Supreme Court Decides Against Huntington Beach’s Challenge to State Housing Laws
Huntington Beach Loses Supreme Court Appeal on Housing Laws
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal from Huntington Beach, effectively concluding the city’s federal challenge to California’s affordable housing mandates. This decision follows a lower court ruling that determined the city lacked the legal standing to sue the state.
City officials have long argued that their status as a charter city provided them the authority to ignore state housing requirements. However, both the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have rejected this claim.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta pointed out that a state court ruling already limits the city’s local planning authority until it adheres to the Housing Element Law. “The Huntington Beach officials who wasted taxpayer dollars on this embarrassing approach rather than doing their jobs ought to be ashamed of themselves,” Governor Gavin Newsom stated in response to the Supreme Court’s decision. He emphasized that the city can no longer assert constitutional backing for its stance.
In contrast, Huntington Beach Mayor Casey McKeon defended the city’s actions, asserting, “The voters of Huntington Beach elected us to defend our local control over municipal affairs, especially housing, and that’s what we will continue to do relentlessly.” While acknowledging the conclusion of the federal route, McKeon affirmed the city’s commitment to exploring other legal avenues.
Looking ahead, Huntington Beach now faces the state court system following its loss in federal court. The city must address a ruling from the San Diego Superior Court that mandates compliance with housing laws. Failure to rectify these violations could lead to the state exercising direct control over local zoning and permitting processes, a scenario the city has actively sought to avoid for years.
