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Published Jun 18, 2026 12:33 PM
Huntington Beach has waged a years-long court battle against the state's mandate to plan for some 13,000 new homes.
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Allen J. Schaben
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Getty Images
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After fighting Sacramento for years, Huntington Beach finally approved a plan this week to allow for significantly more housing.
State law requires California cities and counties to plan for enough housing to meet the expected demand, with an emphasis on low-income units. For years, Huntington Beach has fought its allocation of some 13,000 new homes. But the city lost its final legal battle earlier this year.
The last stand?
The City Council voted 5-2 to approve a draft housing plan at its meeting earlier this week. Councilmembers said they had to comply with the court order but would continue to fight for local control over housing and zoning decisions. “There’s still a couple moves on the chessboard on this one,” said Mayor Casey McKeon, without elaborating.
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What’s next?
The state housing department still has to approve the city’s housing plan, so more back-and-forth is likely. It’s also unclear whether Huntington Beach voters will ultimately have to approve the plan. Voters passed a measure in 2024 requiring public approval of major zoning changes in the city.
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