A Superior Court judge has ordered Huntington Beach to pay $50,000 per month for failing to submit a compliant housing element. The city council, advised by then-city attorney Michael Gates, chose not to comply with the state's housing requirements.
The State of California sued and won in court, and a new law now mandates the monthly penalty. Mayor Casey McKeon has vowed to continue fighting the penalties.
- The original deadline for the housing plan was October 15, 2021. - The city argued it had legal authority as a charter city to defy the state.
- The State of California sued in March 2023 and prevailed in May 2024. - A new law in September 2024 imposed a minimum penalty of up to $50,000 per month.
The city plans to continue its legal battle, citing local control and residents' rights.