Measure H on the Nov. 3 ballot would cut the number of homes allowed in five Newport Beach neighborhoods from 8,174 to 2,900.

The measure, called the Responsible Housing Initiative, would amend the city's General Plan. All 2,900 units would be reserved for extremely low- to moderate-income households, with no allowance for additional market-rate housing, according to a fact sheet published by the Newport Beach Civic Ledger. The city's current plan, adopted by the City Council in 2024 and approved by the state, allows a mix of income levels across the 8,174 units.

The Newport Beach Stewardship Association (NBSA) sponsored the petition that put Measure H on the ballot. The Orange County Registrar of Voters certified the petition on Nov. 5, 2025, after verifying 6,117 valid signatures out of 8,920 submitted.

Measure H appears on the county ballot as "City of Newport Beach General Plan Amendment." It is separate from Measures P, Q and R on the city ballot.

What the numbers mean

California requires Newport Beach to plan for 4,845 new units between 2021 and 2029, including 3,436 for lower- and moderate-income households. The city does not have to build those homes. It must zone enough land to allow the private market to build them.

Both sides say their plan meets the state requirement, but they count pipeline projects differently. The city's plan counts 1,662 homes already in the pipeline. Measure H counts 2,945. That gap in lower- and moderate-income pipeline homes accounts for the difference in how much each side says remains to be planned, according to the Civic Ledger analysis. The city says 2,707 units remain; Measure H backers say 2,566.

The city's plan provides a larger buffer above the state minimum. For lower-income homes, the cushion is 14% versus 12% under Measure H. For moderate-income homes, it is 15% versus 5%.

No official estimate exists for how many homes would actually be built under either plan.

What's at stake with the state

If Measure H passes, the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) would review the city's housing element, the Civic Ledger reported. A city found out of compliance with state housing law can face fines of $10,000 to $50,000 a month, lose local land-use authority, or trigger the "builder's remedy," which lets qualifying affordable-housing developers bypass local zoning.

City Attorney Aaron Harp warned in his ballot analysis, as the OC Register reported, that the measure "would establish voter-approved limitations on housing locations, densities, and affordability requirements" and could limit the city's ability to respond to future state mandates without another vote.

Who's for it, who's against it

Former Mayor Marshall "Duffy" Duffield signed the ballot argument in favor, along with Dennis Durgan, Curt Fleming, Charles Klobe and Nancy Scarbrough. Still Protecting Our Newport also supports the measure, LAist reported.

Council members Noah Blom, Sara Weber and Michelle Barto wrote the ballot argument against it. They said the measure asks voters to discard "years of professional planning and public input in favor of a ballot-box rewrite," the OC Register reported. Opponents argue Measure H would concentrate lower-income housing in five areas instead of supporting mixed-income development.

Follow the money

Developer Ken Picerne and his Picerne Group donated $1 million to the "Yes on Measure H" campaign as of mid-October, according to campaign filings reported by LAist. The Orange County Republican Party, led by former Mayor Will O'Neill, spent about $30,000 opposing the measure as of Oct. 11, Voice of OC reported.

Courts cleared Measure H for the ballot

The city tried to block Measure H, arguing the petition's public notice did not meet state election law. Orange County Superior Court Judge Julianne Bancroft denied that challenge on Aug. 19. The Court of Appeal denied the city's petition on Aug. 25 and again on Sept. 9. The California Supreme Court denied review on Sept. 30.

As of Oct. 17, no further hearings are scheduled in the ballot case.

Ballots have been mailed to all active registered voters in Orange County. The Newport Beach Civic Center Vote Center at 100 Civic Center Drive opens Saturday, Oct. 24. Five more city Vote Centers open Saturday, Oct. 31. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, all Vote Centers are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.