You point brings up something, in the US there are thousands of planning departments. And each one is it's own little fiefdom. Some are fine. Some enjoy screwing over people. Some are incompetent. Some are corrupt.

If you bought a run down 6 plex and wanted to fix it up. SF the permitting would be a right pain. Berkeley would actively try to stop you. Oakland someone would want a bag of cash. Santa Cruz would allow it as long as you used a GC with proper connections.