Housing Plan Enforcement
California Sues Five Cities Over Missing Housing Plans, Eyes 2029 Goal
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Key Points
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Cities that miss their housing-element deadlines could lose eligibility for state funding for affordable housing and may trigger the Builder's Remedy to override local zoning restrictions for certain low- and middle-income housing.
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The five targeted cities are Costa Mesa (Orange County), Calexico (Imperial County), Half Moon Bay (San Mateo County), Ridgecrest (Kern County), and Turlock (Stanislaus County).
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Turlock says its housing plan has been state-approved but still needs rezoning; final rezoning steps are expected by the end of August, delaying full compliance.
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Velasquez said the five cities collectively must plan for about 24,000 new homes as part of the current cycle, underscoring the scale of unmet need in these jurisdictions.
California has sued five cities for failing to submit legally required housing plans, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced this week. The targeted cities — Costa Mesa, Calexico, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest, and Turlock — are years overdue on plans that are mandatory under state law, according to SF Chronicle.
Governor Newsom called the situation an emergency. California is trying to add 2.5 million homes statewide by 2029. More than 95% of cities have already complied, Sacramento Bee reported — making these five outliers in a largely successful rollout.
What Each City Is Accused of Missing
Every city and county in California must submit a "housing element" — a plan showing how local zoning will allow enough new homes to be built. The five sued cities have not done this on time. Together, they must plan for about 24,000 new homes as part of the current eight-year cycle, according to Fresno Bee.
Costa Mesa's situation is different from the others. The city submitted a housing element in 2022, but state officials say it does not count. The plan is noncompliant because Costa Mesa never completed the required rezoning to back it up, SF Chronicle reported. The other three cities — Calexico, Half Moon Bay, and Ridgecrest — have been urged to finalize plans within 120 days.
Turlock Claims Approval but Rezoning Still Incomplete
Turlock is pushing back. City officials say their housing plan has already been approved by the state. The sticking point is rezoning — the process of updating local land rules to actually allow more housing. Turlock expects to finish that step by the end of August, Modesto Bee reported.
State officials say rezoning must be completed before a city is truly in compliance. Until that happens, Turlock remains on the lawsuit list. The case highlights a gap many cities face: getting a plan approved is one thing; changing the zoning maps to match it is another.
Penalties That Follow Noncompliant Cities
Cities that miss housing deadlines face serious consequences. They can lose eligibility for state affordable housing funding. Courts can order them to submit compliant plans. They may also face civil penalties, according to San Luis Obispo Tribune.
The biggest threat may be the "Builder's Remedy." This rule lets housing developers bypass local zoning rules entirely — as long as a share of the units are affordable to low- or middle-income residents. In cities without compliant plans, developers can use this tool to build projects that local governments cannot easily block, SF Chronicle reported.
California's Broader Push to Fix the Housing Crisis
California has been ramping up enforcement of housing laws for years. Attorney General Bonta and the state Department of Housing and Community Development filed the lawsuits together. The goal is to ensure every local government plays a role in solving the state's housing shortage, Sacramento Bee reported.
The 2.5 million home target covers the 2021–2029 planning cycle. With more than 95% of cities already in compliance, officials say the system is working — but holdouts undermine the effort. Bonta's office framed the lawsuits as a necessary step, not a last resort.
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