On August 6, 2024 the Norwalk City Council unanimously adopted an urgency ordinance banning new emergency shelters, supportive housing, single-room occupancy housing and transitional housing citywide for 45 days, along with some types of businesses. City officials later tied the ban to Los Angeles County's Pathway Home interim housing at the former Saddleback Inn, 12500 Firestone Boulevard, and a planned mental health village at Metropolitan State Hospital, saying the county acted without consulting the city. HCD sent a notice of violation on September 16, 2024, and the next day the council unanimously extended the ban for 10 months and 15 days. The city stayed enforcement after an October 1 closed session. HCD revoked Norwalk's housing element compliance on October 2, 2024, cutting off key state funds and exposing the city to the builder's remedy, and on November 4, 2024 the Attorney General and HCD sued. On February 19, 2025 Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant refused to dismiss the case, finding that the pause had not resolved the dispute. The council removed the housing uses from the moratorium on August 5, 2025, and on September 5 the court entered a stipulated judgment requiring the city to repeal the ban, put $250,000 into a new housing trust fund, complete overdue housing element programs, make fair-housing findings for any denial and report to HCD quarterly through 2029. HCD restored the city's compliance, with conditions, on September 19, 2025. No court ruled on the merits, and no fine was reported. Los Angeles County broke ground on the Metropolitan State Hospital campus, with 162 beds including 60 supportive apartments, in March 2026. The entry has no unit count because the ban was citywide rather than aimed at one application.
Court · Judge James C. Chalfant
| Date | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2020 | Judge Orders Norwalk To Allow Project Roomkey Motel | Judge Samantha Jessner's temporary restraining order lets the county use Hotel Saddleback, 12500 Firestone Boulevard (month only). Lamplighter: https://lmlamplighter.com/2020/05/02/judge-orders-norwalk-to-place-houseless-in-hotel/ |
| August 6, 2024 | Norwalk Bans New Shelters for 45 Days | The five-member council votes unanimously. California Attorney General: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-newsom-administration-reach-settlement-city-norwalk-over |
| September 17, 2024 | Council Extends Ban a Day After State Warning | The unanimous 10-month, 15-day extension follows HCD's Sept. 16 notice of violation. California Attorney General: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-newsom-administration-reach-settlement-city-norwalk-over |
| October 2, 2024 | HCD Revokes Housing Element Compliance | Norwalk loses eligibility for key state funds and protection from the builder's remedy. Office of the Governor: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/10/03/governor-newsom-takes-action-against-norwalk-for-its-unlawful-shelter-ban/ |
| November 4, 2024 | State Sues Norwalk | The Attorney General and HCD file in Los Angeles Superior Court. The Downey Patriot: https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/state-sues-norwalk-over-housing-policies |
| February 19, 2025 | Judge Rejects City's Bid To Dismiss | Judge James C. Chalfant says the temporary pause did not resolve the dispute. The Downey Patriot: https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/trial-date-set-in-californias-lawsuit-against-norwalk-over-homeless-shelter-moratorium |
| August 5, 2025 | Council Drops Housing Uses From Moratorium | Ordinance 25-1758U passes unanimously, with one member absent. The Downey Patriot: https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/norwalk-lifts-moratorium-on-emergency-shelters-as-part-of-settlement-discussions-with-state |
| September 5, 2025 | Settlement Requires Repeal and $250,000 Trust Fund | The stipulated final judgment also requires quarterly reports to HCD through 2029. California Attorney General: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-newsom-administration-reach-settlement-city-norwalk-over |
| September 19, 2025 | HCD Restores Compliance With Conditions | Conditioned on an amended housing element and six programs by the end of 2025. HCD: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/docs/planning-and-community/HAU/norwalk-succ-comp-rev-091925.pdf |
| March 1, 2026 | County Breaks Ground at Metropolitan State Hospital | The campus will have 162 beds, including 60 supportive apartments; interim housing is expected in late 2027 (month only). Hoodline: https://hoodline.com/2026/03/norwalk-s-ghost-hospital-to-become-huge-mental-health-village/ |
| Date | Body | Action | Vote | Staff rec. | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2024 | Court | lawsuit filed | — | Unknown | The Downey Patriot: https://www.thedowneypatriot.com/articles/state-sues-norwalk-over-housing-policies |
| September 5, 2025 | Court | ruling issued | — | Unknown | California Attorney General: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-newsom-administration-reach-settlement-city-norwalk-over |
Rating 4 of 5. Primary records for the key facts; minor details may rest on reporting. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.