Attorney General Bonta, Governor Newsom Secure Order Holding Huntington Beach Accountable for Flouting Housing Element Law

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom today 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. Joined by California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Director Gustavo Velasquez, Attorney General Bonta and Governor Newsom filed suit against the city on March 9, 2023. 

"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 Rob 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." 

"From day one, my administration has been clear: local governments must be accountable for following state law and planning for their fair share of housing,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “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."

Since taking office, Attorney General Bonta has been committed to defending and increasing access to affordable housing in California. On November 3, 2021, he announced the creation of a Housing Justice Team within the California Department of Justice aimed at advancing housing access across the state. More recently, he announced a settlement with the city of Malibu that will enable the city to reach compliance with the state’s Housing Element Law and visited an affordable housing development in the Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. He also announced his sponsorship of a bill authored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) that would encourage local governments to update their housing plans and facilitate housing permit approvals in cities and counties that fail to do so, and of a bill authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) that would enhance the Attorney General’s ability to seek civil penalties in court against local governments that violate certain state housing laws.

A copy of the court's order can be found here.