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In failing to plan for new housing, Costa Mesa finds itself in state’s legal crosshairs
By David Wagner at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 16, 2026
· 4 min read
Towers gleam along the Costa Mesa Civic Center skyline. (MattGush/iStock / iStockphoto)California officials are taking the Orange County city of Costa Mesa to court — not for something local officials did, but for something they failed to do: plan for more housing.State Attorney General Rob Bont...
Key takeaway Bonta said for this cycle, 95% of local governments have submitted their housing elements — documents that detail how cities plan to accommodate the required number of new homes, including units affordable to low-income families.
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Category: local ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 4 min
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What is this story about? Towers gleam along the Costa Mesa Civic Center skyline. (MattGush/iStock / iStockphoto)California officials are taking the Orange County city of Costa Mesa to court — not for something local officials did, but for something they failed to do: plan for more housing.State Attorney General Rob Bont...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by David Wagner at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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