Building a new house or an apartment in California can take years, even decades. So, why does it cost so much to build a home in California? It’s more than just the land, labor and materials. PolitiFact California found the lengthy development process itself, complete with delays, strict environmental reviews and expensive impact fees, can add tens of thousands of dollars to the overall cost of new homes in the state. 

Reporter Chris Nichols and the PolitiFact California team has looked closer at the fees, what those fees are and why they are so much higher than in many other states. Nichols talked with contractors, developers and an academic to get a full picture.