California Attorney General Reaches Settlement with City of Norwalk over Unlawful Housing Ban

Strategic Insights -

The California Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has announced a settlement with the City of Norwalk over its unlawful ban on new housing for vulnerable residents. The ban, which was implemented in August 2024, prohibited the establishment, implementation, or operation of emergency shelters, supportive housing, single-room occupancy housing, and transitional housing. The settlement requires the City to repeal the ban, create a housing trust fund, and pay $250,000 into the trust fund. The agreement also includes reporting requirements and notifications to stakeholders that the ban has been repealed.

Key Takeaways:

  • The City of Norwalk's unlawful ban on new housing for vulnerable residents was implemented without legislative findings or deliberation, violating numerous state laws.
  • The settlement requires the City to repeal the ban, create a local housing trust fund, and deposit $250,000 into the trust fund.
  • The City must also implement overdue housing element programs, report quarterly on proposed housing projects, and make factual findings with analysis when disapproving housing development applications.
  • The City must post a statement on its official website for 180 days announcing the repeal of the ban and send it to interested parties and City employees.
  • The city council extended the ban on September 17, 2024, without legislative findings or deliberation, despite a warning from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
  • The ban was imposed as part of a 45-day urgency zoning ordinance passed on August 6, 2024.
  • HCD issued a Notice of Violation to the City on September 16, 2024, warning of impending legal action if the City did not repeal the ban.

Statistics:

  • $250,000: The amount the City of Norwalk must deposit into the housing trust fund as part of the settlement.
  • 45 days: The initial duration of the housing ban imposed by the Norwalk City Council through an urgency zoning ordinance.
  • 10 months and 15 days: The additional duration of the ban after it was extended by the city council on September 17, 2024.
  • 15 business days: The timeframe within which the City must post and maintain the statement announcing the repeal of the ban on its official website.
  • 180 days: The duration for which the City must post and maintain the statement announcing the repeal of the ban on its official website.

Sources:

  • California Department of Justice
  • Attorney General Rob Bonta
  • Governor Gavin Newsom
  • California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
  • Norwalk City Council Meeting Minutes (August 6, 2024)
  • HCD Notice of Violation (September 16, 2024)
  • Original text: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-newsom-administration-reach-settlement-city-norwalk-over