail. AI gives planners the structure and speed to meet these expectations without sacrificing quality.

For cities already stretched thin, this is not a luxury. It is stability. It keeps planners focused on the work that shapes communities, while AI handles the workload increase that comes with the state’s new rules. AI becomes part of the toolkit because the pace is no longer manageable without support. It helps planners meet the law’s demands without losing control of the process. It helps cities stay in compliance without burning out the people doing the work. It gives staff a way to focus on the parts of planning that only humans can do.

What Cities Should Do Now

Cities need objective rules that are easy to verify. Ministerial review only works if the standards are clean, measurable, and ready to apply. Most places already have the bones in place. They just need to pull those standards into a format that staff can use quickly without digging through scattered sections of the code.

Cities also need their zoning chapters in a digital format that actually serves the workflow. When timelines tighten, staff do not have time to search PDFs or rely on memory. Clear zoning maps, clean chapters, and updated development standards make the entire process smoother.

Another helpful step is to look honestly at how long tasks take today. Every department has a few slow points that were tolerable under discretionary review but will become painful under SB 79. Mapping the internal process helps the team see where the hold-ups are and what needs to change.

Parcel eligibility is another area worth preparing for. SB 79 only applies in certain locations, so knowing which parcels qualify gives planners a head start. It also gives the city a clearer picture of where the workload will land.

The last piece is support. SB 79 creates more work, not less, and the pace is not slowing. Cities that bring in systems that can handle the technical checks will feel the difference immediately. It allows staff to stay focused on decisions that matter instead of getting stuck in raw measurement work.

None of this is flashy. It is the kind of quiet preparation that helps a department stay steady when the pressure turns up. And that steadiness is exactly what SB 79 will demand.

Key Takeaways

AI doesn’t replace planners, nor does SB 79 diminish their role. Instead, the law makes the partnership between professional judgment and technical automation more essential than ever. With Blitz AI, cities can meet the state’s expectations without overwhelming their staff, maintain consistency without sacrificing quality, and keep control of the process even as the pace accelerates. The challenge is real, but with intentional preparation and the right support, it is manageable. Contact us to know more.