California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 25522

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 25520.5, within 18 months of the filing of an application for certification, or within 12 months if it is filed within one year of the commission's approval of the notice of intent, or at any later time as is mutually agreed by the commission and the applicant, the commission shall issue a written decision as to the application.

(b) The commission shall determine, within 45 days after it receives the application, whether the application is complete.  If the commission determines that the application is complete, the application shall be deemed filed for purposes of this section on the date that this determination is made.  If the commission determines that the application is incomplete, the commission shall specify in writing those parts of the application which are incomplete and shall indicate the manner in which it can be made complete.  If the applicant submits additional data to complete the application, the commission shall determine, within 30 days after receipt of that data, whether the data is sufficient to make the application complete.  The application shall be deemed filed on the date when the commission determines the application is complete if the commission has adopted regulations specifying the informational requirements for a complete application, but if the commission has not adopted regulations, the application shall be deemed filed on the last date the commission receives any additional data that completes the application.