In a resounding defeat for local NIMBYism, the federal court of appeals has sided with the state of California, affirming that Huntington Beach must comply with state housing laws and build its fair share of housing. The Ninth Circuit’s decision upholds earlier court rulings that dismissed the city’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of these housing mandates.
The legal battle began in March 2023, when California took Huntington Beach to court for failing to uphold state housing statutes. In response, the city fired back with a federal lawsuit, asserting that the state’s requirements were unconstitutional. After a series of legal engagements, today’s verdict by the Ninth Circuit puts an end to that debate, with the court, rejecting the city’s assertions decisively.
Governor Gavin Newsom heralded the ruling as a win against cynical efforts to evade housing obligations. “Today, yet another court has slapped down Huntington Beach’s cynical attempt to prevent the state from enforcing our housing laws,” Newsom was quoted saying in an announcement. “Huntington Beach officials’ continued efforts to advance plainly unlawful NIMBY policies are failing their own citizens — by wasting time and taxpayer dollars that could be used to create much-needed housing. No more excuses — every city must follow state law and do its part to build more housing.”…