CEQA: local agency executes EIR consultant contract within 45 days after sending NOP
45 days after date the local agency sent the notice of preparation, under Cal. Pub. Res. Code 21151.5(b).
Rule text
(b) If a draft environmental impact report, environmental impact report, or focused environmental impact report is prepared under a contract to a local agency, the contract shall be executed within 45 days from the date on which the local agency sends a notice of preparation pursuant to Section 21080.4.
Calculate this deadline
Deadline
Monday, December 21, 2026
- Trigger (Date the local agency sent the notice of preparation): Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 45 calendar days: Monday, December 21, 2026.
Rules applied
Cal. Pub. Res. Code 21151.5(b)
(b) If a draft environmental impact report, environmental impact report, or focused environmental impact report is prepared under a contract to a local agency, the contract shall be executed within 45 days from the date on which the local agency sends a notice of preparation pursuant to Section 21080.4.Official source
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. 12, 12a, 12b; Cal. Gov. Code 6800, 6707 (state agency filings); Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) (federal statutes and federal court filings)
CCP 12: "The time in which any act provided by law is to be done is computed by excluding the first day, and including the last, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded." CCP 12a(a): "If the last day for the performance of any act provided or required by law to be performed within a specified period of time is a holiday, then that period is hereby extended to and including the next day that is not a holiday. For purposes of this section, “holiday” means all day on Saturdays, all holidays specified in Section 135 and, to the extent provided in Section 12b, all days that by terms of Section 12b are required to be considered as holidays." Gov. Code 6707: "When the last day for filing any instrument or other document with a state agency falls upon a Saturday or holiday, such act may be performed upon the next business day with the same effect as if it had been performed upon the day appointed." FRCP 6(a): "The following rules apply in computing any time period specified in these rules, in any local rule or court order, or in any statute that does not specify a method of computing time. (1) ... (A) exclude the day of the event that triggers the period; (B) count every day, including intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; and (C) include the last day of the period, but if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the period continues to run until the end of the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday."Official source
- Extendable by mutual agreement of applicant and agency.
- If the clerk's office is closed or inaccessible on the last day (weather, emergency or local closure orders), the deadline may be extended. Check local orders.
This calculator applies the cited rules to the dates you enter. It is not legal advice. Court orders, local rules, and case-specific facts can change a deadline; verify before relying on it. Rule set pending attorney review.
Worked example
Date the local agency sent the notice of preparation on Monday, March 15, 2027, personal service: due Thursday, April 29, 2027.
- Trigger (Date the local agency sent the notice of preparation): Monday, March 15, 2027.
- Exclude the trigger day and count 45 calendar days: Thursday, April 29, 2027.
Notes
Extendable by mutual agreement of applicant and agency.
Related deadlines
- CEQA: lead agency determines whether EIR or negative declaration is required within 30 days after application accepted as complete (30 days after)
- CEQA: applicant's request for early consultation within 30 days after the EIR/ND determination (30 days after)
- CEQA notice of preparation: responsible/trustee agencies and OPR specify EIR scope and content within 30 days of receipt (30 days after)
- CEQA: lead agency convenes requested NOP consultation meeting within 30 days of request (30 days after)
- CEQA: local-agency time limit for completing and certifying EIR, not more than 1 year after application accepted complete (12 months after)
- CEQA: local-agency time limit for completing and adopting negative declaration, not more than 180 days after application accepted complete (180 days after)
- CEQA (AB 52): lead agency formal notification to requesting tribes within 14 days of application complete or decision to undertake project (14 days after)
- CEQA (AB 52): tribe's written request for consultation within 30 days of receipt of formal notification (30 days after)
Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Confirm against the official source and any local rule or court order before relying on a date. Rules changelog.