California Attorney General Files Housing Law Complaint Against Turlock

Turlock’s housing plans hit the legal hot seat

On July 3, 2026, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a formal complaint in the Superior Court against the city of Turlock, accusing it of violating the state’s Housing Element Law. The suit is part of a coordinated effort that also targets Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay and Ridgecrest.

The Housing Element Law requires every city and county to develop a housing plan every eight years that meets the projected housing needs of all income levels. The current cycle, the sixth, demands that local governments plan for roughly 2.5 million additional homes statewide. A compliant plan must include an assessment of housing needs, an inventory of resources and constraints, and programs to implement the plan’s goals.

According to the complaint, Turlock’s initial deadline to submit a compliant sixth‑cycle housing element was December 31, 2023. The city did not respond to HCD until June 4, 2024, when it provided a submission date of September 17, 2024 and an adoption date of December 31, 2024. Over the next two years, letters, drafts and revisions were exchanged between the city and the department.

On July 3, 2026, HCD issued a letter stating that the draft element, including the most recent revisions, met statutory requirements. However, the letter also noted that the city had not completed the necessary rezoning to accommodate its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Because of that shortfall, the housing element cannot be found in substantial compliance.

The complaint requests that the court suspend Turlock’s non‑residential permitting authority, impose a fine, and issue a writ of mandate ordering the city to submit a substantially compliant housing element within 120 days.

"California can’t solve the housing crisis while some cities sit on their hands and dare us to do something about it," Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. "These five jurisdictions had every chance to follow the law and plan for their fair share of housing. They chose not to, so now they’ll answer for it in court. Housing law applies statewide, and no city gets a pass."

The Attorney General’s office and HCD say the legal actions are intended to achieve statewide compliance with the Housing Element Law by the end of the year. The complaint against Turlock is available online, and the city has indicated it will send a response.

The Housing Element Law is enforced under California Assembly Bill 72, which gives HCD and the Attorney General the authority to sue local governments that fail to meet housing requirements. The law also allows the state to impose fines ranging from $10,000 to $600,000 per month for non‑compliance.

Turlock, a city of 72,740 residents in Stanislaus County, has not yet responded to the complaint. KCRA 3 reached out to the city for comment; the city said it plans to send a response but has not yet done so.

The complaint against Turlock joins similar actions against other jurisdictions that have not updated their housing plans or failed to implement the necessary zoning changes. The state’s goal is to ensure that every community contributes its fair share to addressing California’s housing shortage.

In the meantime, the city’s failure to meet the RHNA requirements means it may face legal penalties and restrictions on its ability to approve new non‑residential projects. The outcome of the court case will determine whether Turlock can continue to issue permits for non‑residential development while it works to bring its housing plan into compliance.

The complaint highlights the broader challenge California faces in meeting housing needs across diverse regions. By enforcing the Housing Element Law, the state aims to accelerate the construction of homes for all income levels and reduce the backlog that has contributed to rising housing costs.

The case is currently pending in the Superior Court, and the city’s next steps will be closely watched by local residents, developers and housing advocates.