California’s Housing Element Law was first enacted in 1969, making it one of the oldest housing planning mandates in the country. The law requires every city and county to adopt a housing element as part of its general plan — the local blueprint for growth and development. The impetus behind the law was a growing recognition that the private housing market alone could not meet the needs of all Californians, especially those with low or moderate incomes. The housing element was designed to ensure that local governments plan for housing across all income levels and remove barriers to development.

Over time, the law has evolved through multiple legislative updates. Notably, in 2017, Assembly Bill 72 gave the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) the authority to enforce compliance — a power that has become central to the Newsom administration’s housing strategy. Every city and county in California is legally required to adopt a housing element as part of its general plan. This document is not just a bureaucratic exercise — it’s a blueprint for how communities will meet their share of the state’s housing needs. A compliant housing element must include an assessment of current and projected housing needs, an inventory of land suitable for residential development, identification of constraints to housing production, and programs to implement housing goals and policies. Once adopted, the housing element guides zoning ordinances and other local actions that enable the construction of new homes. It’s a critical tool for ensuring that housing is available for Californians across all income levels — especially those most in need.

Artesia is not alone in facing the heat for shortcomings in its housing element. Since the beginning of 2024, enforcement action has been taken against several other cities for failing to comply with housing element law. For example, after more than two years of non-compliance, Fullerton agreed to a settlement requiring the city to plan for 13,209 new housing units, including 5,187 affordable units. The city agreed to adopt a compliant housing element by November 2024 and modernize its zoning code by December of that same year. The city of Norwalk was sued for illegally banning homeless shelters and supportive housing. The settlement requires Norwalk to repeal the ban, deposit $250,000 into a new affordable housing trust fund, and implement overdue housing element programs. The city is also subject to ongoing state monitoring. Finally, in May 2024, a court ruled that the city of Huntington Beach violated housing element law and was ordered to come into compliance within 120 days. This legal victory underscores the state’s commitment to holding even large, politically powerful cities accountable.

These actions are part of a broader strategy led by the Housing Accountability Unit at the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which was launched in 2021. Since its inception, the unit has helped unlock over 23,000 housing units — including thousands of affordable homes — through enforcement and collaboration.

For organizations like CCAH and its members, these developments signal a turning point. It appears clear that the state will no longer tolerate delays or resistance from local governments. Instead, it is using every tool available — legal, financial, and administrative — to ensure that housing gets built.

This is a moment for affordable housing advocates to engage with local jurisdictions, support compliance efforts, and help shape housing elements that reflect the real needs of California’s communities.