The City of Oakdale has been identified by Gov. Gavin Newsom as one of 15 jurisdictions out of compliance with California housing law, triggering a formal warning and a 30-day deadline to respond before potential legal action.
In a recent press release, the state announced that Oakdale and other cities “remain more than 60 days away from securing a certified housing element” and are subject to enforcement if they fail to act.
“I’m disappointed on behalf of the state and the people of California that after years of effort, we still have communities that aren’t meeting the needs of their residents,” Newsom said in the statement. “There’s no carve-out here. No community gets a pass when it comes to addressing homelessness or creating more housing access.”
Under California law, all cities and counties are required to adopt a housing element — a component of the general plan outlining how jurisdictions will meet projected housing needs across income levels. These plans must be reviewed and certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
According to the state, 92 percent of California jurisdictions have achieved compliance in the current planning cycle. The remaining jurisdictions, including Oakdale, are considered significantly behind schedule and “lack a path to compliance within 60 days.”
If cities fail to respond adequately within the 30-day window, the state may refer cases to the Attorney General for enforcement, including possible litigation.
City Response
Oakdale City Manager Jerry Ramar said the city has made multiple attempts to comply with state requirements but has not yet secured certification.
“We’ve submitted our housing element at least twice,” Ramar said. “They were reviewed and rejected by HCD each time.”
Ramar added that the city is continuing to work toward compliance and is preparing another submission.
“We have been working diligently on this matter for years and have already started the next submittal process and have a proposed timeline,” he said.
When asked whether the city anticipates enforcement actions such as litigation or the use of the “builder’s remedy” — a provision allowing developers to bypass certain local zoning rules in noncompliant jurisdictions — Ramar responded, “No.”
The city’s most recent housing element draft is available on its website, according to Ramar.
Local Housing Demand
Oakdale is required to plan for 1,665 new housing units during the current Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) cycle, including units for very-low-, low-, moderate- and above-moderate-income households, according to city materials.
Local conditions underscore the demand for affordable housing.
At Oakdale II Apartments, a low-income complex on North Lee Avenue, the wait list is approximately 2.5 years, according to the on-site manager. The manager said most current tenants are families.
State law requires the housing element to identify adequate sites for development, establish policies and programs to meet housing needs, and maintain consistency with the city’s overall general plan.
Failure to adopt a compliant housing element can expose cities to penalties, including loss of local control over certain development decisions.
Statewide Push
The warning to Oakdale is part of a broader enforcement effort by the state. The Housing Accountability Unit, established in 2021, has taken more than 1,200 actions to ensure compliance, including lawsuits against several cities.
State officials said the current round of notices represents a “final push” to bring all jurisdictions into compliance.
Residents can track local housing compliance and related efforts through the state’s accountability website, according to the release.
