Governor Gavin Newsom files lawsuits against five California cities over failure to comply with state housing law

Oakland, California – Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped up California’s effort to enforce state housing laws by launching legal action against five cities that officials say have failed to meet long-standing requirements to plan for new housing.

The move targets Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest, and Turlock, all of which the state says remain out of compliance with California’s Housing Element Law. According to state officials, each of these jurisdictions is at least two and a half years past the deadline for adopting a housing plan that meets state requirements.

Newsom said California cannot solve its housing shortage if local governments refuse to carry out their legal responsibilities.

“California can’t solve the housing crisis while some cities sit on their hands and dare us to do something about it. These five jurisdictions had every chance to follow the law and plan for their fair share of housing. They chose not to, so now they’ll answer for it in court. Housing law applies statewide, and no city gets a pass.”

The lawsuits are part of California’s broader campaign to ensure every city and county contributes to meeting the state’s growing housing needs. Officials noted that the sixth statewide housing planning cycle is nearing its end, and more than 95% of jurisdictions have already reached compliance after working with the state.

State says cities ignored repeated opportunities to comply

Before referring the five cities for legal action, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) said it spent years trying to resolve the issues without going to court.

According to the agency, each jurisdiction received formal notices explaining the violations, was given 30 days to respond in writing, and participated in two separate rounds of meetings with state officials aimed at finding solutions before the cases reached the California Attorney General’s Office.

Despite those efforts, the cities failed to bring their housing plans into compliance.

Attorney General Rob Bonta said local governments must help address California’s housing shortage instead of delaying required planning.

“California’s housing crisis demands action, not excuses,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “Jurisdictions that remain out of compliance with our Housing Element Law are standing in the way of the homes Californians need. We are well past the halfway point of the current housing planning cycle, and timely compliance is not optional. As I’ve said many times, no local government has to solve this challenge alone, but every local government has to do its fair share. Today, we’re showing how serious we are about ensuring that every city and county adopts a housing element. Restoring the California dream will take an all-hands-on-deck effort.”

Housing and Community Development Director Gustavo Velasquez also praised the large number of cities and counties that have already met the state’s requirements while warning that those still refusing to act should expect enforcement.

“The vast majority of California’s cities and counties have stepped up to achieve housing element compliance,” said Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez. “For the small number that are still falling short, the actions we are taking today should send a clear message: no community is exempt from doing its part to solve our housing crisis. Alongside Attorney General Bonta, Governor Newsom and HCD will continue to hold local governments accountable for complying with state law.”

Housing plans are required under California law

California has required every city and county since 1969 to prepare a housing element as part of its general plan. These documents must explain how each community intends to meet its assigned housing needs across every income level while removing barriers that prevent new homes from being built.

The state reviews every housing element before it can be approved. Local governments must update these plans every five or eight years, depending on their planning cycle.

Officials warned that cities failing to comply face serious consequences. Under the Housing Accountability Act, communities that remain out of compliance may lose the ability to reject certain qualifying low- and moderate-income housing developments based on zoning restrictions through what is known as the Builder’s Remedy.

In addition, Senate Bill 1037, signed into law in 2024, allows civil penalties to be imposed on jurisdictions that continue violating housing requirements. Those penalties are directed toward affordable housing projects within the affected communities.

The state has already reached agreements with several cities during this planning cycle, including Hollister, Artesia, La Habra Heights, Malibu, Fullerton, Coronado, and San Bernardino, all of which agreed to bring their housing plans into compliance.

State officials also pointed to Huntington Beach as an example of what can happen when a city refuses to act. California sued the city in 2023 after it remained out of compliance for more than four years. In May 2026, a Superior Court judge ordered Huntington Beach to pay $160,000 in penalties, with additional fines increasing by $50,000 every month until the city meets state requirements.

Governor Newsom said the state will continue pursuing cities that fail to comply, noting that additional legal petitions may be filed against any jurisdiction that receives a notice of violation and still refuses to act.

Officials added that the state’s Housing Accountability Unit has already helped support the development of 13,541 housing units, including more than 3,852 affordable homes, through enforcement actions and cooperation with local governments. The unit was expanded in 2024 to include work on homelessness-related housing issues.

The governor said California’s broader housing strategy includes speeding up home construction, investing in shelters and supportive housing, improving mental health services through Proposition 1, expanding the CARE Court system, updating conservatorship laws, and addressing homeless encampments across the state.

According to state officials, those combined efforts produced measurable results last year, when California’s unsheltered homelessness declined by 9.5%, marking the first decrease in more than 15 years even as homelessness continued rising in many other parts of the country.