California sues five cities over housing law non‑compliance

Attorney General Rob Bonta and the California Department of Housing and Community Development filed lawsuits against the cities of Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest and Turlock for violating the state’s Housing Element Law, which requires every city and county to update their housing plans every eight years to meet regional housing needs. Governor Gavin Newsom said the lawsuits are necessary because “California can’t solve the housing crisis while some cities sit on their hands.”

The suits follow statewide enforcement actions that gave the jurisdictions 30 days to respond after notices of violation. More than 95 % of California communities have complied with the current planning cycle, but the five cities were cited for insufficient progress. City officials from Calexico, Costa Mesa, and Half Moon Bay said they are working closely with the department, have made “substantial progress,” and consider the legal action “unwarranted.”

The litigation aims to compel the cities to adopt compliant housing elements, update zoning and land‑use policies, and enable the private market to build the housing needed to address the state’s emergency housing shortage.