§ 65754 — Government Code §§ 65100–65763 — Local Planning, General Plans, Specific Plans, Community Plans (Planning and Zoning Law, Chapter 3, excluding Articles 10.6–10.7)

In any order or judgment issued in an action brought to challenge the validity of the general plan of any city, county, or city and county, or any mandatory element thereof, that resolves whether the general plan or any mandatory element of the general plan thereof substantially complies with the requirements of Article 5 (commencing with Section 65300):

(a) The order or judgment shall be immediately appealable, regardless of whether any final judgment has been issued.

(b) If the court finds that the general plan or mandatory element does not substantially comply with the requirements of Article 5 (commencing with Section 65300), the city, county, or city and county shall bring its general plan or relevant mandatory element or elements thereof into compliance with the requirements of Article 5 (commencing with Section 65300) within 120 days.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 65585, the planning agency of the city, county, or city and county shall submit a draft of its revised housing element or housing element amendment at least 45 days prior to its adoption to the Department of Housing and Community Development for its review, notifying the department that the element is subject to the review procedure set forth in this section.

The department shall review the draft element or amendment and report its findings to the planning agency within 45 days of receipt of the draft. The legislative body shall consider the department’s findings prior to final adoption of the housing element or amendment if the department’s findings are reported to the planning agency within 45 days after the department receives that draft element or amendment.

(c) The city or county, including the chartered cities specified in subdivision (d) of Section 65860, shall, in accordance with Section 65860, bring its zoning ordinance into consistency with its general plan or relevant mandatory element or elements thereof within 120 days after the general plan has been amended in accordance with subdivision (b).

(Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 526, Sec. 5. (SB 786) Effective January 1, 2026.)