Update October 1, 2026:
The resolution to restore local land use control was approved by the League of California Cities General Assembly on September 25.
Our Neighborhood Voices (ONV) posted this update today
https://www.ourneighborhoodvoices.com/you-made-it-happen-resolution-for-local-control-wins-at-calcities/
There is a great deal of work ahead. From ONV:
The resolution brought together communities to discuss concerns about the destructive impact of state housing mandates. Before it got to the final vote, however, the resolution was revised in committee, and the original reference to a state constitutional amendment was removed. (This may be added back in at a later date.)
ONV believes a constitutional amendment needs to be part of that discussion. Also, while the current resolution looks toward 2030, ONV will continue advocating to bring the issue before voters in 2028.
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On Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24, 25, the League of California Cities votes on a resolution to restore local control over planning and land use projects.
Please contact your city council and council representative to the LCC to vote YES on this resolution. It is the only resolution on their agenda.
Resolution on page 8:
https://www.calcities.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/2026-cal-cities-resolution-packet.pdf?sfvrsn=36139ca0_1
1. A RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES CALLING FOR A WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR OTHER FORM OF INITIATIVE TO ENSURE FINAL LOCAL AUTHORITY OVER HOUSING AND LAND USE DECISIONS
Let the public and other officials know about this important vote, including nearby cities. Officials may not know about this critical resolution.
The California Legislature is taking greater control over local decisions. In 2017 SB 649 would have allowed small cell towers everywhere by state mandate, eliminating local control. Through collective action, the public defeated that bill. A big issue is housing, with densification pushed by the Legislature and Governor Newsom via SB 79 and other bills, the so-called “builder’s remedy”, eliminating hearings and environmental review, and FCC-like shot clocks for rapid approval. These projects can destroy community character and contribute little to affordable housing. Another land use issue is the recent lithium ion battery energy storage facility preemption by the state. The Moss Landing BESS had a new fire September 18, but the legislature stripped cities and counties of authority to pull the plug or deny projects.
The resolution will be voted on at the annual LCC Conference in Anaheim. The LCC Resolution Committee will vote on the resolution Thursday, and if passed, it will go to the General Assembly for a vote Friday, September 25. The organization Our Neighborhood Voices is sponsoring a rally at their booth on Wednesday
https://www.ourneighborhoodvoices.com/press-release-our-neighborhood-voices-to-take-fight-for-local-control-to-league-of-california-cities-annual-conference-in-anaheim/– press release
Please lobby your city and nearby cities to vote YES.
1. A RESOLUTION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES
CALLING FOR A WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT OR OTHER FORM OF INITIATIVE TO ENSURE FINAL LOCAL AUTHORITY OVER HOUSING AND LAND USE DECISIONS
Source: City of Murrieta
Concurrence of five or more cities/city officials
Cities/city officials: City of Banning; City of Calimesa; City of Canyon Lake; City of Moreno Valley; City of Norco; City of Torrance; Crystal Ruiz, Mayor, City of San Jacinto; Jessica Alexander, Mayor, City of Temecula
Referred to: Housing, Community, and Economic Development Policy Committee
WHEREAS, California cities have historically been responsible for adopting general plans and zoning regulations, reviewing housing development proposals, and providing or coordinating the streets, water, wastewater, public safety, parks, transportation, and other infrastructure and services necessary to support responsible, environmentally sound, and well-planned residential growth; and
WHEREAS, the League of California Cities is dedicated to protecting and expanding local control for municipalities across the state to ensure their orderly growth and development; and
WHEREAS, the League of California Cities recognizes that local zoning is a primary function of cities and an essential component of home rule, and that a city’s general plan should guide its land use planning and strategic decision-making free from pre-emption by the state; and
WHEREAS, increasingly prescriptive statewide housing mandates and development approval requirements can override locally adopted plans, zoning standards, and public review procedures without adequately accounting for differences that exist in each unique jurisdiction in infrastructure capacity, water availability, wildfire and evacuation risks, environmental constraints, fiscal impacts, public service needs, and community priorities; and
WHEREAS, California’s housing goals can be more effectively advanced through state funding, streamlined environmental requirements, and voluntary partnerships that support housing production while preserving the authority of locally elected officials to determine how and where housing is best planned and approved;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the General Assembly of the League of California Cities, assembled during the Annual Conference in Anaheim, California, on September 25, 2026, that the League of California Cities support the development and advancement of a state constitutional amendment or other legislative, policy, or ballot- based strategies that restore and strengthen local authority over housing and land use matters within municipal boundaries, including general plans, housing elements, zoning, density, design and development standards, project siting, and the approval or denial of housing development applications; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that any constitutional amendment or alternative strategy should preserve the State’s authority to establish broad statewide housing goals and enforce constitutional and civil rights, fair housing requirements, building and life-safety standards, and generally applicable environmental protections, while protecting cities from state actions that compel, through funding conditions or state law, the approval of housing developments that are inconsistent with locally adopted requirements; override local zoning or density standards; or invalidate locally adopted housing or land use decisions when a city has planned in good faith to accommodate its regional housing needs allocation and maintains adequate capacity for housing at all income levels; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the League of California Cities consider establishing a statewide working group or other appropriate committee(s) to evaluate and develop a proposed constitutional amendment or other legislative, policy, or ballot-based strategies to restore and strengthen local authority over housing and land use matters including but limited to: conducting appropriate legal, fiscal, and policy analyses; engaging cities and other stakeholders; and building a statewide coalition of proponent supporters in preparation for; the November 2030 General Election, or within another reasonable time frame as determined by the working group.
