Newsom Strikes Back: Norwalk Loses Power to Block Large Housing Projects

Gov. Gavin Newsom has taken decisive action against Norwalk after the city doubled down on its ban on homeless shelters, despite repeated warnings from the state that the policy was illegal.

“It’s beyond cruel that Norwalk would ban the building of shelters while people are living on the city’s streets,” Newsom said in a scathing statement Thursday. “No more excuses—every city, including Norwalk, must do its part and follow state housing laws.”

But not everyone sees it that way. One Norwalk official slammed the governor’s move as “bully tactics.”

Now, in a dramatic twist, Norwalk has lost control over its zoning laws. The state’s latest action strips local officials of the ability to block developers from building large housing projects—including apartment buildings far denser than Norwalk would typically allow.

Is this a bold move to fix the housing crisis or an overreach of state power? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! ⬇️

🏡 How Norwalk’s Ban Backfired

This all started when the Norwalk City Council voted in August to temporarily stop issuing permits for homeless shelters, interim housing, and supportive apartments for unhoused people.

City officials justified the shelter ban by claiming such projects posed an “immediate threat to public health, safety, and welfare.” The initial moratorium was set for 45 days, but after the state warned that it violated California law, Norwalk doubled down—extending the ban for another 10 months and 15 days.

State officials pushed back hard. They argued that Norwalk failed to prove the ban was necessary for public safety and warned of serious consequences.

🚨 The Fallout: Norwalk Loses Zoning Power

Now that the state has officially declared Norwalk out of compliance, developers can bypass local zoning rules under California’s Builder’s Remedy.

✅ Developers can now pursue taller, denser housing projects in parts of Norwalk where such buildings would normally be blocked.
✅ A newly signed law, AB 1893, allows developers to fast-track mid-sized apartment buildings in neighborhoods previously reserved for single-family homes.
✅ About 89% of Norwalk’s residential land is zoned for single-family homes—but that could change quickly.

Ironically, by trying to block homeless housing, Norwalk may have opened the floodgates for large-scale housing projects.

“This is exactly the idea,” said UC Davis law professor Chris Elmendorf. “Either you comply with the law and accommodate shelters, or the state will make sure you do your fair share in a way it deems reasonable.”

⚖️ Local Officials Push Back: "Why Is Norwalk the Target?"

Norwalk leaders are fuming.

Councilmember Rick Ramirez blasted the state’s decision, insisting that local officials—not Sacramento—should be in charge of addressing homelessness.

“We're fully aware of the consequences, but the fact is, we have to have local control,” Ramirez said. “Why is it always Norwalk that’s the dumping ground? Where are the other cities in their efforts to combat homelessness?”

Ramirez also pointed to a state-funded Project Homekey site—a former Motel 6 converted into a 51-unit interim housing facility—as a “failed project.”

Mayor Margarita Rios echoed the frustration, arguing that the state should work with local governments instead of using penalties.

“We urgently need improved communication and collaboration,” Rios said. “We must tackle this in a spirit of cooperation rather than under the threat of penalties.”

🌎 Why This Matters: The Bigger Housing Crisis

Norwalk is just the latest battleground in California’s long-running housing war.

The Builder’s Remedy has already been used to fast-track large housing projects in wealthy cities like Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, where local governments resisted state housing mandates.

Now, Norwalk is under pressure to meet its state-mandated goal of planning for at least 5,034 new homes by 2029—but so far, it has only issued permits for 3.5% of that total.

🚧 Will this decision bring much-needed housing to Norwalk?
🚧 Or is the state overstepping its bounds and punishing cities unfairly?

💬 What’s Your Take?

Do you think Newsom’s crackdown on Norwalk is justified—or should cities have the right to make their own housing decisions?

🔥 Is this a win for housing reform, or a loss for local control?

Sound off in the comments! ⬇️