January 19, 2024 – SACRAMENTO, CA - Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday secured an appellate court order in the state's favor compelling a prompt resolution of the enforcement case against Huntington Beach for its failure to adopt a housing plan compliant with state law. On March 8, 2023, Attorney General Bonta, Governor Newsom and The California Department of Housing and Community Development sued the City of Huntington Beach for violating state housing law by failing to adopt a housing element — a decision that jeopardizes critical affordable housing opportunities for Huntington Beach residents. According to state law, cases to enforce Housing Element Law are entitled to quick review by the courts. However, Huntington Beach asserted that charter cities, such as Huntington Beach, are exempt from this requirement.

Thursday’s decision by the appellate court affirms that charter cities are not exempt from speedy review of challenges to non-compliant housing elements. The court ordered the trial court to vacate its previous stay of the case and to set a hearing for trial date and temporary relief by January 31, 2024. 

“Today the Court of Appeal affirmed that every city will be held to the same standard,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The court’s decision demonstrates that our housing crisis is an urgent emergency and that actions to ensure cities provide their fair share of housing are entitled to priority review by the courts. We are pleased that Huntington Beach will now face quick accountability by the court to help ensure its residents have the housing they need. No one, including Huntington Beach, is exempt from following the law. We’ll continue to use every legal tool available to hold those who break state housing laws accountable.”

A copy of the order can be found here. 

Source: CA DOJ