California sues Turlock over delayed housing plan before August hearings

California’s lawsuit against Turlock over its delayed housing plan is now pending in Stanislaus County Superior Court, putting the city’s unfinished rezoning process under added scrutiny ahead of scheduled August public hearings.

The California Attorney General’s Office and the California Department of Housing and Community Development filed the case on July 16, 2026. The state alleges that Turlock failed to adopt a substantially compliant 2023-2031 Housing Element by the December 31, 2023, deadline required under California law.

What the state alleges

The state’s court filing alleges that Turlock has not completed the Housing Element and rezoning steps needed to accommodate its Regional Housing Needs Allocation, commonly called RHNA.

HCD’s July 3 review found that Turlock’s revised draft Housing Element, including its latest revisions, met statutory requirements. However, the agency said the city could not receive a finding of substantial compliance until the required rezoning was completed.

Turlock’s Housing Element is intended to show how local zoning can accommodate 5,802 housing units during the 2023-2031 planning period. That number is a planning obligation, not a guarantee that 5,802 homes will be built or approved. The city’s planning materials divide the obligation among very-low-, low-, moderate- and above-moderate-income categories.

What the lawsuit requests

The state is asking the court to order Turlock to adopt a compliant Housing Element and complete the necessary rezoning within 120 days. The petition also asks for a declaration that the city is not substantially compliant and seeks penalties and other relief allowed under state law.

The filing requests temporary measures that could include suspending the city’s authority to issue some nonresidential permits and requiring approval of certain residential developments. Those are requests in a pending case, not court orders. The sources reviewed do not indicate that the court has already suspended Turlock’s permitting authority or ordered residential projects approved.

Turlock points to August public process

In a July 16 statement, Turlock said the remaining step before HCD can make a substantial-compliance finding is completion and adoption of the required rezoning package. The city said its revised Housing Element has advanced through state review and that staff are preparing the zoning actions needed to implement it.

The city expects the rezoning package to go to the Planning Commission on August 6 for a recommendation. Public hearings are scheduled for August 11 and August 25, with final consideration expected at the later hearing. Those dates describe planned proceedings; no final rezoning decision had been reported as of July 26.

Why the process matters locally

The outcome could affect where Turlock can plan for new housing and how the city’s zoning rules accommodate the state-mandated housing obligation. It could also influence how some future development applications move through city review, depending on the final zoning actions and any orders issued in the lawsuit.

For residents, property owners, developers and local businesses, the next milestones are the city’s meeting agendas, the August rezoning hearings and any court action on the state’s requested relief. The city’s draft plan is not yet the same as final adoption, and HCD has not yet issued a substantial-compliance finding.

Sources

• California Attorney General's Office court filing
• City of Turlock housing update
• City of Turlock Housing Element update
• The Modesto Bee housing lawsuit report