California Renters Legal Advocacy & Education Fund v. County of Santa Clara (H052675 & H052946)

Plaintiffs in this case assert that part of the Housing Accountability Act enacted in SB 330 preempt all local land use authority over the actions specified in Government Code section 66300(b)(1)(A), or only those that reduce the intensity of a land use. CSAC’s brief, drafted by its General Counsel Jennifer Henning, argues for the latter interpretation based on the importance of a County’s constitutional police power over land use and zoning and the deference afforded to local governing bodies in their legislative determinations.