City Council Sends Responsible Housing Initiative to November 3, 2026 Election
City of Newport Beach – November 19, 2025:
The Newport Beach City Council decided to send the Responsible Housing Initiative to the general City Municipal Election on November 3, 2026.
If more than If more than 50% of the voters at that election vote to approve the Responsible Housing Initiative, the Responsible Housing Initiative will become law through specific amendments to the City of Newport Beach’s Land Use Element and zoning.
NBSA, SPON, and the Coalition for Responsible Housing will work together to prepare arguments in favor of the Responsible Housing Initiative. These arguments are due by June 15, 2026.
If passed by the voters in the election, the Responsible Housing Initiative will come into effect within 10 days.
The NBSA, SPON, and the Coalition for Responsible Housing will begin a campaign to educate Newport Beach residents regarding the importance and benefits of the Responsible Housing Initiative.
City of Newport Beach Certifies Signatures for Responsible Housing Initiative
City of Newport Beach – October 10, 2025:
The Orange County Registrar and the City of Newport Beach officially certified more than 6,100 valid signatures from Newport Beach residents who support the Responsible Housing Initiative. The next step is for the City of Newport Beach to either place the Initiative on the ballot for the June 2026 election, hold a special election, or adopt the Responsible Housing Initiative as law. The Newport Beach City Council will decide on this matter at its upcoming meeting on November 18, 2025.
The certification of signatures demonstrates the Newport Beach community’s overwhelming support for the Initiative. In just 25 days, the Coalition for Responsible Housing was able to collect far more than the minimum number of signatures (6,092) needed to qualify the Initiative for an upcoming election.
Former Mayor and City Councilmember Duffy Duffield stated: “This achievement demonstrates the widespread support for our Responsible Housing Initiative. Our coalition continues to grow with many thousands of Newport Beach residents who care about responsible growth in Newport Beach. As a result of our supporters’ hard work, Newport Beach voters will have the opportunity to be heard at the ballot box. We are returning accountability for housing decisions to the voters as required by our City Charter.”
The Responsible Housing Initiative requires the City to amend its zoning to allow for 2,900 new housing units, an amount that more than meets State requirements. The Initiative’s approach is a sharp departure from the plan adopted by the City Council in July 2024, which authorized a massive amount of new housing (more than 8,000 units) that far exceeds what is required under California law.
At the November 18, 2025 City Council meeting, the City must either adopt the Responsible Housing Initiative as written, place the Initiative on the June 2026 ballot, or call for a special election. Alternatively, the City Council can delay that decision by 30 days by commissioning a report (a 9212 Report) analyzing the Initiative.
We encourage all supporters of the Responsible Housing Initiative to attend the November 18th, 2025 City Council meeting, which is open to the public.
In the coming months, the Newport Beach Stewardship Association, SPON and their supporters will continue this momentum with education, outreach and media campaigns.
Former Newport Beach Mayor Submits Signed Petitions for Responsible Housing Initiative that Will Put Major Housing Decisions into Voters’ Hands
City of Newport Beach – October 2, 2025:
The Coalition for Responsible Housing submitted all necessary signatures to present its Responsible Housing Initiative to the voters of Newport Beach. The ballot measure will return major housing decisions to Newport Beach voters, instead of politicians. The signatures were submitted by Marshall “Duffy” Duffield—the former Mayor, two-term City Councilmember, and proponent of the Initiative— and the leaders of SPON (Still Protecting Our Newport). The City of Newport Beach will now have 30 days to review the signatures and set the Initiative for an upcoming local election in June 2026.
For months the Coalition has been educating our community on the flawed housing strategy adopted by the Newport Beach City Council in July 2024. In 2024, local politicians approved a massive wave of new housing that will worsen our town’s quality of life for decades. This was nothing more than a giveaway to rich, well-connected developers. To make matters worse, “our” politicians were only able to pass this plan by ignoring the Greenlight Initiative— a law this community passed in 2000 that requires voter approval of all major housing changes.
The Initiative will give local voters the chance to undo this politician-driven and developer- funded housing plan. And the results so far speak for themselves. In just 25 days, the Coalition obtained more than 8,900 signatures from local residents supporting the Initiative. Working with SPON and other community partners, the Coalition assembled a broad range of support in only a few weeks. Our supporters’ message is clear: We will not back down to rich developers and politicians who want to change our community to make a quick buck.
The next step is for the government to verify the signatures and set the Initiative for a vote in the next local election. Assuming the City follows the law, we should have more good news to share soon.
In the coming months, the Coalition will continue informing voters about the importance and benefits of the Responsible Housing Initiative and expanding its network of supporters and partnerships. If you want to learn more about the Initiative, check out Duffy Duffield’s recent Guest Column in StuNews: The future of Newport Beach is in your hands. You can also contact the Coalition at: info@newportbeachstewardshipassociation.org.
The Responsible Housing Initiative is supported by SPON, the Newport Beach Stewardship Association, the Coalition for Responsible Housing among many others.
The text for the Responsible Housing Initiative is available here (www.newportbeachstewardshipassociation.org/responsible-housing-initiative-text/).
Above: Duffy Duffield and other community leaders dropped off more than 8,900 signatures to the Newport Beach City Clerk.
The Responsible Housing Initiative In the News:
Will Newport Beach Voters Take Over City’s Housing Plan?, OC Voice, November 17, 2025
