Division 22. Petitions Under the California Environmental Quality Act · Chapter 2. California Environmental Quality Act Proceedings Involving Streamlined CEQA Projects · Article 1. General Provisions · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.2220 defines the categories of "streamlined CEQA project" that trigger the expedited rules in this chapter, applies those rules to actions attacking the certification or approvals of such projects, and exempts those actions from the complex-case rules.
(1)(1) A “streamlined CEQA project” means any project within the definitions stated in (2) through (8).
(2)An “environmental leadership development project” or “leadership project” means a project certified by the Governor under Public Resources Code sections 21182– 21184.
(3)An “environmental leadership media campus project” means a project as defined in Public Resources Code section 21168.6.6.
(4)An “Oakland sports and mixed-use project” or “Oakland ballpark project” means a project as defined in Public Resources Code section 21168.6.7 and certified by the Governor under that section.
(5)An “Inglewood arena project” means a project as defined in Public Resources Code section 21168.6.8 and certified by the Governor under that section.
(6)An “Old Town Center transit and transportation facilities project” or “Old Town Center project” means a project as defined in Public Resources Code section 21189.70.
(7)An “environmental leadership transit project” means a project as defined in Public Resources Code section 21168.6.9.
(8)An “infrastructure project” means an “energy infrastructure project,” a “semiconductor or microelectronic project,” a “transportation-related project,” or a “water-related project” as defined in Public Resources Code section 21189.81 and certified by the Governor under Public Resources Code sections 21189.82 and 21189.83. (Subd (a) amended July 1, 2025; previously amended effective January 1, 2017, March 11, 2022, January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.)
(b)Proceedings governed The rules in this chapter govern actions or proceedings brought to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification of the environmental impact report or the grant of any project approvals for a streamlined CEQA project. Except as otherwise provided in Public Resources Code sections 21168.6.6–21168.6.9, 21178–21189.3, 21189.70–21189.70.10, and 21189.80–21189.91 and these rules, the provisions of the Public Resources Code and the CEQA Guidelines adopted by the Natural Resources Agency (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.) governing judicial actions or proceedings to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul acts or decisions of a public agency on the grounds of noncompliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the rules of court generally apply in proceedings governed by this rule. (Subd (b) amended effective July 1, 2025; previously amended effective January 1, 2017, March 11, 2022, January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.)
(c)Complex case rules Any action or proceeding governed by these rules is exempted from the rules regarding complex cases.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 3.2220 opens the chapter governing expedited judicial review for a defined set of large California projects. Subdivision (a) lists the categories that qualify as a streamlined CEQA project: environmental leadership development projects the Governor certifies, environmental leadership media campus projects, the Oakland sports and mixed-use ballpark project, the Inglewood arena project, the Old Town Center transit and transportation facilities project, environmental leadership transit projects, and a set of Governor-certified infrastructure projects covering energy, semiconductor and microelectronic, transportation, and water-related development. Each category traces back to its own definition and certification process in a specific set of Public Resources Code sections.
Subdivision (b) then puts that definitional work to use: the chapter’s rules govern any action attacking, reviewing, setting aside, voiding, or annulling the environmental impact report certification or project approvals for one of these projects. Where the chapter and the relevant Public Resources Code sections do not specifically address an issue, the general CEQA statutes, the CEQA Guidelines, and the rules of court that would normally apply still fill the gap.
Subdivision (c) adds one more consequence of this designation: an action governed by this chapter is exempt from the rules that otherwise apply to complex civil cases, reflecting the fact that these actions already run on their own specialized, expedited track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a "streamlined CEQA project" under Rule 3.2220?
A defined list including environmental leadership development projects, environmental leadership media campus projects, the Oakland ballpark project, the Inglewood arena project, the Old Town Center project, environmental leadership transit projects, and certain Governor-certified infrastructure projects, each tied to specific Public Resources Code sections.
What kind of lawsuits does Chapter 2 of Division 22 govern?
Actions or proceedings that attack, review, set aside, void, or annul the certification of the environmental impact report or the grant of project approvals for a streamlined CEQA project, under Rule 3.2220(b).
Do the complex-case rules apply to streamlined CEQA project litigation?
No. Rule 3.2220(c) exempts any action governed by this chapter from the rules regarding complex cases.
Amendment History
Rule 3.2220 amended effective July 1, 2025; adopted effective July 1, 2014; previously amended effective January 1, 2017, March 11, 2022, January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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