Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta Announce Legal Victory, Holding Huntington Beach Accountable for Flouting Housing Element Law

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that the state secured an order from the San Diego Superior Court finding that the City of Huntington Beach violated California's Housing Element Law. The Court ordered the city to come into compliance within 120 days.

"From day one, my administration has been clear: local governments must be accountable for following state law and planning their fair share of housing. That's what this case has been about from the start, and we will continue to focus on accountability. We can't solve the decades-in-the-making crisis around housing without everyone doing their part, and this result makes clear the state is serious about enforcing the law." - Governor Gavin Newsom

"Huntington Beach is not above the law - that's the essence of today's ruling. Local governments up and down our state should take notice," said Attorney General Bonta. "We are facing a housing crisis of epic proportions, and my office will continue to act with great urgency, working with cities and counties that genuinely want to be part of the solution and holding accountable those that do not."

The Governor's Administration - the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) - and Attorney General Bonta filed suit against the city on March 9, 2023.

The Governor has consistently called for greater accountability and has implemented new approaches to address the state's need for more housing. Governor Newsom created the highly successful Housing Accountability Unit (HAU) within HCD to work with locals in meeting their obligations and hold jurisdictions accountable for their fair share of housing. Since its inception, HAU has unlocked more than 23,000 units of housing that otherwise may not have been built.

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