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Half Moon Bay, CA. Thursday, July 16, 2026 – The City of Half Moon Bay is aware of today’s announcement from the State regarding legal action involving five California cities, including Half Moon Bay, related to Housing Element compliance.
The City has been working towards completion of the Cycle 6 Housing Element since 2022, and actively working with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) over the past several months to complete the remaining steps necessary to achieve compliance with State housing law. In February 2026, HCD determined that the City’s Housing Element meets statutory requirements, with the remaining work focused on required zoning updates to reach full compliance. The City met with HCD several times and established a legally feasible timeline to complete the rezoning work. The City is scheduled to bring the rezonings forward for public review and consideration at a special meeting of its Planning Commission on August 5, 2026. The City will schedule the required public hearing with the City Council later in the month, in accordance with applicable legal processes.
“Half Moon Bay is committed to working collaboratively with our state partners to meet housing requirements and expand housing opportunities for residents at all income levels,” said City of Half Moon Bay Mayor, Debbie Ruddock. “We are continuing to advance the steps needed to move toward compliance, on the schedule agreed upon by the State. Given our ongoing work with HCD and the Coastal Commission, we are surprised that the State feels this additional action is necessary. We’re also disappointed that the State has ignored the fact that the City has made substantial progress on actual housing development programs, including affordable housing for our most vulnerable residents, while continuing to work through the legal process of updating the Housing Element. The whole purpose of this process is to create more housing in our community, which is exactly what Half Moon Bay has achieved.”
As a Coastal community entirely within the California Coastal Zone, Half Moon Bay must complete additional processes to amend its Local Coastal Program (LCP), including review and certification by the California Coastal Commission. The City has coordinated with both HCD and Coastal Commission staff to navigate these requirements and advance the process as efficiently as practicable. Both HCD staff and Coastal Commission staff already completed their review of the rezoning and provided feedback on June 10, 2026. This came after several meetings with HCD staff on the required amendments, including reviewing timelines and feedback. Since the City began working on the rezonings in February 2026, City staff have met with HCD six times, and addressed all recommended changes. Staff remain committed to completing these rezonings within the agreed upon, legally feasible timeframe, and taking all necessary steps to achieve compliance with state law.
Certification of the City’s Housing Element was delayed for approximately a year, from November 2024 to November 2025, as the City coordinated with HCD and the Coastal Commission to align on housing regulations that were already included in the City’s certified LCP. This period ensured that all processes and regulations were fully reconciled before moving forward.
The City has made progress toward its housing goals. Between 2023 and 2025, Half Moon Bay added 144 new housing units, including developments that serve a range of income levels. The City has also approved and has active projects that will add an additional 100 units of affordable housing which would achieve more than 40% of its affordable housing goal during the first half of this cycle. With additional projects in the development pipeline and sites identified in the Housing Element, these efforts position the City to work toward meeting its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) goal of 480 units by 2031.
Building on that commitment, the City is continuing efforts to expand housing opportunities that support the local workforce, including: farmworkers, service workers, and families, and that contribute to broader regional housing affordability goals. The City will continue advancing the steps needed to align with state requirements while carrying out its local planning responsibilities consistent with state law. Updates will be provided as the rezoning process progresses.
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