The City of Colton is falling behind on one of the biggest issues in our region: housing. Concerningly, the city has been out of compliance with California’s housing laws since October 2022, when it missed the state’s required rezoning deadline under AB 1398.
Since then, the state has contacted Colton multiple times, most recently issuing a formal inquiry this April from the Department of Housing and Community Development. Despite these notices, the city still has not completed the zoning updates required for compliance.
This ongoing noncompliance has real consequences. Without a compliant Housing Element, Colton risks losing local control over new development through the state’s “builder’s remedy,” which allows certain housing projects to bypass local zoning. The city could also face financial penalties or legal action, and become less competitive for state funding…